TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour students performed very well at the WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships, held in Brisbane from 12-14 June.
Connor Roberts claimed a silver medal in 3D Digital Game Art and received the award at the medal ceremony on Sunday in front of hundreds of vocational students from across the country.
Fynn Robins (Barbering) and Shannon Hopewell (Construction Steel Work) each received a Medallion of Excellence.
The three-day competition brought together Australia’s top emerging talent across more than 50 skill categories, with participants tested under real-world, high-pressure conditions.
Connor said, “Everything about the WorldSkills experience is pretty incredible.
“Winning a silver medal feels great. It’s the best result anyone from NSW has achieved in this category before.
“I was feeling really confident going into the competition.
“My coach and I had spent a lot of time researching and studying previous competitions, and I dedicated hours to practising.
Connor said that the competition involved creating a 3D model of a shark.
“I started by sketching the concept, then built and refined the model to match it.
“We textured it, animated it, and finally brought it into the game engine to finalise it.”
Connor is studying a Diploma of Information Technology (Game Art and Design) and plans to go on to university and, one day, start his own company of talented artists.
“I’ve always enjoyed art and I loved gaming, so this career path felt like a natural progression.”
TAFE NSW Managing Director Chloe Read, said it was an incredible result.
“WorldSkills is more than a competition, it’s a celebration of vocational excellence, and an invaluable opportunity for students to build their skills, confidence, and careers,” she said.
Quarterly data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows that the number of apprentices and trainees fell by the end of December 2024.
Trade numbers decreased by 2.9 percent compared with December 2023, while non-trade numbers fell more significantly by 19.1 percent.
The largest declines were among construction trade workers, down 2805 or 11.9 percent, and automotive and engineering trades workers, down 1345 or 5.8 percent.
Within the construction sector, notable falls were recorded for carpenters and joiners, down 1480 (13.1%), and plumbers, down 750 (9.2%).
However, participation remains above the pre-pandemic levels recorded at the end of 2019.
The achievements of Coffs Harbour TAFE students demonstrates the life-changing impact of hands-on training and mentorship.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said, “These students are a credit to their communities and a testament to the quality of vocational education we’re delivering right across NSW.
TAFE NSW equips students with the practical skills and experience they need to thrive in the workforce, and their success on the national stage speaks volumes.”
By Andrew VIVIAN
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