This year the WorldSkills Australia National Championships were held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and involved more than 600 competitors in more than 60 skills categories.

Not only is the WorldSkills Australia National Championships a wonderful opportunity for competitors to demonstrate their skills and test themselves against the best of the best – it is also a chance to showcase the VET sector, and the skills students learn.

This year more than 35,000 visitors attended the event. No doubt many of them came away inspired to take up VET themselves.

The VDC congratulates all of the WorldSkills Australian National Champions, and their trainers, assessors, and on-the-job supervisors for their exceptional efforts.

Top awards were presented to:

  • Best of Nation – Lily-Grace Toohill, Victoria (pictured above) – Jewellery recognised as the highest-performing competitor across all categories.
  • VETiS Shield – NSW, awarded Best Performing State for Vocational Education and Training in Schools.
  • Evatt Shield – Melbourne East Region, awarded Best Performing Region.

New South Wales was crowned the overall winner, topping the medal tally with outstanding results across multiple categories. However, comparing share of medals won on a population share basis (for the working age population aged 15-164 years) the variation across all jurisdictions was much less marked.

Gold Silver Bronze Certificate of Excellence Medal total Percentage of medals won Percentage of the Australian working age population
NSW 18 18 23 37 96 30% 31%
VIC 19 14 16 26 75 24% 26%
QLD 12 14 10 22 58 18% 20%
WA 9 8 6 16 39 12% 11%
SA 3 7 6 12 28 9% 7%
TAS 3 2 1 2 8 3% 2%
NT 1 – 2 2 5 2% 1%
ACT 2 2 1 4 9 3% 2%

Competitors who excelled in WorldSkills-recognised international categories may now be selected as members of “The Skillaroos” and will compete next year at the 48th WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai. The VDC wishes them all the very best.