Blaxland’s Mark Blewden won a silver medal in front of hundreds of his peers from across the country at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships on June 5.
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Mr Blewden took out the prestigious award after competing in the turning category of Australia’s largest skills competition hosted at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.
“I would like to thank my boss Anthony Macready and AGM Engineering for all the brilliant training with helping me to prepare, as well as my teachers at TAFE NSW for the training they’ve provided me with,” said Mr Blewden.
“I’m really looking forward to what the future holds for me.”
Young apprentices and trainees from NSW scooped 59 medals in the national championships. New South Wales competitors won about 43 percent of the 150 medals on offer across 50 trades and skills, ranging from carpentry, autobody repair and mechanics, fashion and jewellery design through to skills of the future including cloud computing and 3D game design.
Held every two years, the National Championships are open to apprentices, trainees and other vocational students aged 16-24.
New South Wales had the largest representation of apprentices and trainees, with more than 140 competitors from every corner of the state, stretching from the northern rivers areas of Coffs Harbour and Kingscliff through to Gymea.
WorldSkills Australia CEO, Brett Judd, said: “The Skills Show attracted over 1000 competitors and competition officials along with tens of thousands of local, interstate and international visitors, including a delegation from Russia.
“It created life-changing opportunities for the competitors, and was a celebration of the strengths of Australia’s vocational training system.”
Upper House MP and Katoomba resident Shayne Mallard MP said that TAFE NSW students are in high demand because of the quality of their education and ability to hit the ground running with relevant and practical skills.
For more information on Skills Show Australia 2018 and full medal results visit www.skillsshow.org.au.
