Goldenfields Water County Council is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement of employee Bailey Lowes, who is set to represent Australia at the 48th WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September. Bailey is one of just ten TAFE NSW students selected to compete as part of Australia's 38-member team at the international competition. Bailey, who comes from a farming family background in Temora and is now a fully qualified Fitter/Machinist, has earned a place in Australia's prestigious Skillaroos Team. Bailey's passion for fitting and machining began long before he started his apprenticeship. Growing up on a family farm, like many farm kids, he spent countless hours alongside his father helping repair and maintain farm equipment. "I always enjoyed being out in the shed helping Dad fix things on the farm," Bailey said. "Seeing how machinery worked and being able to repair it was something that really interested me from a young age." That interest continued to grow throughout his school years. Once Bailey reached high school and began studying metalwork, he quickly realised he had found a career path that matched his passion. His family will also be travelling to Shanghai to support him during the competition. Bailey’s mother, Heather said "Matt and I are incredibly proud of Bailey and everything he has achieved through WorldSkills. “From a young age, he has always been creative, determined and hardworking, whether he was building things around the farm or taking on new challenges,” she said. “To see that passion and dedication lead to him representing Australia at the highest level of his trade is something very special and incredibly well deserved." Over the past two years, Bailey has dedicated countless hours to preparing for the event through intensive training and development. With the guidance of his TAFE fitting and machining teacher and mentor, he has travelled monthly to further develop the advanced skills required to compete on the world stage. Bailey said he is looking forward to representing Australia and testing his skills against some of the world's best tradespeople. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'm excited to experience another country, meet competitors from around the world and represent Australia in a field I'm passionate about,” he said. Bailey believes the experience will deliver long-term benefits for both his career and Goldenfields Water community. "The skills, knowledge and techniques I've gained through WorldSkills training are invaluable. Being exposed to specialised equipment and advanced machining practices has given me a broader understanding of what's possible in our industry." As part of his WorldSkills journey, Bailey has trained using specialised equipment through TAFE NSW. Recognising the value of these skills in the workplace, Bailey will play a key role in sharing his knowledge with colleagues and helping introduce new techniques that can improve efficiency and support future projects across the organisation. He has also been passing on his knowledge to others, including a current Goldenfields Water apprentice whom he has been mentoring as part of his WorldSkills journey. Goldenfields Water Acting General Manager, Alex Dahlenburg, said Bailey's achievement reflects both his dedication and the organisation's commitment to workforce development. "To have one of our employees selected to represent Australia at a competition of this calibre is an exceptional achievement,” Mr Dahlenburg said. “The benefits extend far beyond the competition itself. Bailey is bringing back valuable skills, knowledge and experience that will benefit our entire workshop team and contribute to the future success of Goldenfields Water." Looking beyond Shanghai, Bailey's involvement with WorldSkills may continue through future opportunities as a mentor, judge, and advocate for skills development within the industry. Goldenfields Water extends its sincere congratulations to Bailey and wishes him every success as he represents Australia on the international stage. His achievement is a source of pride for the organisation and the wider community, and we know the whole community will be behind him as he competes in Shanghai. Goldenfields Water County Council
