The Australian Scout Jamboree
WorldSkills Australia conducted its largest Try’aTrade event
at the 22nd Australian Scout Jamboree from the 4th to the
14th January 2010. WorldSkills Australia, partnering with local
industry and TAFE NSW, conducted the Try’aTrade at Cataract
Scout Park in NSW. This was the “Skills Village” activity for
10,000 Scouts in 10 days.
As with all WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade activities, the aim
is to showcase trade and skill based careers as a viable career
choice and to make it fun and informative for the participant.
The scouts themselves enjoyed the experience leaving the
Skills Village happy and in talking to some of them, they felt they
had achieved something. Others were impressed with themselves
as they never thought they could use the machinery they got to experience.
WorldSkills Australia Try'aTrade is usually conducted by volunteers, this event was no different. 47 volunteers from the WorldSkills Australia networks attended over the course of the event and we were also assigned 44 volunteers from the scouting movement.
The volunteers from the scouts were amazing, they worked tirelessly to produce a quality event and give the participants a very valuable experience. They added a whole new dimension to what we do as Try’aTrade. The WSA staff and volunteers learnt a lot from these amazing people. Future WSA events will see some of these Scout volunteers return to help when they can.
Over the course of the 10 days, WorldSkills Australia conducted 44 different activities in 30 different trade and skill areas. Skill areas were broken up into industry clusters; Automotive, Client Services, Construction, Electrical and Engineering, Hospitality and IT Services. The Scouts learnt how to change spark plugs and cutters, repair damage on a car bonnet, how to change tyres on a car and key ring and earring making just to name a few of the activities. 10,000 scouts participated in the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade program and impressed all of the 3,000 scout leaders in attendance at the AJ2010. The Skills Village and Try’aTrade was the talk of the Jamboree as this was an activity they had never had at a Jamboree before.
Channel 9 top rating Breakfast TV program, TODAY broadcast live weather crosses from the Jamboree with a focus on the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade, engaging viewers and further spreading the word on the benefits of such a program.
View video of the live cross to the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade.
In all activities the participants had fun and learnt a new skill and in some cases they made something to take home, in other cases, they helped in producing a lasting legacy at the Cataract Scout Camp and producing products to be donated to a charity such as:
Landscape Construction / Paving / Bricklaying & Carpentry Activities
In the Landscape Construction / Paving / Bricklaying and Carpentry Activities, the scouts, under the guidance of Steve Hornery –TAFE NSW WorldSkills Manager and volunteers created a fantastic fully landscaped garden complete with picnic tables, pergola, feature wall and seat, paved areas and a bird bath. This garden was named ‘Bob’s Place’ in recognition of the service to scouting NSW and Australia of Mr. Bob Baker. This area will remain on site for future use by the Australian Scouting movement.
Dog kennel activity
WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade, partnering with local suppliers, AJ2010 and TAFE NSW, produced, painted and decorated 40 Dog Kennels. The kennels were donated to the RSPCA NSW on Tuesday 12th January. The kennels were handed over by WSA CEO Mark Callaghan to RSPCA NSW Executive Manager for Animal Wellbeing, Sue Hill.
A big thank you to all involved from WorldSkills Australia volunteers, Scouting volunteers, RSPCA NSW and Australian Scout Jamboree 2010.
