Tasmania's 18-strong team of talented apprentices and vocational trainees will leave tomorrow to represent the State at the prestigious WorldSkills Australia National Competition in Sydney.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Nick McKim, today presented competition polo shirts to members of the Tasmanian team, who will be representative in areas including Automotive Mechanics, Floristry, Hairdressing, Meat Retailing, Cabinetmaking and Welding.

"This year Team Tasmania has 18 competitors - six from the North-West, five from the North and seven from the South," Mr McKim said.

"Training competitions such as WorldSkills, as well as our own Tasmanian State Training Awards, showcase excellence in VET and inspire students and employers to develop skills and use those skills in a way that builds future success for both individuals and businesses.

"Tasmania has been involved in WorldSkills since its inception in 1981 and has competed in each cycle of competition.

"Our State has an enviable record of success at the national competition, winning the Evatt Shield for best performed region three times since 2001."

Mr McKim said that the Tasmanian team members were selected after winning gold medals in their categories in the regional competitions held last year.

"WorldSkills gives young people the chance to develop and improve their job skills through competitions which aim to challenge them and demonstrate their quality of work," Mr McKim said.

"The competition tests the quality of workmanship through hands-on ability and calls on real-life skills of job planning, problem solving and the capacity to think through the job at hand.

"I'd like to congratulate the Tasmanian team members on their hard work and thank their teachers, trainers, employers and sponsors in helping them achieve this goal.

"I look forward to seeing the talented competitors here today representing Tasmania with distinction on the national stage."

The national competition will run until 1 September.

National winners, if eligible, may go on to represent Australia in Leipzig, Germany in July 2013.

Team Tasmania Competitors:

Jed Ryan - Automotive Mechanics (Skills Institute and Tasmanian Automobile Chamber of Commerce Bathurst St Workshop in Launceston)

Matthew Barratt - Bricklaying (Skills Institute and All Brick. Bricklaying Pty Ltd, Mornington)

Brock Whiteley - Cabinetmaking (Skills Institute and Toledo Furniture, Invermay)

Samuel Nancarrow - Carpentry - (Skills Institute and JPO Building Contractors, Spreyton)

Joshua Pratt - Construction Steelwork (Skills Institute and Kingston Bros, Smithton)

William Roberts - Cookery (Skills Institute and Taste Karen Goodwin Roberts Catering, Hobart)

Clinton Morgan - Fitting (Skills Institute and ACL Bearing Co, Rocherlea)

Tasha Morgan - Floristry (Marjorie Milner College)

Jessica Kerstan - Hairdressing (Skills Institute)

Kristofer Maxwell - Heavy Vehicle Mechanics (Skills Institute, Work & Training and De Bruyn's Transport, Burnie)

Brodie Robins - Joinery (Skills Institute and Hillcrest Joinery, Moonah)

Joshua Webb - Meat Retailing (Skills Institute and McLennan's Butchery, Scottsdale)

Scott Louw - Plastering (Skills Institute and Hi-Lite Plaster, Rosny Park)

Adam Rich - Retail Baking-Bread (Skills Institute and Banjo's Bakehouse, Latrobe)

Bianca Heenan - Retail Baking-Pastry (Skills Institute and Wrest Point Casino, Hobart)

Joshua Boag - Sheetmetal Work (Skills Institute and SEBA Sheetmetal, Devonport)

Joshua Cameron - Turning (Skills Institute and Kolmark Pty Ltd, Westbury)

Joshua Power - Welding (Skills Institute and BHP Billiton TEMCO, Bell Bay)

 

** Competitors from the North and North-West will leave Launceston Airport tomorrow at 11.30am, while Southern competitors will leave Hobart at 8.40am.