Dylan Di Martino may just be Australia’s best apprentice plumber.
The 21 year-old Hillside resident has been a fierce competitor in the WorldSkills competition – known as the Olympics of vocational training.
WorldSkills showcases the talent of top apprentices and trainees in about 50 categories, ranging from hairdressing to plumbing.
Dylan competed in a regional competition about three years ago, and won. He then progressed to the nationals where he won gold. He has just returned from the Oceania titles in New Zealand where he scored silver.
Dylan will now join Australia’s team, the Skillaroos, on the world stage in August for International WorldSkills in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“It’s getting pretty exciting,” Dylan said. “Once the international competition is done, I will get my world ranking.”
The young man already is hoping to score gold again. The committed apprentice is going to school, working and getting in lots of practice in the lead-up to the international competition.
“[The competition] teaches you to work so much quicker and more efficiently,” he said.
The fourth year apprentice is studying at Victoria University’s Sunshine campus. For his day job, he works alongside his dad and brother in the family plumbing business.
“[WorldSkills] is not the kind of thing you would go in to with half an effort,” he said. “You’ve got to give it your all and give it the best you can.”
Yasemin Talat
