WorldSkills Australia Skills Excellence Forum
As we gather tonight, we do so thanks to the skills of others.
Finely honed crafts, effort and skill surround us.
Here at Optus Stadium, 5,800 workers contributed this making this icon for our city.
Over 36 months of construction.
I remember touring this stadium while it was being built.
It is truly an achievement to the skills of all who made it.
From those who laid the concrete, to those who fitted the lights and painted the signage.
And as we sit here tonight we enjoy the skill of the chefs, caterers – and for those wanting to celebrate later – the sparkling wine makers.
AUSTRALIA’S SKILLS ECOSYSTEM
Skills are essential to building the Australia of the future.
And programs like these, which uplift the skill and capability of Australians, are crucial to building that future in our own Australian way.
That is why the name ‘Skillaroo’ is so apt.
But it did get me thinking, if a kangaroo was a skill, what skill would it be?
In my mind, a Kangaroo is a roofer.
Not just because ‘roo’ is in the name.
But because a quick search of job ads shows the physical requirements are a need to be physically fit and good with heights.
Plus, they bounce up and down from heights all day with a pouch of equipment in tow.
So - what about our other national animal – the emu?
To me, there is one obvious answer to this one: catering and hospitality.
To all of the catering staff in the room – I bet you do not need to worry about hitting 10,000 steps a day.
Instead, you have to be everywhere at once.
Except for that one particular table.
Who think you should have been there five minutes ago.
Being quick on your feet and being able to cover the ground between the kitchen and the table (depending on the customer, maybe more than once) is critical to your job.
So, what about some other trades?
A platypus – sometimes called an ‘animal made by a committee’ because of all its different parts – is a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning technician.
Dental hygienists – with their winning smiles – are quokkas.
Truck drivers are dingos, travelling long distances to bring food home to their families.
Mining and energy technicians are wombats, who build complex burrows underground.
Lyrebirds are translators.
But cockatoos are hairdressers.
An enrolled nurse who has been on a long string of nightshifts may most closely resemble a koala.
But all of these animals – and all of these skills – are a critical part of larger ecosystems.
WORLDSKILLS AUSTRALIA
WorldSkills Australia is a crucial part of keeping that skills ecosystem healthy.
Our Government proudly supports WorldSkills Australia’s skills competitions at regional, national and international levels.
They help promote and build a skills culture, celebrate excellence, and showcase vocational education and training (VET) at its best.
Skills drive the future of young people, and the future of Australia.
So it is great that the WorldSkills Competition showcases Australian vocational education and training internationally.
It puts a key focus for our Government front and centre: to continue strengthening our world-class TAFEs and VET sector.
I want to congratulate WorldSkills Australia competitors and Team Australia members who join us tonight, as well as their trainers and mentors.
You are leading by example and showcasing just how far vocational skills and training can take you in life.
YOUR SKILL STORIES
This Australian Skills Excellence Forum Dinner is such a great opportunity to network and celebrate skills excellence and share your inspiring stories.
We want those stories to be shared, because we want more Australians to benefit from vocational education and training.
There are simply too many people here tonight with great stories to tell for me to pull out just one example.
And I am looking forward to the introduction of your 2026 WA Skillaroos and Experts later.
So let me just mention a couple of former Skillaroo and Team Australia members here tonight who were all part of the 2024 team.
Starting with Lewis Italiano and Hannah Gerritsen.
Your journeys in VET were different, but they ultimately led to your skill and commitment being showcased on the world stage, in Lyon, France.
For Lewis it was a path in cabinetmaking - rather than continuing his family’s legacy in dairy farming - that got him there.
Supported by his family and his mentor and employer who saw his potential and encouraged it.
Similarly, despite facing sceptics who questioned her decision to leave school for an apprenticeship in hairdressing, Hannah knew this was her vocation.
She credits the faith shown by her parents and mentors in the industry with sticking to her chosen path, which took her to the world stage.
Both of their stories demonstrate just how important mentoring and support is for young people to be successful in following a VET pathway.
Which is why I am pleased to also shout out Todd Bell, one of our WorldSkills Experts.
Todd’s mentoring of another 2024 Skillaroo, Dylan Redman, helped Dylan become the first in his family to enter the electrical industry.
And I am sure there are many similar stories from those in the room.
Whatever your story, I thank everyone for their commitment to supporting VET.
It is a commitment that this Government shares.
When we were first elected in May 2022, we faced the second worst skills shortage of any advanced economy.
We have not wasted a moment since we came to office, and we are committed to restoring and transforming our VET system.
With initiatives like the five-year $30 billion National Skills Agreement — the first signed between the federal government and the states for over a decade.
We have put TAFE back where it belongs, as the heart of this system.
Because we know that investing in VET helps ensure all Australians have the skills and capacity to contribute to a thriving economy and strong communities.
CONCLUSION
Thank you again to everyone in this room for the work you do to promote VET and to show others the exciting pathways that exist.
I hope everyone enjoys the evening.
I hope no one was offended by their animal comparison.
And I hope next time you are in an impressive venue like this one, you appreciate the ecosystem of skills that made it possible.
