Nation's largest trades and skills challenge

Australia’s young apprentices, trainees and students are gearing up for the ultimate trades and skills challenge: the 2016 WorldSkills Australia National Competition.

The biannual national competition will be held from 6–8 October 2016 at Melbourne Showgrounds.

Close to 500 competitors will compete in over 50 diverse skill categories, including bricklaying, programming and electrotechnology.

The young professionals began their journey at the WorldSkills Australia Regional Competitions, held in 31 regions across the country throughout 2015, where their trade abilities were put to the test with a range of challenging projects, including building a deck, laying floor tiles, copper pipe crimping and wallpapering.

As the regional competitions draw to a close, standout competitors will be selected to progress onto the national competition, which includes three days of intensive skills activities that will uncover a ‘National Champion’ in each respective skill category.

Also on the calendar is the Air Conditioning Refrigeration and Building Services (ARBS) exhibition, which will host the 2016 WorldSkills Australia National Refrigeration Competition at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 17–19 May.

For more information, go to www.worldskills.org.au.