Team Australia Announced
The WorldSkills Australia, Team Australia was officially announced today 6th November at Doltone House in Sydney. The 29 competitors will embark on their quest for gold at the 40th WorldSkills International Competition in Canada next year.
Team Australia, labelled the ‘Skillaroos', are 29 of the country's medal winning skill and trade champions and are set to test their abilities against the best in the world in Calgary, Canada in September 2009.
The Australian team will train for the next 10 months, refining their skills similar to athletes preparing to compete amongst the best competitors from around the world. The Australian team will be representing 26 different trade and skill categories from Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy to Automobile Technology and Landscape Gardening.
The International Competition will be a showcase of the global standards displayed by 50 countries and is expected to draw crowds of over 250,000 people. Team Australia competitors will not only face the pressures of excelling in their categories, but also defending Australia's current 5th place ranking in the world - a great legacy from the preceding Australian Team at the 2007 WorldSkills International Competition in Shizuoka, Japan.
WorldSkills Australia CEO Mark Callaghan said at the launch "Each of the 29 Skillaroos named today are now one step closer to realising their dream of representing their country on the world stage. We look forward to watching their progress as they continue to display the dedication, drive and passion that has allowed them to reach this point. They are all perfect skills ambassadors who can be held up as genuine role models for all Australians and I know everyone will be supporting them in their quest to win gold for their country".
These young Australians will show unequalled dedication and passion to succeed for their country. This will be achieved through calling on the resources of countless volunteers, the enormous goodwill of their employers and the support of local educational institutions and training companies.
Immediately following the launch the team will go straight into their first training camp from Thursday 6 to Sat 8 November at Wombaroo Adventure Centre, Wombeyan, Caves Road High Range, NSW.
View Team Australia 2009 - The Skillaroos
