Tuesday, 12 August 2025

Ministers statements: WorldSkills Australia

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:16): Victoria is home to Australia’s best apprentices, trainees and VET students, and we have the gold medals to prove it. Victoria topped the charts at the WorldSkills national championships, held in Brisbane this year, with apprentices and trainees competing from across Australia. Our incredible team from Victoria brought home 18 gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze medals and 26 certificates of excellence.

Last sitting week I had the pleasure of hosting the talented gold medal winners and their proud parents to personally congratulate them. I also want to give a shout-out to the people who have supported the competitors: the parents and family members and their hardworking teachers. I met Lily-Grace Toohill, who took home the gold in jewellery and won the Best in the Nation award for her craft – skills that she has learned at Melbourne Polytechnic TAFE. I met Gemma Scott from William Angliss TAFE, who won in ‘restaurant service’ and dreams of managing a resort chain one day, and Harry Slattery, who won in ‘sheet metal skills’. When I asked Harry what he would say to someone who was thinking about going to TAFE, his advice was ‘Give it a crack.’

Through free TAFE the Allan Labor government is providing opportunities for Victorians to gain the skills they need to succeed. We are upgrading TAFE, building new campuses and investing in the right supports so that every Victorian can have access to quality TAFE education. Congratulations again to every winner and every participant in this year’s WorldSkills national championships, and I cannot wait to see those ready to go to China.