Victorian plumbing apprentice Sebastian Battista will represent Australia in the 47^th WorldSkills competition for young tradespeople and artisans, which will be held in Lyon, France, in mid-September 2024. Below, Sebastian responds to our questions about the selection process for the competition, his training background, and his personal aims for the event…

Q: What are your plumbing credentials?

I have just started my fourth year as a plumbing apprentice.

Q: Where have you done your work/training? 

I currently work in our family business, Battista Plumbing and Gas Fitting Pty Ltd.

Q: How did you hear about the WorldSkills International Competition? 

One of my teachers at TAFE Gippsland suggested I compete, so I decided to give it a go and began this exciting journey.

Q: How did you earn your place as an Australian representative (‘Skillaroo’) in the WorldSkills Australian team? 

I competed in the Victorian WorldSkills competition, where I had to build a map of Australia out of different types of plumbing materials, using various techniques. I received a gold medal so went on to compete in the national competition against other winners from around the country. We had to construct plumbing from plans in a plumbing duct and work collaboratively on a community project for Uralla House. My performance stood out and I was selected as part of Team Australia for Lyon 2024.

Q: What are your strongest/weakest plumbing skills? 

I am very easy going and good at using various machinery and tools within the plumbing industry. One area I’ve been working on is identifying issues, diagnosing causes, and providing solutions and I’m really pleased with my progress.

Sebastian and his father Danny.

Q: Are plumbing activities more difficult under the pressure of a competition? 

Absolutely. There’s a lot of pressure on you, especially as you have no idea what you will be doing until the day of the competition. There are time constraints, and you must be able to settle your nerves, block out the crowds, and really focus on the job at hand.

Q: Do you believe Australian plumbers, generally speaking, are skilful compared to practitioners from other countries? 

I don’t really know yet – but I’m looking forward to finding out.

Q: Do you expect to learn new skills from your international competitors? 

I hope so. I’m really looking forward to meeting other competitors from around the world and learning a bit more about how their plumbing industries do things compared to here in Australia.

Q: What kinds of skills can overseas competitors learn from you? 

I want to be a good ambassador for my country and teach the others about the Australian way of life. I’d also like to shine a light on our great plumbing industry and how we do things.

Q: How important are mentors when plumbers are learning new skills? Have you had a noteworthy mentor? 

My mentors have been invaluable, not just to my progress with WorldSkills but to my overall career. My biggest mentor has been my father, Danny Battista, who introduced me to the plumbing world and helps me every day. The Plumbing Department at TAFE Gippsland is another great support and has helped me a lot with problem solving. WorldSkills Australia’s Patrick Keating has really helped me prepare for Lyon and build my confidence as we get closer.

Q: We never stop learning new skills – how do you keep learning? 

There is always something new coming out and new ways of doing things. Materials suppliers, on-the-job training, and TAFE Gippsland are great resources to stay up to date with all the exciting changes that are happening across the industry.

Q: Would you advise other young plumbers to participate in future competitions? 

Absolutely. It’s been such a rewarding journey that’s helped me grow not only as a plumber, but also as a person. If you are thinking of doing this, you need to be prepared to give up personal time and commit to your training schedule, so you’re ready for whatever the competition brings. A good support network is a necessity and I’ve been so lucky to have this to help me manage the stresses of it all. It’s not only a big commitment from you but also from your employer, your family, your friends, and your TAFE training facility. But despite all that, it’s been an experience that will stay with me forever. I would absolutely tell others to have a go as you have nothing to lose but lots to gain.

This article first appeared in Plumbing Connection, Issue #3 2024. 

Sebastian expresses his thanks to Reece for their support and supply of training materials over the past year in the lead-up to his trip to Lyon.