WorldSkills winner set to represent his country

When Albany Engineering Company's Joseph Pauley won the WA State WorldSkills Competition in Perth in 2013 as an apprentice, he didn't realise two years later he would be travelling to Brazil to represent his country.

Mr Pauley, now 21, won the national WorldSkills Competition in New Zealand and became part of the national team last month.

In August, he will travel to Brazil for a month to take on other industrial mechanics from around the world in a timed competition.

"I'm pretty excited and I'm nervous," he said.

He said he had the plans for what he would need to build, but the competition would change the plans by 30 per cent.

The challenge will cover almost every trade skill, including hydraulics, plumbing and welding, and Mr Pauley has had to travel around the State to learn these skills, including returning to his studies for a few courses.

He attributes his success to his training at Albany Engineering Company and the help of former owner Peter Bassett and workshop foreman Terry Grayson.

"It's a really good place to learn your trade because there's such a variety of work," he said. While Mr Pauley completed his apprenticeship earlier this year, he is still eligible for the competition because of his age.