The national team – known as the Skillaroos – is comprised of Australia’s best young apprentices and trainees, having earned their place through a gruelling series of regional and national competitions.
They will compete in trades and skills ranging from baking and carpentry to landscaping and cloud computing.
More than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions will take part across 64 skill competitions.
The 39 Skillaroos will travel to Shanghai supported by 35 experts, who have overseen their training and preparation, along with six team officials, bringing the total Australian delegation to 80 representatives – the largest in Australia’s history.
Selection for Team Australia followed a rigorous two-year journey through regional competitions across the country and the national championships.
In addition to giving the Skillaroos a shot at gold, the competition offers Australia the chance to measure its vocational skills against the world’s best while showcasing the strength of the nation’s training system.
WorldSkills Australia CEO, Trevor Schwenke, said: “WorldSkills is about more than medals – it’s a chance to demonstrate the calibre of Australia’s apprentices, trainees and students alongside the best emerging talent from around the globe. At a time when skilled workers are more important than ever to Australia’s future, it’s inspiring to see so many young people striving for excellence in their trades and technical careers.”
One of the Skillaroos is Bailey Lowes, from the small New South Wales town of Temora, who will compete in the Industrial Mechanics section.
The 22-year-old fitter and turner with Goldenfields Water, is turning years of hands-on trade experience into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Bailey says his work enabled him to develop the practical, problem-solving skills that will transport him to the global stage.
The organisation services a vast area of the Riverina, and the demands of the job – often requiring quick thinking and on-the-spot solutions – have helped shape his approach.
“I’m always getting put in situations at work where I’m under pressure,” Bailey explains. “Everyone needs water, so you’ve got to find a solution and fix it.”
It’s that real-world experience, he believes, that sets him apart heading into international competition. Unlike some competitors who train exclusively for events, Lowes applies his skills daily on the job – a factor he sees as a major advantage.
“I’m doing this work every day,” he says. “I’ve built my skills from the ground up through my apprenticeship and on-site experience.”
Bailey recently completed his three-year apprenticeship through TAFE and is continuing to build his expertise with further study in engineering machining. But his journey to the world stage has been anything but straightforward.
After progressing through regional and national competitions, he said his place in the Australian team was an achievement both overwhelming and rewarding.
“There were so many good apprentices there,” he says. “I was surprised, but I felt like I’d worked really hard for it. It was a big relief and I was just excited to take on the opportunity.”
That moment marks a significant milestone not just personally, but for his family. Coming from a farming background, Lowes is the first to pursue a trade career – a decision that has paid off.
“They were a bit shocked at first,” he says of his parents’ reaction. “But they’ve been very supportive. It’s been great to have that backing.”
Support has also come from within the workplace. His employer and colleagues at Goldenfields Water have played a key role in his development, providing both guidance and encouragement throughout his apprenticeship.
“They’ve taught me most of what I know on the job,” Bailey says. “They’ve been a big part of my journey.”
A crucial influence has been mentor Rod Ryan, a retired fitter and machinist who has worked closely with Bailey throughout his training. Together, they have spent countless hours outside of normal work time refining skills and preparing for competition.
The hours of preparation are particularly important during the national competition, where Lowes faces the best apprentices from across Australia. The step up in competition is significant – and nerve-wracking.
“It’s a big jump,” he says. “You’re competing against the best in the country, so it definitely puts the pressure on.”
Now, with Shanghai on the horizon, Bailey is intensifying his preparation. Training sessions are ramping up, and he is learning new techniques to broaden his capabilities ahead of the international challenge.
“Time’s flying,” he says. “I’m training a lot and picking up new skills I haven’t done before. I’m just taking it all in.”
Despite the scale of the opportunity, Bailey remains grounded. He approaches the competition with quiet confidence, shaped by years of hands-on experience and a belief in the work he has put in.
“I’ve worked hard to be where I am,” he says. “I’ve got confidence in my skills and I don’t let the pressure get to me.”
