Competitor Guide

You must live, work, or study in the region where you compete. If your skill isn’t available in your region, or if nominations are closed, you can ask to compete in a different region. All requests must be reviewed and confirmed before you can compete.

It might be listed under a different name, or the skill may not yet be offered by WorldSkills Australia. Speak with your trainer or contact the WorldSkills Australia Main Regional Coordinator which can be found on the WSA website.

No — winning gold at the National Championship does not guarantee selection for the International Competition. There are eligibility requirements that need to be met as well as a selection process to determine which skills Australia will compete in.

VETiS competitors do not progress beyond the National Championships as there are no VETiS Skill Categories at WorldSkills International Competition. However, once you finish high school, you can keep your WorldSkills journey going by entering an Open category in your chosen trade or skill area. This is a great opportunity to build on your experience and, if you meet the eligibility and age criteria you could progress through to the National Championships and even represent Australia at the International Competition.

You can self-nominate, or be nominated by a teacher, training provider or employer.

You must meet at least one of the following: be undertaking an apprenticeship/traineeship in an Australian RTO/TAFE/university; be studying towards a qualification at an Australian RTO/TAFE/university; or have completed a relevant qualification at such an institution. For Regional competitions there’s no age limit; to progress to Nationals or Internationals, age limits apply.

Competitors entering a VETiS Regional Competition must be enrolled in a secondary school and undertaking an appropriate VET in Schools course aligned to a National Training Package, including school-based apprentices. They must be in their first year of study at the time of competing in the WorldSkills Australia Regional Competition. Eligible regional competitors who progress to the National Championships must also be enrolled in an appropriate VET in Schools course aligned to a National Training Package, including school-based apprentices.

Yes — as long as you have completed or are completing a relevant qualification at an Australian RTO/TAFE/university.

There is no age restriction to enter the Regional Competition, how-ever to be eligible to proceed to the 2027 National Championships competitors must be born on or after 1 January 2003.

Please Note: to be eligible for WorldSkills International 2028 Aichi Japan Competitors in eligible skills must be 22 years or younger in the year of the Competition, therefore must be born on or after 01.01.2006 except for the following skills: Additive Manufacturing, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Industry 4.0, Mechatronics, must not be older than 25 years in the year of the Competition so must be born on or after 01.01.2003.

Yes. You can enter again in a future competition cycle, as long as you still meet the eligibility and age requirements. You may re-enter at regional or national level; however, some restrictions apply. For example, National gold medallists or competitors who have represented Australia internationally may not be eligible to re-enter.

There is no registration cost involved to compete in a Regional Competition. If you advance to the National Championships, a $250 application fee is payable and $500 for International team.