Teah's in for a chance at Gold
Twenty-two-year old engineering apprentice Teah Olsen, from Bellbird Park, will join the WorldSkills Queensland team at the national competition to test her skills in the fitting and turning trade, having previously won gold at the Queensland regional competition.
Teah will be one of seventy-three trainees and apprentices who will represent the state at the 2021 WorldSkills Australia National Championships from 26-28 August at TAFE Queensland’s South Bank, Acacia Ridge, Bracken Ridge, Mount Gravatt, Alexandra Hills and Bundaberg campuses.
“I feel a little bit nervous but I’m definitely excited. At the end of the day I’m just going to try my best. It’s going to be an experience and a bit of fun to show others that you’ve got skills,” Teah said.
“Being in the engineering trade, I know that a lot of females have been scared to put their best foot forward. I want to show other women that you can do it."
Teah credits the support she has received from her TAFE Queensland Fitting and Turning teacher Stephanie Smith, who has been working with her to prepare for the challenges that she will face in the competition.
“Every Friday for the last couple of months we’ve been training and practising the calculations. We’ve also been focusing on the skills that I work on less at work and the ones that I’m less confident in,” Teah said.
“Being the only female in the workshop and being trained by my TAFE Queensland teacher, Steph has meant a lot to me. Being trained by a female teacher has enabled me to connect and learn differently which has been really great,” she said.
Teah’s employer MIGAS and host employer Arnotts have both been extremely supportive of her training and the upcoming competition. She said that one of the biggest benefits about being involved in the WorldSkills competition is the new skills you learn and also the connections that you make within industry.
“At the end of the day I can put this on my resume and employers are going to see that this is a person who is willing to go above and beyond. It’s not even about being the best it’s about giving it a go and being willing to learn,” Teah finished.
Queenslanders who are successful at the National Championships will be eligible to travel to Shanghai in China to compete as part of the Australian Skillaroos Team at the 46th WorldSkills International Competition which is planned to be held in August 2022.
To follow the competition visit the WorldSkills Australia website or to find out how you can get involved, call the WorldSkills Queensland Office on 07 3244 0230.