The trip to China will also be a personal milestone, with his mother and partner, Zali, set to travel and support him. “She’s very proud,” he says of his partner. “She’s seen how hard I’ve worked for this.”
Despite the temptation to dream of Shanghai’s bright lights, Bailey remains focused on the bigger picture – not just his own journey, but what it represents for other young tradespeople.
“This is the first time I’ve done anything like this,” he says. “It’s a great experience, and I’d encourage any apprentice to have a go. It can be life changing.”
Another fresh-faced Skillaroo member is Queenslander Lachlan Wright, who, at 21, will compete in the heavy vehicle technology category.
Based in Brisbane, Lachlan works with Volvo Commercial Vehicles, where he has already completed his apprenticeship and established himself in a demanding and highly skilled field. His trade spans a wide range of disciplines, from diagnostics and electrical systems through to hydraulics, air conditioning and engine schematics – an all-encompassing skillset that mirrors the complexity of modern heavy vehicles and mobile plant.
“It’s a pretty broad category,” he explains. “There’s a lot of variety, and that’s what interested me in the industry from the start.”
That variety, combined with the challenge of the work, initially draws him into the trade. But his pathway to international competition begins more unexpectedly, following encouragement from a trainer during his time in Queensland.
Competing against the best apprentices in Australia, Lachlan admits there is an element of uncertainty, particularly given that no one at his dealership has previously gone through the process.
“It was something new,” he says. “People weren’t really aware of what was involved.”
Once the competition begins, Lachlan finds familiarity in the format. Despite the pressure – tight timeframes, observers watching closely and the added weight of expectation – he approaches each task much as he would in the workshop.
“It’s really just the same things you do day in, day out,” he says. “You’ve just got a clock going and a bit more stress.”
That ability to stay grounded proves crucial for Lachlan. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by the scale of the event, he focuses on the job in front of him – a mindset shaped by real-world experience.
“It’s no different to working on the side of the road with a customer,” he says. “You’ve still got to operate professionally and get the job done.”
It’s a perspective that belies his age. In an industry where trust is essential, particularly when dealing with complex and costly machinery, Wright is already accustomed to working under scrutiny.
“You do get that pressure,” he says. “People are trusting you with their equipment, so you’ve got to know what you’re doing.”
Alongside the sense of achievement in being selected for the Australian team, something that was both exciting and daunting, comes a degree of uncertainty about what lies ahead.
“There’s excitement, but also a bit of nervousness,” he says. “You don’t really know what to expect at that next level.”
As the reality of competing internationally begins to sink in, preparation ramps up for Lachlan. Since late last year, he has been training intensively, working with mentors at TAFE Queensland and industry partners to refine his skills and address any gaps.
The focus is not just on technical ability, but on readiness for the competition environment itself – replicating the pressure, pace and scrutiny he will face in Shanghai.
“It’s about being match-ready,” he says. “Practising under those conditions so you’re prepared when it counts.”
That preparation will continue in the lead-up to September, with further training sessions and practice competitions designed to sharpen both skills and mindset.
For Lachlan, the World Skills competition will be his first visit to a non-English speaking country – an aspect he is both curious and excited about.
“It’s going to be very different,” he says. “The culture, the food, the language – it’s a whole new experience. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
It is also a proud moment for his family. With no background in the automotive industry – his father an electrician and his mother a teacher – Lachlan has forged his own path into the trade. Their reaction to his selection is one of pride and excitement.
“They’re thrilled,” he says. “It’s a big achievement, and they’re very proud.”
For the next few months, Lachlan is keen to invest his time now for an experience that will stay with him long after the competition ends.
“The more practice we get, the better position we’ll be in,” he says.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles MP, said of the team: “The Skillaroos are great role models for Australians young and old to see where a qualification in vocational education and training can take you – skills that leads to a great long-term career in the jobs that Australians rely on every day.”
