Assessment
Hi, I’m Russ, a Fabrication Trade Assessor at Trade Skills Australia. I’ve been in the fabrication and welding industry since 2003, and over the past two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to build a broad and hands-on career across a wide range of worksites, industries, and roles. From heavy fabrication to shipbuilding, vehicle bodybuilding to precision welding, I’ve worked in just about every environment you can think of; and I bring that real-world experience to every assessment I conduct. My trade journey began in fabrication and welding, and it’s taken me through roles in pipefitting, construction, ship and barge work, mining and earthmoving equipment, and general fabrication projects. I’ve held qualifications and tickets in all four major welding processes and positions, and I’m confident working with materials such as mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, and titanium. Along the way, I also managed a small welding and fabrication workshop for two years. That leadership role gave me valuable insight into not just the technical side of the trade, but also operations, safety, team dynamics, and what it takes to run a successful, productive site. I later moved into the RTO space, where I spent five years in various training and support roles. That experience helped me understand how important it is for assessments to reflect the real work tradespeople do, and how critical it is to provide a supportive, fair, and respectful environment when assessing someone’s skills. “My approach to assessment is founded on a genuine respect for the trade. Assessment should be more than ticking boxes – it’s about giving tradespeople the opportunity to prove what they can do, in a way that’s fair, supportive, and true to the real work they do on the job.” I assess across a range of units under the MEM31922 qualification, including: BM (Boilermaker) BMW (Boilermaker/Welder) WLD (Welder) SMW (Sheet Metal Worker) I understand that many experienced workers have built their skills over years on-site, not in classrooms. My role is to help them demonstrate those skills with confidence; and to make the assessment process feel straightforward, relevant, and achievable. I’ve walked in the same boots as the people I assess, and that gives me a deep respect for the work they do. I’m here to make sure they’re recognised for it, properly and professionally.