Australia’s Biggest International Skills Competition

The 2019 Global Skills Challenge, supported by WorldSkills Australia, the Victorian TAFE Association and the Office of the Victorian Skills Commissioner, will be the biggest international skills excellence competition to be held in Australia this year.

500 competitors and officials from 16 different countries will take part in 24 different skill competitions hosted in several Victorian TAFE institutes, including: Kangan Institute, Holmesglen Institute and RMIT University.
The competition will be the final selection process for hundreds of young apprentices and trainees hoping to represent their country at the upcoming 45th WorldSkills International Championships.

The championship will be held in Kazan, Russia in August, where an anticipated audience of 250,000 will watch competitors from 80 countries compete for gold, silver and bronze medals and the title of world champion in their skill.

In addition to showcasing the vocational training facilities, the Global Skills Challenge provides an opportunity for Victorian teachers to exchange ideas about best practices with some of the world’s best teachers and trainers. Skills to be showcased at the event range from traditional trades such as Carpentry and Cookery through to essential future skills like 3D Game Design & Cloud Computing.

Victorian Skills Commissioner, Mr Neil Coulson said, “ensuring that young people get the best possible training to support them into employment is crucial. Events such as the Global Skills Challenge are real opportunities for these students to showcase the skills they have learnt on a national stage. This event highlights the level of proficiency achieved by Australian apprentices in their chosen trade and allows the apprentices to challenge themselves against their contemporaries.”

WorldSkills Australia CEO, Brett Judd said, “The young Australians competing are the nation’s top up and coming skill and trade specialists. They are supported by some of our country’s best trades and skill experts who act as their trainers and mentors. They have been training since September last year, and all of them are vying for a spot on the Skillaroo team, and their chance to represent Australia in Russia this August.”
Mr Judd explained, “Australia is regarded as a high performing Vocational Education Nation, and we are currently 10th on the WorldSkills rankings after the 2017 International Championships. Countries taking part in the Global Skills Challenge, many of whom are important Australian trade partners including China, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan and India, are eager to see the Victorian TAFE facilities while they measure their performance against the Australian team before the world championships in August.”

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For all media inquiries please contact Brenna Watson-Paul (Marketing Manager) bwatsonpaul@worldskills.org.au