WorldSkills Australia is building a skills culture across industries through regional and national competitions. Two rising stars share their experience.
The 2025 WorldSkills National Championships & Skills Show brought together more than 35,000 visitors to watch apprentices and tradespeople compete for top titles. The event, held from 12 to 14 June, placed a national spotlight on Australia’s next generation of skilled professionals.
While the show attracted strong numbers and entertainment, it is part of a bigger picture – offering a platform to showcase the career possibilities within the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
The rising demand
Across Australia, the demand for skilled talent has never been greater. Every industry, from food and beverage manufacturing to health, hospitality and emerging technologies, is grappling with how to attract, train and retain the people who will drive the future. Recognising this, WorldSkills Australia’s mission is simple: to inspire, develop and celebrate skills excellence.
One of the ways the organisation achieves this is through its competitions. In the food and beverage category, two competitors demonstrated what it truly means to compete and be part of the WorldSkills competition.
Awakening a potential
Hospitality worker and student Gemma Scott is a gold medal winner in Restaurant Service at the 2025 Nationals. With experience in hospitality centres, she described what drives her passion.
“Whether it’s through a perfectly set table or a genuine conversation, I love bringing people together,” she said.
It all began when she took on the role as a part-time food service attendant. After realising how much she enjoyed it, she decided to take it further, leading her to pursue a Certificate III in Hospitality at the William Angliss Institute. Scott participated in WorldSkills where competitors performed a variety of practical tasks, demonstrating product knowledge across areas such as barista work, wine service, fine and casual dining, and customer service.
The nationals’ competition took place over three days and lasted 16 hours in total. She highlighted how guidance and backing from her mentor Joanna Murthy-Nitka, along with family and friends, have been crucial to her training. While balancing training, study and work was a challenge, Scott said it had unlocked self-assurance about her potential within the industry.
“The experience has been a big learning curve,” she said. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow, boosting my confidence in my skills and future in the industry. But it also taught me I’m stronger than I thought. I can handle pressure and keep improving.”
Moving forward, Scott plans to elevate hospitality standards by creating positive experiences for customers and inspiring others in the hospitality space to take pride in their skills.
Fixated on growth
Receiving a Certificate of Excellence in Cookery at Nationals, apprentice chef Zak Resuggan has a broader plan rooted in growth.
“I plan to work in France to further develop my knowledge and skills,” he said. “I also want to take the opportunity to travel and gain new experiences, ones that will help me grow further.”
Resuggan’s journey began in high school. In Year 10, he had a passion for gardening and was experimenting with different ingredients from the produce he grew. Alongside this, experience in the kitchen as a casual employee opened his eyes and opportunities. With a decision to become a chef, he left school and started a cookery apprenticeship.
Introduced to WorldSkills by his TAFE teacher, who registered him for the regional competition, the competitive environment and the ability to control his skillset and performance sparked something within him. This spark has sustained through the Nationals and flourished, bringing his French ambition closer to fruition.
A key moment for him came on the final day of Nationals.
“As soon as the competition finished, everyone came together to congratulate one another, celebrating not just the achievement, but the dedication that made it possible,” said Resuggan.
Being able to connect and celebrate with other young professionals across the diverse sector was a memorable moment that deepened his appreciation and passion for his craft.
Shanghai 2026
Scott and Resuggan were selected from more than 600 competitors, taking the top titles and securing a place to potentially represent Australia at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in 2026. This competition is expected to feature 1,300 competitors from across the globe.
Across 34 skill categories, the 2026 Team Australia Training Squad was congratulated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House on 1 September. Team Australia represents the next wave of Australian expertise – a group of young professionals who will showcase their skills on a global stage while promoting the value of skills and vocational education.
Since 1981, WorldSkills Australia has worked to build a skills culture across industries. Its mission extends beyond competitions, focusing on raising the profile of skills, empowering young Australians and strengthening pathways into careers. Today, through the support of partners, volunteers, training organisations and educators from across the country, the success of the National Championships & Skills Show was made possible.
Beyond competition, WorldSkills fosters international collaboration and excellence through real-world challenges assessed against global standards. Competitors benefit from ongoing development and mentorship, including workshops, bootcamps and one-on-one coaching with national experts.
For example, Resuggan highlighted how his relationship with trainer and mentor Matthew Carnell has brought him closer to a competitive advantage. Due to Carnell’s knowledge and experience, Resuggan adopted valuable lessons not only for his professional skills but personal growth. Scott, meanwhile, credited Murthy-Nitka for giving her confidence and showing career possibilities in the industry, opening doors to new opportunities and pathways.
“My hospitality journey hasn’t just been about competitions or work, it’s about learning, growing and seeing what I’m capable of,” said Scott.
These opportunities are transformative for Australia’s hospitality and culinary landscape. Across the food and beverage industry, their achievements backed by skill, training and passion can inspire others, shaping the future of the sector with new possibilities. By nurturing skills that build careers and communities, the organisation plays an essential role in supporting Australia’s workforce resilience and innovation.
“Through my work, I hope to inspire others to follow their passions, motivating them to step outside their comfort zones and embrace new challenges,” said Resuggan.
The next generation of Australian talent is already hard at work, preparing to potentially represent the nation’s best on an international stage in Shanghai. WorldSkills aims to continue to support Australia’s future workforce to be resilient, collaborative and exciting.