National WorldSkills Competition showcases group training’s finest

Group Training Australia (GTA), the largest employer of apprentices and trainees, congratulates all apprentices and trainees who competed in the WorldSkills Australia National Competition held in Brisbane, 11-13 July.

Group training apprentices achieved one gold, three silver and six bronze medals at the competition, which brings together the best apprentices and trainees in the country.

The National Competition tests the skills of apprentices and trainees in 50 trade categories over an intensive three days. Many of the Australian medal winners will go on to compete against the best in the world at the 41st International WorldSkills Competition in London, next year.

More than 20 group training apprentices competed in the event, showing the strength of the group training network in producing highly skilled apprentices and trainees throughout Australia.

CEO of Group Training Australia, Jim Barron, congratulated all the competitors, employers, trainers and judges who participated in this year’s event.

“The group training network is extremely proud of the achievements of all competitors, and congratulates those successful in their individual fields.

“The WorldSkills competition provides an environment where apprentices and trainees not only showcase their trade skills, but also gain valuable work and life skills,” he said.

Group training medal winners included:

Gold - Shane Rofe (Wollongong, NSW), STE 1300Apprentice – Carpentry

Silver - Nigel Bloxham (Brisbane, QLD), Electro Group Apprentices – Electrical Installation
Michael Theobald (Bathurst, NSW), Central West Group Apprentices – Electrical Control
Alex Kulikovsky (Adelaide, SA), TAPS Group Training Scheme – Plumbing

Bronze - Jennifer Saarenpaa (Lake Macquarie, NSW), NovaSkill – Painting and Decorating
Eli Henebery (Sunshine Coast, QLD), Acclaim Apprentices and Trainees – Wall and Floor Tiling
Justin Poidevin (Canberra, ACT), STE 1300Apprentice – Carpentry
Tristyn Davies (Sydney, NSW), Work Ventures – Business Services
Ben Hughes, (Bathurst, NSW) Central West Group Apprentices – Electrical Installations
Jade Strack (Toowoomba, QLD), MRAEL Group – Auto Electrical

Media Contact: Renata Davis, Foresight Communications, 02 9241 2811, 0438 525 413 rdavis@forecoms.com.au.

Patron - His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Retd) Governor-General of Australia