GOTAFE recently hosted a series of regional WorldSkills competitions across its campuses, covering industries such as construction steelwork, welding, automotive refinishing and airconditioning and refrigeration.
The regional competitions are held every two years, showcasing the skills of more than 4000 apprentices, trainees and students who are competing for a chance to win gold, silver and bronze medals and go on to compete at a national level.
In a display of exceptional talent for his craft, GOTAFE student Jed Coolahan recently took home gold in the airconditioning and refrigeration competition held at GOTAFE’s Docker St campus in Wangaratta.
Competing against fellow students from across north-east Victoria, the competition included diagnosing a refrigeration fault, identifying an electrical fault, and building a can cooler from scratch.
“It was really fun being able to create something from scratch,” he said.
“Even though we weren’t in the classroom, we all learned so much.”
Jed is in his second year of his refrigeration apprenticeship and is working for John Morrow Refrigeration in Shepparton.
He is enjoying the variety offered in the refrigeration industry.
“It’s fun knowing each day will be different, and I will learn something new that will help me in the future,” he said.
“There are so many different pathways within the trade, and I am discovering more every week.”
GOTAFE’s regional WorldSkills competitions continue over the next month, with automotive students taking the wheel across GOTAFE’s Wangaratta campuses.
Other competitions including baking, patisserie, cookery, cyber security, graphic design and hairdressing will also be held in October.
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