Proud. Excited and VERY good at what they do.
There are six West Australian competitors heading off to France in early September where they will represent Australia to win recognition as best in the world in their chosen fields.
All six of them are showing off their skills at the Skills and Employment Expo.
They have just come back from a training competition in China where the Chinese competitors were trained at an organization that JUST trains competitors for WorldSkills type competitions.
I ran into Lewis Italiano from Bunbury who did his cabinetmaking apprenticeship in at South Regional TAFE in Bunbury. His family is going over to WorldSkills to watch him compete.
His expert lecturer from South Regional TAFE is Nick Johnston. Nick is going too. 
Next to Lewis and Nick were Lachlan Gelavis and Kai Baharthah-King who are representing Australia in a Cyber Security Team Event. They had also been to the trials in China.
You can see from the screens behind them, they were busy “playing” with code.
These are our Champion Geeks. They are already working in industry.
Congratulations to these six West Australians who are going to WorldSkills
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Lewis Italiano – South Regional TAFE – Cabinet Making;
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Jacob Dixon – North Metropolitan TAFE – Wall and Floor Tiling;
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Antoinette Jackson – MPA Skills – Painting and Decorating;
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Mitchell Rigney – North Metropolitan TAFE – Jewellery; and
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Kai Baharthah-King and Lachlan Gelavis – North Metropolitan TAFE – Cyber Security (Team Event).
Who are the Experts?
WorldSkills Australia has also selected five Western Australians as Experts to coach the Skillaroos in the lead up to, and during, Lyon 2024.
WA Experts:
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Nick Johnston – South Regional TAFE – Cabinet Making;
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Liam Cochran – North Metropolitan TAFE – Wall and Floor Tiling;
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Brendan Hibbert – North Metropolitan TAFE – Graphic Design Technology;
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Ryan Goggin – North Metropolitan TAFE – 3D Digital Game Art; and
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Todd Bell – Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety – Electrical Installation.
Good Luck to you all.
To learn more about the Skillaroos and their journey to Lyon 2024 visit www.worldskills.org.au/competitions/lyon-france
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