TasTAFE teacher to judge and mentor at the world’s largest skills competition

TasTAFE will be represented at the world’s biggest skills competition in September, with a TasTAFE teacher selected as a competition judge and mentor.

Metals teacher, Michael Schnackenberg, has been selected as the Australian expert at the 47th WorldSkills International Championships to be held in Lyon, France, from 10–15 September 2024.

WorldSkills 2024 will host around 1500 competitors from 75 countries, competing in 59 skills. More than 250,000 visitors are also expected at the event.

International experts like Michael are selected for representing the best of their industry or skill category.

Michael has been a national WorldSkills judge in Construction Steelwork for a number of years, but this will be his first time at the international competitions.

He’s modest about the achievement.

“They select their competitor who's going to go away, and they also select what's called an ‘expert’,” Michael said. “Now personally I don't like that term. What you really are, you're somewhat of a mentor, and you're also judge – that's how it’s structured.”

Last week, one of the Australian team members competing at Lyon travelled to the Devonport Campus to spend four days being mentored by Michael ahead of the competition.

Joseph Cramp is one of 33 young Australians – known as the ‘Skillaroos’ – chosen to compete against the world’s best apprentices and trainees at WorldSkills.

Joe works at Fabworx Steel Supplies and Fabrication in Goulburn NSW, and recently completed his apprenticeship at TAFE NSW Moss Vale.

“Joe and I are getting to know each other better,” Michael said, “and I’m looking to identify things that I might be able to help with.”

“We’ve been focusing on dimensional accuracy of completed work,” Joe said, “making sure everything measures up – and just putting all my skills together and seeing what little parts need final adjustments.”

They’ve also been working on strategies Joe can use if something goes wrong.

“There might be a dozen ways you can fix a problem,” Michael said. “But what's going to be quick? What’s going to be effective? It’s not one-size-fits-all.”

Joe has had great support from his TAFE NSW teacher Chris Parker, and his boss at Fabworx, Mike Walters.

“Mike has been very supportive of what Joe's doing,” Michael said. “It's wonderful to see an employer get behind him like he has.”

When they get to France, Joe won’t know what to expect.

“I’m pretty confident,” he said, “but we'll see what the other countries are like.”

“It's really hard to gauge,” Michael added. “There might be a kid from Ireland who’s outstanding, but you just don’t know until you get there.”

“We get to relax a bit afterwards – we'll look forward to that,” Michael said. “But I think we're both pretty excited about the comp.”

TasTAFE’s North-West Metals area is well represented in WorldSkills. Like Michael, North-West Metals teacher Troy Bester is a national chief judge for Construction Steel and Sheetmetal, while teacher Simon Boarder is also a national Sheetmetal judge.

We wish Michael, Joe and the Skillaroos all the best for the trip to France and WorldSkills 2024.