The WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Show is set to begin today (12 June) with TeamWA enlisting 74 young Australians to compete in the vocational skills event.
At the largest vocational education and skills excellence competition in the country, skilled Australians will compete at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre until 14 June, with a medal ceremony to celebrate the achievements of participants on 15 June, marking the close of the event.
With apprentices, trainees, and vocational students enlisted to compete, TeamWA has enlisted 30 school-aged students to take part in the vocational education and training categories, such as automotive technology, bricklaying, carpentry, and welding.
Western Australian Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says there is no doubt students will make the state proud in this event.
“Western Australia continues to lead the way in vocational education and training, and TeamWA’s participation in the WorldSkills Australia National Championships is a testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of our young professionals,” Sanderson says.
“WorldSkills Australia provides an unparalleled opportunity for young Western Australians to benchmark their expertise against the country’s best.
“Competitors gain invaluable experience that will shape their future careers and strengthen Western Australia’s workforce.”
As reported by Mining.com.au, Australia has drafted a national agreement in efforts to close the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their involvement in employment and education.
Targets aim to increase Indigenous youth between the ages 15 and 24 years involved in employment, education, or training to 67% by 2031. The most recent data recorded by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare saw 58% of Indigenous youth enrolled in employment and education in 2021, which was below the target trajectory of 60.5%.
In a state centered around the mining and resources sector, 22% of trainees and apprentices are Indigenous in the resources industry. Following the 2021 census that reported 3.3% of the state’s population to identify as Indigenous, this statistic represents a growing desire for Indigenous participation in mining.
The overall involvement of Indigenous peoples in the mining sector continues to increase as the country strives to close the gap, now with 950 new Indigenous jobs created in Western Australia’s mining sector, as noted by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia last year.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: WorldSkills Australia
