But the persistence paid off when Justin, a 22-year-old automotive electrician scored gold, putting him in line for the national leg of the competition to be held in Perth this week.

Justin started working at Shoalhaven Auto Electrical in the Nowra CBD around four years ago.

He had in fact completed his high school work experience at the company and went back after graduating year 12 at Shoalhaven High School in 2010 to see if they had a job for him.

“They put me on labouring around the place, and three months later offered me an apprenticeship,” he said.

Justin studied at a TAFE campus in Weatherill Park.

His teacher Richard Jordan encouraged him to enter WorldSkills Australia.

The competition is concerned with encouraging young Australians to achieve their full potential.

“He hassled me for weeks,” Justin said.

“I didn’t know anything about it, but he said ‘just do it’.

“I was hesitant; I didn’t know the first thing about it.”

The competition was in June.

A WorldSkills Australia representative attends and sets up a number of different stations covering topics of the trade.

Competitors are judged on each subject or topic and it takes an entire day.

“It definitely puts you on the spot, having someone there watching you the whole time,” Justin said.

At a presentation during the evening, marks are given.

“I got gold for auto electrical, so if you get gold you get to move onto the next section.”

He is looking forward to the national competition in Perth.

“It definitely makes you nervous, but all you can do is give it your best and see what you come out with,” Justin said.

“I have been doing a bit of training, as they do give you a bit of a heads up on what they’ll be marking you on.

“But it’s up to you to study on that.”

Justin has had to do things like pull a starter motor apart and put it back together and repair it, diagnose an engine management fault and interpret wire diagrams and wire up an engine.

“It always has to be to specs and the judge is watching you,” he said.

If he wins gold in this round, he will have the opportunity for sponsorship to work overseas in a car factory.

“That would definitely be good,” he said.