Hunter TAFE students have built, created, carved, welded, beautified and designed their way to a total of eight medals at the WorldSkills Australia’s National Competition, held at Perth’s Convention and Exhibition Centre on 18 – 20 September.

The count included four gold medals, which signifies the Hunter TAFE competitors as the best in their trade in their country. The Hunter was also honoured with The Evatt Shield for the Best Performed Region in Australia.

The competition, which went for three days, saw almost 500 young apprentices, trainees and students competing in categories ranging from the traditional trades such as plumbing, bricklaying and hairdressing, to more contemporary professions of web design, mechatronics and fashion technology.

Gold medal winners will now have the opportunity to compete in the 43rd WorldSkills International Competition in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2015, and represent Australia against 72 other competing countries.