Queensland WorldSkills Team heads to national finals

Queensland Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek today wished Queensland's top apprentices and trainees well as they set off for the nation's largest skills competition.

Mr Langbroek said the WorldSkills Australia National Competition gets under way in Sydney this week and Queensland is sending a strong team.

"Congratulations to our highly skilled team of apprentices and trainees, who all won top honours in regional WorldSkills competitions across the state last year," Mr Langbroek said.

"They will now go on to showcase their skills on the national stage, in more than 50 categories, spanning from traditional trades such as bricklaying to more contemporary professions like computer programming."

Minister Langbroek said the Queensland team consisted of 82 competitors, aged between 16 and 23, including 11 school-based apprentices and trainees.

"It is important to encourage young people to keep building on what they know and give them clear avenues to build their vocational skills at school and beyond," he said.

Mr Langbroek wished the team well during a visit to SkillsTech Australia. He also recognised the 130th anniversary of TAFE Queensland.

"TAFE Queensland has grown from providing one course for a dozen students 130 years ago, to the largest vocational education and training provider in Queensland," he said.

"It has more than 200,000 students participating in more than 800 programs."

The WorldSkills Australia National Competition is being held in Sydney from Thursday 30 August to Saturday 1 September, as part of National Skills Week which runs until Sunday 2 September.

For more information on WorldSkills, visit www.worldskills.org.au.