Australia’s largest and most prestigious skills and trade competition has wrapped up with participants from all across Australia taking home medals in their selected field.
The three-day event saw Australia’s most talented young people go head-to-head in a range of skills including hairdressing, welding, fashion, bricklaying, cookery and more – to win the chance to represent Australia at the 44th WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Karen Andrews congratulated all involved for being a part of such a successful event.
“The competition was an outstanding platform to inspire and encourage young Australians to find out more about the immense array of career choices available through nationally recognised training,” Min ister Andrews said.
“The WorldSkills Australia National Competition this year attracted a record 514 competitors, 650 event officials and more than 21,000 local, interstate and international visitors.
Minister Andrews said she was impressed by the high standard of the recipients of the 155 medals.
“I was particularly proud to see so many women take home gold in traditionally
male-dominated fields,” Minister Andrews said.
“Congratulations to Melinda Lethbridge from Swinburne University in Melbourne for being the first female competitor to win gold in the category of turning, Louise Azzopardi from TAFE NSW South Western Sydney Institute was the first female entrant and gold medallist in heavy vehicle mechanics, and Dusti-Lee Franchi from South Metropolitan TAFE for winning gold in the category of vehicle painting.”
For the first time, six competitors from India also took part in the event, as part of a Federal Government Australian International Education Conference program, participating in the categories of beauty therapy, fashion technology, mechatronics and web design & development.
“I wish all the gold medal winners the best of luck for the Worldskills competition in Abu Dhabi. I know you will represent Australia with distinction,” Minister Andrews said.
For the full list of medallists visit: worldskills.org.au/results-2016-worldskills-australia-national-competition/
