A Hoppers Crossing apprentice froze out most of his competition in a bronze-medal effort at this year’s WorldSkills competition.
David Heath (pictured) placed third in the refrigeration category at a regional competition held at Box Hill Institute late last month.
The 21-year-old Hoppers Crossing resident is halfway through a four-year apprenticeship with United Refrigeration to become a refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic.
The WorldSkills competition – the Olympics of the tradie industry – gives Australians 23 or younger the opportunity to pit their skills against peers in their chosen trade and fast-track their skills and career development.
The competition puts tradies from 52 different trades to the test. The vocations include automotive services, building and construction, computing, business, client and hospitality services, and metals and engineering.
Competitors are marked against rigorous benchmarks aligned to national training standards.
Regional medallists have a chance to progress to the 2016 WorldSkills Australia national competition. Mr Heath put his hand up for the regional finals on the recommendation of one of his TAFE teachers at RMIT.
As part of his competition, he had to set up a mini-fridge, which cooled one metal can of liquid; perform electrical and refrigeration fault-finding checks; and create set controllers for freezer rooms as part of the competition.
“It was pretty easy,” he said.
“Luckily enough, we get a variety of that kind of work with the company I work for.
“Some second-years might not be up to that level of activity, but I have been exposed to it before and knew what I was doing.”
