Melbourne Polytechnic Shines at National and Regional WorldSkills Competitions

Melbourne Polytechnic has once again demonstrated its excellence in vocational education and training, hosting a series of successful WorldSkills Regional Competitions in late 2024 and achieving outstanding results at the 2025 National Championships in Brisbane.

National Championships 2025: success on the big stage

Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12-14 June 2025, the WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Show drew more than 35,000 visitors and hosted over 600 of the nation’s top competitors across more than 60 skill categories including Joinery, Jewellery, Landscape Construction and Painting and Decorating.

Seven Melbourne Polytechnic students proudly joined Team Victoria and achieved exceptional results:

Lily-Grace Toohill – Gold Medal in Jewellery (Certificate III in Jewellery Manufacture MEM30619).

Lily-Grace was also awarded the Tjerk Dusseldorp Best in Nation award recognising the highest overall score for a competitor across all skill categories.

Lily-Grace Toohill, Jewellery student, won gold and Best in Nation at WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025.

Paris Hermsen – Silver Medal in Jewellery (Certificate III in Jewellery Manufacture MEM30619).

Paris Hermsen, Jewellery student, won silver at WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025.

Taylah De Senna-Clark – Gold Medal in Joinery (Certificate III in Joinery CPC31920).

Taylah De Senna-Clark, Joinery student, won silver at WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025.

Arif Kamat – Silver Medal in Joinery (Certificate III in Joinery CPC31920).

Arif Kamat, Joinery student, won silver at WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025.

William Hoffman and Andrew Millesi – Gold Medal in Landscape Construction (Certificate III in Landscape Construction AHC30921).

Andrew Millesi and William Hoffman, gold medal-winning Landscaping students competing at WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025.

Annabelle Barrow – Competed in Painting and Decorating (Certificate III in Painting and Decorating CPC30620).

Annabelle Barrow, Painting and Decorating student competing in WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025. Annabelle won gold at the WorldSkills Melbourne East Regional Competition 2024.

These students’ achievements in competing and winning medals places Melbourne Polytechnic at the forefront of vocational excellence in Australia.  

The Melbourne East Region, which includes Melbourne Polytechnic, was also awarded the prestigious Evatt Shield, recognising it as the Best Performing Region in Australia.

Mick Prato WorldSkills Victorian State Manager, with the Evatt Shield awarded for Highest Performing Region at WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025.

Staff mentors and alumni judges

A key component of this success was the dedication of Melbourne Polytechnic staff and alumni, who mentored students and served as official judges: 

• Ashley Cook – Landscape Construction Judge, Lead Teacher in Landscaping. 
• Yuki Mathwin – Jewellery Judge, Jewellery Teacher and Melbourne Polytechnic Jewellery alumni. 
• Lukas Page – Joinery Judge, Carpentry and Joinery Teacher, Melbourne Polytechnic Joinery alumni; WorldSkills Gold Medalist: Regional 2009, National 2010. 
• Allan Laird – Painting and Decorating, Lead Teacher in Painting.

Ashley Cook, Lead Teacher in Landscaping, judging WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025. 

Their experience and guidance played a crucial role in preparing competitors for the challenges of the national stage. We are deeply grateful for their dedication to their students and for the long hours they devoted to judging the competitions, bringing their valuable industry expertise to the event.

Looking ahead: Shanghai 2026

The students who have excelled in nationally-recognised skill categories may now be selected to join Team Australia (The Skillaroos), representing the nation at the 48th WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai 22-27 September 2026, an exciting opportunity to showcase Australian talent and Melbourne Polytechnic’s reputation for high-quality training on the world stage.

WorldSkills Nationals Brisbane 2025 Closing Ceremony Medal Winners.

Career-building competition

Our Melbourne Polytechnic students stood alongside the best young talent from across the country, showcasing not only their technical expertise but also their dedication, perseverance and passion for their craft. It takes significant commitment to compete at this level and we’re incredibly proud of how each one of them represented our community. Congratulations to all on this well-earned accomplishment.  

Melbourne Polytechnic’s achievements at WorldSkills events highlights the strength of our training programs and commitment to excellence in trades and skills education. With industry-aligned teaching, passionate mentors and world-class talent, Melbourne Polytechnic continues to shape the future of Victoria's skilled workforce. 

WorldSkills Regional Competitions 2024: emerging local talent

Throughout September and October 2024, Melbourne Polytechnic hosted seven WorldSkills Regional Competitions for the Melbourne East region at our Epping, Fairfield, Heidelberg and Eden Park locations, offering students a unique experience of competition conditions and an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a high-pressure environment.

L-R  Pamela Brown (bronze), Clare van Rossen (gold), Olivia Clarke and Lily-Grace Toohill (silver) WorldSkills Regional Competition Jewellery 24 September, Fairfield campus.

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate our 28 students who competed in Joinery, Jewellery, Landscape Construction, Painting and Decorating and VETiS/VDSS Primary Industries skills. 

Whether or not they earned a medal, taking part in these competitions is a proud achievement; one that highlights our students’ enthusiasm for stepping outside their comfort zones and challenging themselves. It also shows the dedication of their teachers who mentored them and organised to host the competitions. 

The Regional Competition resulted in a total of 17 medals for Melbourne Polytechnic students: 

These competitions bring together some of the most skilled young people in the region. Every student who participated demonstrated not only technical excellence, but also resilience, professionalism and a commitment to learning — qualities that define success far beyond any medal finish.

L-R Phoenix Boon (silver), Michael Stella (bronze) and Annabelle Barrow (gold) at WorldSkills Regional Competition Painting and Decorating - 6 September 2024, Epping campus.

L-R Mason Donoghue (silver), Ali Rezai Kashkooli and Bodhi O’Toole (bronze) at WorldSkills Regional Competition Bricklaying - 12 September 2024, Heidelberg campus.

Ruben Senior (bronze) with his completed project at WorldSkills Regional Competition Landscape Construction, 18-19 September 2024, Fairfield campus.

“WorldSkills competitions allow VET students to demonstrate the skills they are learning in the classroom and workplace in a very practical way. The competition environment demonstrates excellence, develops the skills needed by industry and showcases Vocational Education and Training as a valuable and rewarding career pathway,” said Mick Prato, WorldSkills Victorian State Manager. 

The Regional competitions are critical stepping stones for young apprentices and trainees aiming for national and international recognition in their chosen trades. It gives them a unique chance to experience high-pressure competition environments to broaden their experience of vocational learning.

Congratulations once again to all our incredible students and teachers for their achievements at the WorldSkills competitions - you’ve made us proud!

If you're feeling inspired and want to learn more about vocational education and training at Melbourne Polytechnic, check out our Course Directory - your complete guide to all available courses across vocational and higher education options.

Or, for a more in-depth look at your chosen field, register for an upcoming Information Session and take the next step toward a hands-on, career-focused future.