Welcome Home Reception

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today hosted a welcome home reception for the 2009 Team Australia Skillaroos. 

The Skillaroos are a team of 26 young apprentices, trainees and vocational students who have recently returned from the 40th WorldSkills International Competition in Calgary, Canada.

The WorldSkills competition represents 51 member countries and regions worldwide and was established in 1950, with Australia competing in every competition since 1988.

This year, the team won 12 medals in ten categories, maintaining Australia's ranking of fifth in the world in this competition.

Australia was represented in a range of fields including welding, floristry and web design.

Notable medal winners included Heh-Nian (James) Sun who was awarded a gold medal in restaurant service and Jessie-Lee Gladwell who won a gold medal in beauty care. Jessie-Lee was also awarded the Best of the Nation Award.

Speaking at the reception In Canberra, Minister Gillard said the Australian Government is providing $2.25 million to WorldSkills Australia over three years as part of its continuing support for vocational education.

About 400 000 Australians are already in Australian Apprenticeship schemes covering more than 500 occupations.

The Australian Government is investing $3.8 million over three years to support Australian Apprenticeships, and will invest an additional $100 million in the Apprentice Kickstart package to support young Australians entering traditional trades this summer, to ensure that Australia continues to recruit and train apprentices in traditional trades and meets the potential skills shortage head on.