Chief Minister Andrew Barr visits CIT

The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory Andrew Barr, also Minister for Tertiary Education attended the Canberra Region WorldSkills competitions convened at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) at Bruce on Friday 30 August where the skills of competitors, including CIT students, were on full display.

Carpentry, cabinet making, wall and floor tiling, painting and plastering competitions were held at CIT Bruce, whilst electrical installation, plumbing and refrigeration took place at CIT Fyshwick. Around 100 apprentices and students participated in the competitions.

The competitions coincided with National Skills Week. The national celebration aims to shed light on the myriad of skills and qualifications that the vocational education and training (VET) sector provides to Australian businesses.

WorldSkills is an international vocational education competition. Skills Canberra ran the competitions hosted by CIT as part of the ACT Government's commitment to supporting the skills and innovation base industries in the ACT.

The one-day competitions engage students, apprentices and trainees in the delivery of a range of tasks that must be completed whilst meeting specific requirements. The tasks allow competitors to demonstrate the skill, attention to detail and hands-on ability they have acquired through their chosen vocational education pathway. The ACT competition winners will go on to participate in the WorldSkills Australia National Championships in 2020.

The visit also provided the Chief Minister with the opportunity to see at first hand the widespread teaching facilities at CIT Bruce. A special tour allowed the Chief Minister to see CIT's state-of-the-art, simulated learning environments where students prepare for careers in industries such as health and fitness, dental and renewables.