It’s been quite the journey for Yanco Agricultural High School student Dominic Edwards, from a kid brought up in Brisbane to winning gold in the Primary Industries category at the National Championships of the WorldSkills competition.

“I have no background in Agriculture; I grew up in the city. But when I moved to Yanco High, I started studying Primary Industries as part of my HSC,” he said.

“WorldSkills let me demonstrate my skills and how I’ve developed them to a really high level. And it shows that anyone can do that.”

The WorldSkills National Championships in Brisbane brought together more than 600 competitors from the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, vying for glory across 63 skill areas – from primary industries, hairdressing, IT, mechanics, to food and beverage and everything in between.

52 high school students from NSW competed from all sectors, with the public system boasting four medallists from 23 entrants:

• Dominic Edwards, Yanco Agricultural High School - Gold in Primary Industries

• Joey Timmer, Yass High School - Gold in Plumbing

• Emre Taskin, Keira High School - Silver in Augmented Reality Welding
  

• Cooper Grant, South Sydney High School - Silver in Bricklaying

Dominic’s competition involved being thrown into scenarios across a range of competencies, including tractor operation, chemical application, fencing and sustainability.

“It’s so beneficial to your career development,” he said.

“I’m really passionate about the red meat industry as well as broader agriculture and competing at World Skills has allowed me to put it out there – hey I’m not just competent in my level of study, I’m competent to an industry level.

“Hopefully that puts me forward as a good employment candidate.”

NSW won the overall schools competition, making Heather White a very proud team manager.

“This was a chance not only for our students to test and develop their skills, but to show some resilience, some courage, to stand up and be counted,” she said.

The NSW team was joined by 18 VET teachers and staff who were there to support the students during the competition.

“They’ve made themselves proud, and their parents and teachers proud of the journey they’ve undertaken and the work they have done to get where they are,” Ms White said.

Cooper Grant, from South Sydney High School, was over the moon to claim a silver in his chosen field.

“I only started doing bricklaying a year and a half ago and stuck to it and really enjoy it. So, I thought it was a great opportunity to come and show my skills and represent NSW,” he said.

“It will definitely improve my skills out on the work site. I’ve learned new skills doing this, plus the travelling and making new friends has been great.”

Kyla Prinsloo, from Canobolas High School, competed in Augmented Reality Welding.

“It’s just such a cool thing, it’s like an AI headset inside the welding helmet and it replicates the welding experience,” she said.

“I didn’t know World Skills even existed, where all the trades can come together and show off a bit. Seeing all of these trades is amazing. I’ve just loved every single second of it.”

Heather White said it was the connections made at the competition that meant the most to her and the students involved.

“The most rewarding moments at World Skills is where students come along and they don’t know anybody they’re competing against, some have never been on a plane before, some have never been in a hotel before,” she said.

“They all leave at the end of the week having grown as a person.”