BSL is cheering on as one of its mechanical tradesmen embarks on a journey of a lifetime to showcase his trade skills amongst the world’s best. 

Brandon Gillett struck gold in Sydney last year when he was a fourth year apprentice competing in the turning section at the 2012 National World Skills Finals, a competition which aims to test the developing skills of the top trades and service trainees in Australia.  This gold placing not only showcased Brandon’s excellent mechanical trade skills on a national level, but he has since been one of the few Worldskills category winners to form an Australian representative group who will compete at the 42^nd WorldSkills Competition,  held in Leipzig, Germany in July. 

Brandon now joins 30 other talented young people to form the Australain ‘Skillaroos’ team who will each complete the various tasks and projects set for their trade category amongst their international counterparts. WorldSkills provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards with competitions testing construction trades, to hospitality and service sectors of the global economy. Brandon will be competing in the Polymechanics and Automation section of the WorldSkills Competition, where he will be the first ever Australian chosen to represent this category.

Brandon and his fellow Skillaroos team-mates were invited to Parliament House on Wednesday 29 May 2013 for a farewell reception with the Hon John-Paul Langbroek MP, Minister for Education, Training and Employment.  The ceremony marked an important celebration for the Skillaroos as they were wished well for the challenge ahead. 

BSL General Manager, Joe Rea said that the combination of BSL’s excellent apprentice training program, dedicated mentors and Brandon’s proven commitment to his trade have culminated in his ongoing success.

“BSL is so proud of Brandon’s achievements to date and his international selection is a credit to his dedication and commitment to perfecting the skills of his trade,” Mr Rea said.

The smelter holds a long standing tradition of mentoring and supporting its apprentices to compete in the local WorldSkills competition as a fun means to test and develop their trade skills, with many successfully progressing onto the regionals, state and a few at national competitions.

“We are immensely proud of Brandon’s achievements in representing both Australia, BSL and our region at a world level and we wish him all the best as his skills are put to the ultimate test,” Mr Rea said.

“Either way, Brandon can proudly say he has one of the top set of skills of a new tradesperson Australia-wide, and that is a mighty fine achievement!”

Brandon is looking forward to the experience of trying out his skills on a world stage.

“WorldSkills provides the perfect platform to challenge yourself and see how you compare to other people in your trade, from your region, from around Australia and luckily for me now I can benchmark my skills against the best in the world,” Mr Gillett said.

Brandon has been working closely with his trainers, mentors and employer BSL to develop and refine his skills, all in the hope of bringing home a medal for Australia. 

The 2013 WorldSkills Competition will host over 1000 of the world’s most talented skill and trade technicians under the age of 25, covering 45 skill categories and representing 63 countries.  Each of the international competitors will be completing set tasks and critiqued on many aspects of their skills set to take out the gold medal and the title of ‘World’s Best’ in their chosen skill area.