WINGHAM apprentice Kieren Lewis is about to put everything he's learnt during the past four years to the ultimate test.
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The 19-year-old will be competing in the WorldSkills Australia's 'The Ultimate Skills Challenge' to be held in Perth on September 18-20.
The apprentice plumber is amongst 500 of Australia's most talented students, trainees and apprentices taking part in the nationwide competition to award gold medals for the best skilled workers in the country.
The fourth year apprentice has worked for Ron Crossingham, who said his young worker would be competitive as he challenges the plumbing category.
"I think he'll do well as he really stops and thinks about how he will do things," he said.
"In the competition he's got to do a task within a time limit and with a list of materials."
His boss said Kieren had proven his plumbing skills during his four year tenure.
"He's been an excellent apprentice, very dedicated and it's the last year of his apprenticeship then he has a year on the job," he said.
TAFE teacher Dylan Sambrook has taught Kieren the finer points of plumbing for the past three years, and said his pupil has what it takes to do well in Perth.
"I really do believe he will do well, and we've mentored him for the last eight months and we're pretty confident he'll be up in the medals for sure," he said.
"He's a very polite young gentleman, really passionate about his trade and industry and he strives for excellence which showed through in him winning the regional title last year in Coffs Harbour."
Mr Sambrook said his student was well prepared for the plumbing competition.
"We've done simulations and trials and the basic layout of what tasks he would have to do in Perth," he said.
As a regional winner, Kieren is one of seven entrants from the North Coast competing at the WorldSkills Australia titles, and is the only one taking part in the plumbing category.
All national winners will compete for the Australian team during next years WorldSkills Competition Sau Paulo 2015 in Brazil.