Premier

WorldSkills Australia National Competition Coming To Melbourne In 2016

26 August 2015

Minister of Training and Skills Steve Herbert today announced that Melbourne will host the WorldSkills Australia National Competition in 2016.

Mr Herbert said the Andrews Labor Government will contribute $1.75 million to support the competition, which is expected to attract around 40,000 local and interstate visitors to Melbourne. The event is also expected to boost the Victorian economy by up to $20 million.

Announcing the major event at the Victorian launch of National Skills Week at Crown Melbourne this morning, Mr Herbert said the WorldSkills Australia National Competition will be an exciting opportunity to showcase Victorian industry and our training system on the national stage.

National winners have the opportunity to go on to become Skillaroos, representing Australia in the next international WorldSkills competition which will be held in 2017 in Abu Dhabi.

Six Victorians have just returned from representing Australia in the 2015 international WorldSkills competition in Brazil, with Jyothi Forman, who trained at Melbourne Polytechnic, winning a silver medal in the jewellery category.

500 competitors will take part in the WorldSkills Australia National competition, which will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds in August 2016.

The Victorian Government is building Victoria as the Education State through a range of initiatives to better support Victorians to develop the skills they need for the jobs they want including:

  • The $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund, which is investing in new facilities and supporting TAFEs to better meet their obligations to the community;
  • $50 million for the TAFE Back to Work Fund to support TAFEs to partner with industry to deliver 7000 new apprenticeships and traineeships in growing and emerging industries;
  • The independent VET Funding Review which is developing a more sustainable and stable funding model for all Victorians and the Review of Quality Assurance to restore student and industry confidence.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert

“We are excited to be playing host to the 2016 WorldSkills Australia National competition and to the best young skilled apprentices and trainees from around Australia.”

“WorldSkills Australia will put the spotlight on how training develops the skills people need to get a job, and the event itself could provide an estimated boost for the economy of up to $20 million.”

“We’re investing in skills and training and building Victoria as the Education State, to prepare young Victorians for the jobs of the future.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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