Queensland’s Next Generation of Trades Talent Steps Up

• Team Queensland claimed 36 medals at the 2025 WorldSkills National Championships in Brisbane.
• More than 600 of Australia’s top apprentices, trainees and students competed across 60 skill categories.
• Queensland’s haul includes 12 gold medals and 14 silver and bronze.
• Gold medallists will represent Australia as Skillaroos at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. 

Queensland’s brightest and most skilled apprentices and trainees have done the State proud at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Brisbane – a powerful endorsement of the Crisafulli Government’s renewed focus on skills and training after years of Labor neglect. 

Over three days of intense competition, more than 600 competitors from across the country went head-to-head in 60 skill categories - and Queensland’s best rose to the top. 

Team Queensland secured 36 medals, including 12 gold, 14 silver, and 14 bronze, dominating in key skill areas such as wall and floor tiling, painting, and hairdressing – a testament to the State’s revitalised training system and the Government’s commitment to real life skills for real jobs. 

The former Labor government was repeatedly criticised for failing to anticipate future workforce needs, with industry groups like the Queensland Resources Council warning that poor policy settings and a lack of investment in training were contributing to a growing skills crisis. 

The Crisafulli Government is working to deliver a pipeline of skilled workers to repair Labor's skills shortage by boosting training and delivering three new TAFE Centre of Excellence sites across Queensland. 

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the results show what's possible when Government backs training providers, students, and industry – something that had been missing under the previous Labor government. 

WorldSkills Australia CEO Trevor Schwenke said Brisbane had hosted the biggest and best National Championships in the organisation’s history. 

“This has been a true celebration of what’s possible when young people, educators, government and industry come together to back skills,” Mr Schwenke said. 

“Brisbane was an incredible host, and it was fantastic to walk the floor and witness the outstanding level of competition as the nation’s best young talent gave it their all. 

WorldSkills Australia has been backing skills excellence since 1981 - giving young Australians a platform to shine and inspiring more to pursue vocational training. 

Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event attracted over 35,000 spectators and ran alongside the Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo. 

For more information and a full list of 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships results, visit: https://www.worldskills.org.au/2025-national-championships