K&R's Guy Brooks takes on WorldSkills International

WorldSkills Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation, established since 1981, that provides young Australians aged 23 and under the opportunity to gain new skills, compete against their peers in their chosen trade and fast track their skills and career development. The organisation's purpose is to promote and build a skills respect culture by celebrating skills excellence, inspiring young people and providing them with an opportunity to showcase their trade and skill talent.

The WTIA, through the National Divisional Committee and Council, and many WTIA members including Cigweld and BOC, support the welding category of the WorldSkills Competitions at Regional, National and International levels.

Guy Brooks - Welding Gold Medallist

WTIA recently presented a cheque for $5,000 to support the welding category national winner, Guy Brooks, to attend the 41st WorldSkills international skills competition in London from 5-8 October 2011.

During the four days of competition 150,000 expected visitors will see 1,000 competitors from 54 countries/regions competing in 45 skill areas over four exciting days of competiion. Australia is currently ranked 5th in the world and the 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos is hoping to bring back gold.

At the WorldSkills Australia National Competition held in Brisbane in May 2010, Guy won the first place in welding and the right to represent Australia in London. Guy hails from the Illawarra, NSW region and works for K&R Fabrications, the WTIA 2010 Medium Fabricator of the Year winner. He trained at TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute Wollongong Campus and Paul Condran, also an award winner this year, is again supporting his training.

US competition and international relations

WTIA also financially supported Guy to attend the US Open Welding Competition, coordinated by the American Welding Society (AWS), which was held in Atlanta in November 2010. Six American Competitors were vying for the final three places available at the final selection that will determine the US team going to the competition in London. This was an excellent preparation for GUY as it was structured in the same format as the international competition, with the duration a little over 22 hours.

WTIA, as the Australian Member Society of the 54-member country International Institute of Welding (IIW), works with the AWS and other Member Societies to support WorldSkills around the world. IIW has a memorandum of Understanding with WorldSkills and has worked with organisers of international events in Japan and Canada, and now the United Kingdom, to make the welding competitions as high profile and accessible to visitors as possible.

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