I know I will.
As we gather tonight, we do so thanks to the skills of others.
Finely honed crafts, effort and skill surround us.
Here at Optus Stadium, 5,800 workers contributed this making this icon for our city.
Over 36 months of construction.
I remember touring this stadium while it was being built.
It is truly an achievement to the skills of all who made it.
From those who laid the concrete, to those who fitted the lights and painted the signage.
And as we sit here tonight we enjoy the skill of the chefs, caterers – and for those wanting to celebrate later – the sparkling wine makers.
AUSTRALIA’S SKILLS ECOSYSTEM
Skills are essential to building the Australia of the future.
And programs like these, which uplift the skill and capability of Australians, are crucial to building that future in our own Australian way.
That is why the name ‘Skillaroo’ is so apt.
But it did get me thinking, if a kangaroo was a skill, what skill would it be?
In my mind, a Kangaroo is a roofer.
Not just because ‘roo’ is in the name.
But because a quick search of job ads shows the physical requirements are a need to be physically fit and good with heights.
Plus, they bounce up and down from heights all day with a pouch of equipment in tow.
So - what about our other national animal – the emu?
To me, there is one obvious answer to this one: catering and hospitality.
To all of the catering staff in the room – I bet you do not need to worry about hitting 10,000 steps a day.
Instead, you have to be everywhere at once.
Except for that one particular table.
Who think you should have been there five minutes ago.
Being quick on your feet and being able to cover the ground between the kitchen and the table (depending on the customer, maybe more than once) is critical to your job.
So, what about some other trades?
A platypus – sometimes called an ‘animal made by a committee’ because of all its different parts – is a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning technician.
Dental hygienists – with their winning smiles – are quokkas.
Truck drivers are dingos, travelling long distances to bring food home to their families.
Mining and energy technicians are wombats, who build complex burrows underground.
Lyrebirds are translators.
But cockatoos are hairdressers.
An enrolled nurse who has been on a long string of nightshifts may most closely resemble a koala.
But all of these animals – and all of these skills – are a critical part of larger ecosystems.
WORLDSKILLS AUSTRALIA
WorldSkills Australia is a crucial part of keeping that skills ecosystem healthy.
Our Government proudly supports WorldSkills Australia’s skills competitions at regional, national and international levels.
They help promote and build a skills culture, celebrate excellence, and showcase vocational education and training (VET) at its best.
Skills drive the future of young people, and the future of Australia.
So it is great that the WorldSkills Competition showcases Australian vocational education and training internationally.
It puts a key focus for our Government front and centre: to continue strengthening our world-class TAFEs and VET sector.
I want to congratulate WorldSkills Australia competitors and Team Australia members who join us tonight, as well as their trainers and mentors.
You are leading by example and showcasing just how far vocational skills and training can take you in life.
YOUR SKILL STORIES
This Australian Skills Excellence Forum Dinner is such a great opportunity to network and celebrate skills excellence and share your inspiring stories.
We want those stories to be shared, because we want more Australians to benefit from vocational education and training.
There are simply too many people here tonight with great stories to tell for me to pull out just one example.
And I am looking forward to the introduction of your 2026 WA Skillaroos and Experts later.
So let me just mention a couple of former Skillaroo and Team Australia members here tonight who were all part of the 2024 team.
Starting with Lewis Italiano and Hannah Gerritsen.
Your journeys in VET were different, but they ultimately led to your skill and commitment being showcased on the world stage, in Lyon, France.
For Lewis it was a path in cabinetmaking - rather than continuing his family’s legacy in dairy farming - that got him there.
Supported by his family and his mentor and employer who saw his potential and encouraged it.
Similarly, despite facing sceptics who questioned her decision to leave school for an apprenticeship in hairdressing, Hannah knew this was her vocation.
She credits the faith shown by her parents and mentors in the industry with sticking to her chosen path, which took her to the world stage.
Both of their stories demonstrate just how important mentoring and support is for young people to be successful in following a VET pathway.
Which is why I am pleased to also shout out Todd Bell, one of our WorldSkills Experts.
Todd’s mentoring of another 2024 Skillaroo, Dylan Redman, helped Dylan become the first in his family to enter the electrical industry.
And I am sure there are many similar stories from those in the room.
Whatever your story, I thank everyone for their commitment to supporting VET.
It is a commitment that this Government shares.
When we were first elected in May 2022, we faced the second worst skills shortage of any advanced economy.
We have not wasted a moment since we came to office, and we are committed to restoring and transforming our VET system.
With initiatives like the five-year $30 billion National Skills Agreement — the first signed between the federal government and the states for over a decade.
We have put TAFE back where it belongs, as the heart of this system.
Because we know that investing in VET helps ensure all Australians have the skills and capacity to contribute to a thriving economy and strong communities.
CONCLUSION
Thank you again to everyone in this room for the work you do to promote VET and to show others the exciting pathways that exist.
I hope everyone enjoys the evening.
I hope no one was offended by their animal comparison.
And I hope next time you are in an impressive venue like this one, you appreciate the ecosystem of skills that made it possible.
I know I will.
Thank you.
CLOSE