Jeweller Leads Gold Rush For Victoria
Victoria has taken home 18 gold medals from the 2025 WorldSkills National Championships in Brisbane, with a talented apprentice jeweller claiming the prestigious event’s top award.
Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney today joined the gold medallists and their families at Parliament House to celebrate the incredible success of the apprentices, trainees and vocational students who represented Victoria at the nation’s largest trades and skills competition.
Melbourne Polytechnic student Lily-Grace Toohill won gold in the jewellery category and was named Best of Nation for being the highest-performing competitor across all categories. She showcased her design and technical skills by working on a three-module pendant piece created from 18-karat yellow gold.
Victorians took home a total of 48 medals, including 18 gold, 15 silver and 15 bronze. Victorian competitors also received 26 Medallions for Excellence, awarded to people who demonstrate excellence during the competition.
Team Victoria was made up of 105 apprentices and trainees and more than 100 mentors and team leaders from Victoria’s TAFEs, registered training organisations, and industry. The team also had 25 secondary school students who competed in the Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) program.
Free TAFE has been a game changer for Victorians, with more than 206,000 students saving on average $3,000 per course – getting the skills they need for good jobs that lead to rewarding careers, while putting money back in their pocket and delivering Victoria the skilled workforce it needs.
The WorldSkills National Championships is Australia’s largest skills excellence competition, which takes place every two years. This year’s event featured over 600 competitors from every state and territory in more than 60 skill categories, ranging from cyber security and cabinetmaking to cookery, floristry and plumbing.
Victoria’s medallists now have the chance to be named in the Skillaroos squad and represent Team Australia at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in September 2026.
To find out more about WorldSkills visit www.worldskills.org.au.
As stated by Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney
“Congratulations to all our WorldSkills medallists and competitors, and thank you to the incredible teachers, trainers and staff from Victoria’s TAFEs and registered training organisations who have supported Team Victoria.”
“Victoria’s success at the WorldSkills National Championships demonstrates that our world-class TAFE and vocational training sector is delivering the high-quality skilled workers that our state needs.”
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/250731-Jeweller-Leads-Gold-Rush-For-Victoria.pdf