A Little About Ursula

Ursula Stephens is a NSW Labor Senator-  actively involved in the third sector in Australia. Ursula is a strong advocate for social innovation, social entrepreneurship and social inclusion. She mentors social entrepreneurs and supports social enterprises across Australia.

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Crookwell Bricklayer Does Australia Proud

NSW Senator and Goulburn resident Ursula Stephens today congratulated Crookwell bricklayer Lester Tibbles on winning a bronze medal at the 2011 World Skills Competition in London recently, saying his success was a credit to all Australians.

Lester - a student at TAFE NSW and worker at WJ Searl Bricklaying in Crookwell - was taking part in the world’s premier contest for young trades workers, pitted against national champions from Asia, Europe and the United States. Founded in 1953, the World Skills Competition pits the national skills champions from 50 nations against each other of four days of competition.

“Lester Tibbles has done Australia proud,” Senator Stephens said. “We’ve always known country NSW leads Australia in skills and trades - now we have evidence that we lead the world.”

“This young man is now officially recognised as one of the finest young bricklayers in the world – I congratulate him on his fantastic achievement in winning a bronze medal at this prestigious global contest.”

At this year’s Competition in London, the 28-member Australian team won ten medals and placed seventh overall. Lester Tibbles was Australia’s entrant in the Bricklaying Category, defeating competitors including the US, France and Germany to finish narrowly behind the UK and Denmark, who tied to share the gold medal.

“Lester’s motto for this contest was ‘the more you put into it, the more you get out of it,” Senator Stephens said. “He certainly lived up to that with his efforts in this competition.

“His success is yet another example of how well regarded our apprentices and trainees are on the national and international stage. I congratulate him on winning this medal, and on representing Australia at this global skills challenge.”

The Australian Skillaroos team were competitively selected and supported by WorldSkills Australia, a non-profit group which develops the skills of Australia's youth by promoting and building a skills culture, and giving them an opportunity to showcase their trades.

The 2013 Australian Skillaroos team comprised 28 apprentices, trainees and vocational education and training students aged 23 and under who were chosen from the 2010 Australian National WorldSkills competition.

The Gillard Government provides Worldskills $1.3 million a year to help with costs and in sending teams to the World Skills Competitions. The next World Skills Competition will be held in Leipzig, Germany in 2013. Further information, photos and team results are available at www.worldskillaroos.org.au/