Team Australia Farewelled by Ministers, MPs and French Ambassador ahead of Lyon 2024

Just hours before flying to Lyon, France to represent their country at the 47^th WorldSkills International Competition, Team Australia will be formally farewelled in front of their families, industry stakeholders and dignitaries.

The farewell event is an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the 32 members of Team Australia – aka the Skillaroos – who represent the country’s best apprentices, trainees, and young professionals.

The Skillaroos will be feeling the support of the nation, with Brendan O’Connor MP (representing Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles MP), and Victoria’s Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney MP, speaking at the event.

They will get a taste of the warm hospitality that awaits them in Lyon, with French Ambassador to Australia, Pierre Andre Imbert, also presenting and meeting the team.

Lyon 2024 will be the largest International Skills Competition in WorldSkills history, with more than 1,400 competitors and 1,300 experts from over 70 countries taking part. Over 250,000 visitors from around the world are expected to attend the event over its six days.

Team Australia – the largest contingent ever sent to an International Competition – represents the best of Australia’s vocational education sector, with competitors vying for a medal in 29 skills including bricklaying, cyber security, cookery, plumbing and heating, and fashion technology

All members earned their place through a series of regional competitions and then the 2023 national championships, which pitted the nation’s best apprentices, trainees, and young professionals against one another in a series of events designed to test their and ability to perform in front of audiences while maintaining a high level of excellence.

Since qualifying, the team has been practicing and honing their skills under the guidance of their mentors. At the Global Skills Challenge, a friendly competition in May involving over 138 international competitors from 17 countries, Team Australia performed strongly, winning 15 medals and placing second overall.

The 47^th WorldSkills International Competition, will take place from 10 to 15 September. More information about the event can be found at: https://worldskills2024.com/en

The 2024 WorldSkills Australia Skillaroo Farewell Function is taking place on Thursday 5 September at Reece’s Cremorne office.

Quotes attributable to WorldSkills Australia CEO, Trevor Schwenke:

These young men and women have not only proved themselves through competitions and training, but also in the way they’ve conducted themselves along that journey.

They are amazing ambassadors for Australia and its incredible skills sector and I can’t wait to see them perform at the International Competition.

We’ve watched our athletes do us proud in Paris and now it’s time to do the same in Lyon with our Skillaroos.

Quotes attributable to Australian Government Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles 

The Australian Government congratulates the 32 Team Australia Skillaroos as they take on the WorldSkills International Competition in Lyon, France.

Like our Olympians and Paralympians, our Skillaroos are taking to the world stage in France to showcase years of hard work and excellence, only in this case, in vocational education and training (VET).

The Australian Government is proud of our world-class VET sector. We are continuing to support VET with a historic $30 billion joint commitment with the states and territories.

Our Fee-Free TAFE initiative has surged past 500,000 enrolments since January 2023, saving students thousands in fees and responding to skills shortages across Australia.

We can’t wait to see how our home-grown Skillaroos go, and we wish them all the best in Lyon.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney:

 I wish the Skillaroos the best of luck at the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon – we’ll be cheering for the green and gold.

 We’re extremely proud of the 12 Victorians who will be demonstrating their talents and representing our state’s world-class vocational training system in front of a global audience.