The Motor Traders’ Association of NSW (MTA NSW) is celebrating a successful first entry in the WorldSkills National Championships, with two of its apprentices winning medals.
WorldSkills is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
MTA NSW was a key sponsor of the national event and also sent six automotive apprentices to Melbourne in order to compete against Australia’s best young talent.
Apprentices from around the country competed in a series of challenges designed to test their skills across a range of disciplines. Auto electrical competitors were tasked with diagnosing and solving various vehicle faults, while racing against the clock. Meanwhile, the Autobody Repair and Refinishing categories saw apprentices undergo a series of paint and panel style challenges, ranging from spray painting to buffing and even design layout.
Ballina-based apprentice Lockie Hipkins, took home a silver medal in the Autobody Repair category, while Newcastle-based apprentice Luke Callaway achieved a bronze medal in Auto Electrical. Alongside this, Sydney-based spray painting apprentice Neha Singh received a Certificate Of Excellence for her performance in the Auto Refinishing competition.
MTA NSW general manager RTO Ian Price says WorldSkills provides a great platform for up and coming talent to showcase their abilities, and also highlights the excellent level of training their apprentices receive.
“It’s great to see MTA NSW apprentices being recognised across all three disciplines that we competed in at WorldSkills,” Price says. “We’re so proud of Luke, Lachlan and Neha for their achievements, and to all our apprentices who competed at the event. Being chosen to represent NSW was a huge accomplishment and they’re all winners in our eyes.”
“This is the first time MTA NSW has entered the WorldSkills competition and we’re looking forward to many more years of success. This is just the beginning,” he says.
MTA NSW chief executive Stavros Yallouridis says the WorldSkills competition provides a key opportunity for recognising emerging talent in the automotive industry.
“Not only is WorldSkills a chance to demonstrate the high quality of our training, it’s also an opportunity for our organisation to give back and invest in the future careers of our talented trainees,” Yallouridis says.
Held every two years, the WorldSkills National Championships is the biggest trades and skills competition in Australia. The 2023 event featured 50 competitions, with trainees and apprentices across various industries testing their abilities against their peers. Each secured their place after winning their respective WorldSkills regional competitions, which featured more than 500 events across 34 regions of Australia, with more than 4,000 apprentices, trainees and students competing.
MTA NSW Apprentices competing at WorldSkills National Championships:
- Kynan Bonnano, Sydney, Refinishing.
- Neha Singh, Sydney, Refinishing, Certificate of Excellence.
- Lockie Hipkins, Ballina, Body Repair, Silver medal.
- Liam Piscioneri, Sydney, Body Repair.
- Luke Callaway, Newcastle,Auto Electrical, Bronze medal.
- Jake Ryan, Griffith, Auto Electrical.
