Indigenous Plumbing Team Challenge
The WorldSkills Australia National Competition hosted the inaugural Plumbing Team Challenge at Sydney Olympic Park. This event tested and showcased the skills and talent of young Indigenous plumbers from parts of remote and rural Australia over a 3 day competition.
A partnership project between WorldSkills Australia, RMIT University, Plumbing Trades Employees Union, RMIT University Ngarara Willim Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Dusseldorp Skills Forum.
Over 3 exciting days of competition the teams of plumbers fabricated copper solar panels, installed facias and gutters with down pipes, connected hot water units and installed toilets – all skills and knowledge needed back in their communities.
The three teams were trained and mentored by Plumbing teachers Wayne Ellerton and Geoff Bird from RMIT University in Melbourne and are employed by the Plumbers Employees Union.
And the results were:
Gold: Tyrone Bloomfield & Alishia Ford
Silver: Jamsy Bellou & Peter Shepherd
Bronze: Wade McEwan & Ramone Watson
Plumbing Connection Magazine features the Indigenous Apprentice Program – Autumn 2011 (
