Community
20 June, 2025
National awards for TAFE students
THREE South West TAFE students have brought home medals from the WorldSkills Australian National Championships and Skills Show in Brisbane.
The championships, regarded as Australia’s peak competition for trainees and apprentices, attracted more than 600 competitors across 63 different skills areas.
South West TAFE student Jacob Sanderson, a VETiS metals and engineering student, came home with a gold medal.
Warrnambool student Zemma Wright won a certificate of excellence in VETiS makeup services while Lachlan King brought home a bronze medal for carpentry.
Three further South West TAFE students also reached the national finals.
They were Warrnambool’s Maisie Rentsch (beauty therapy), Chloe Graham (cookery) and Portland’s Claire Bullock (hairdressing).
For Jacob, the national win was an important step in his career ambitions.
“I was surprised,” he said.
“I thought I had done well and hoped to make the top three but didn’t expect to finish first.”
Jacob got to share the moment with good friend Kadison Dalton who was placed third, while Jacob’s parents were watching from home and were thrilled when his win was announced.
Jacob is currently studying VCE and goes to TAFE once a week for his second-year school-based engineering traineeship.
He also goes to RIST in Hamilton once a week to study Certificate III in agriculture.
He hopes to combine both options into a career.
“I’d love to go into agriculture but also be able to incorporate fabrication into it and have a fabrication business as well,” he said.
Jacob’s parents have a small hobby farm while working in other jobs, but he wants to take it a step further and have a farm that generates a living.
“I know that’s a big challenge in this day, but that’s what I want to aim for,” he said.
“I’m loving studying at South West TAFE; all the teachers are great and very supportive.”
WorldSkills competitions are an opportunity for Australia’s trainees and apprentices to test their skills and knowledge in their chosen field against their peers.
The South West TAFE students progressed to the national finals after winning their regional competitions last October.
Zemma Wright was the only Victorian competing for the newly created makeup services title.
Team leader and hair and beauty teacher Kate McBain said it was a great achievement for so many South West TAFE students to reach the national finals.
“It’s amazing to be recognised as one of the 10 best in your field in Australia and it’s great for our region to have so many students representing us on the national stage,” Ms McBain said.
