At 19-years-old, Castlereagh apprentice plumber Jake Buttigieg is ready to flush away the competition at the WorldSkills National Championships in Sydney next month.
Over 400 competitors from across the country will take the plunge and compete for the title of National Champion in 50 trade and skill categories.
Mr Buttigieg, currently studying his Certificate III in Plumbing and Drainage at TAFE while working for Danny Hall Plumbing, will compete in the Plumbing and Heating competition at the Skills Show after earning his place following a win at the 2017 WorldSkills Australia Regional Competitions.
“I’ve always had an interest in the plumbing trade, I just like the scope of work,” he said.
“I can’t wait to show Australia and hopefully the world what I can really do.
“I’m proud to represent Sydney’s west, which is where I grew up, and I know with enough practice and guidance I can achieve anything I set my mind to.”
While the work can be sometimes draining, Mr Buttigieg said starting an apprenticeship was the best decision he ever made and hopes to run his own plumbing business one day.
“You get used to the labour side of it and now I have my head around doing the technical stuff,” he said.
“I would definitely recommend doing a trade because you will always have work for life.”
WorldSkills Australia CEO, Brett Judd, said WorldSkills Australia was nurturing and developing the skills of young Australians, and congratulated competitors for “excelling in their fields and reaching such a prestigious national level”.
The competition is held in June.
