- WA excels with 26 medals at the WorldSkills National Championships
- A total of 13 gold, seven silver and six bronze medals won by TeamWA
- Highlighting the strength of WA vocational education and training (VET) sector
- WA represented by 68 competitors
The talent of Western Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector was on show in Melbourne at the 2023 WorldSkills National Championships.
TeamWA proved to be among the nation’s best in an incredible display of training and skills, with 26 medallists from WA announced at the closing ceremony on Sunday night with 13 gold, seven silver and six bronze medals.
The WorldSkills National Championships are held every two years, showcasing the very best of Australian skills excellence and career pathways.
Almost 500 of the best trainees and apprentices from across Australia went head-to-head in high-pressure skills competitions and engaged with training organisations, employers and industry experts about the exciting opportunities VET can offer.
TeamWA had a total of 68 members – 46 open competitors and 22 VET in Schools (VETiS) competitors, highlighting a bright future for WA’s VET sector.
On top of the 26 medallists, a further 10 team members were awarded Certificates of Excellence, recognising outstanding performances in their competition skills.
WA Gold Medallists:
- Lewis Italiano South Regional TAFE Cabinetmaking;
- Lachlan Matheson MPA Skills Painting and Decorating;
- Jacob Dixon North Metropolitan TAFE Wall and Floor Tiling;
- Toby Rupp North Metropolitan TAFE 3D Digital Game Art;
- Kai Bahartah King and Lachlan Gelavis (Team Skill) North Metropolitan TAFE Cyber Security;
- Benton Miller South Metropolitan TAFE Turning;
- Daniel Jonasson North Metropolitan TAFE / Hale School VETiS Bricklaying;
- Tash Crofts Skills Strategies International / Ellenbrook Secondary College VETiS Tourism;
- Logan Turner South Regional TAFE / Bunbury Catholic College VETiS Electrotechnology;
- Mervyn Abrahams North Metropolitan TAFE / Ellenbrook Secondary College VETiS Wall and Floor Tiling;
- Oscar Lourie CBC Fremantle VETiS Metals; and
- Mercedes Mathews South Regional TAFE / Foundation Christian College VETiS Food and Beverage
Two dedicated Western Australians were also acknowledged by WorldSkills Australia for their contribution to VET, with Keith Glenn (Refrigeration, South Metropolitan TAFE) and Mark Harper (Automotive, The Engineering and Automotive Training Council), inducted as life members.
This year there were four new categories, with Healthcare, VETiS Healthcare Assistance, Industry 4.0 and Additive Manufacturing.
A group of eligible top performers will be selected as Skillaroos, representing Australia at the international competition to be held in Lyon, France in September 2024.
As stated by Training Minister Simone McGurk:
“The 2023 WorldSkills National Championships has been a wonderful showcase of talents in the VET sector.
“There is no doubt Western Australia is punching above its weight when it comes to
the calibre of our vocational training outcomes.
“It was a great team effort from Western Australia throughout the entire competition, winning medals in 16 of the 35 categories TeamWA competed in.
“The school-age competitors once again excelled, with 13 of the 22-strong cohort bringing home a medal or Certificate of Excellence.
“We are so incredibly proud of TeamWA and I am sure they will inspire many more young Western Australians to follow a VET pathway.”
