Queensland tradies hope to follow Socceroos to Brazil

More than 100 of Queensland’s finest young apprentices have been selected to represent the state at the National WorldSkills Australia competition in Perth in September this year.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek congratulated the Queensland team members and wished them every success.

“A highly-skilled workforce is vital in boosting productivity, reducing unemployment and building a strong four-pillar Queensland economy,” Mr Langbroek said.

“We have a strong plan to improve training opportunities for apprentices in Queensland.

“The Queensland Government is proud to support competitions like WorldSkills that showcase the opportunities that can come from engaging in quality education and training.

“This year’s team includes a dynamic mix of our finest young tradespeople and I’m confident they will make us all proud when they represent our great state in the national competition in September.”

Mr Langbroek said that if selected in the Australian WorldSkills Team, the Queenslanders will travel to São Paulo Brazil in August 2015 to compete as part of the Australian Skillaroos Team at the 43rd Worldskills International Competition.

“Last year at the 2013 WorldSkills International competition in Germany, six of the 32-person Australian Skillaroos team were Queenslanders and I’m confident that we’ll be able to fly the maroon flag yet again on the world stage,” he said.

“The team includes young people from across the state, representing the five WorldSkills regions of Brisbane, Southern Queensland, Wide Bay, Central Queensland and North Queensland.

“Several of the participants are high school students who are enrolled in school-based apprenticeships and some of these team members have demonstrated that once is not enough.

“State team members from 2012 – Painter and Decorator Molly Close, Cabinetmaker Shaun Ferrero and Landscaper Chris Lindsay represented Queensland in last year’s WorldSkills Australia National Competition in Sydney.  They have again been selected for the Queensland team and are ready to give it all they’ve got.

“These young people are great ambassadors for our training system and I am sure all of Queensland will support me in wishing them well when they compete against Australia’s best in Perth.”

*Photo attached* 

For more information visit the Worldskills website: www.worldskills.org.au

[ENDS] 26 May 2014

Media contact: Danita Goodwin 0439 886 652