TWO Aveley Secondary College students are preparing to represent Western Australia at the 2025 WorldSkills National Championships and Skills Show, the nation’s biggest celebration of vocational education and training.

From June 12-14 all eyes will be on Brisbane as the country’s most talented young apprentices, trainees and students compete for national titles and potentially a place on Team Australia.

Aveley students Ava Smith (hospitality) and Ellie Loo (bricklaying) both earned gold medals at the 2024 regional competition, securing their spots on TeamWA.

Now, the Year 12 students will travel to Brisbane to showcase their exceptional skills on the national stage.

Ava said she felt so lucky to be heading to Brisbane for the WorkSkills competition.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity. I’ve built a skill set and developed a lifetime of knowledge, and I know this experience will open doors for me in the future,” she said.

“Travelling across the country with other competitors from Team WA who share the same passion has been so exciting and has really helped me grow more confident and independent.”

Ellie said she was really excited about the competition and the whole experience.

“It’s such a great opportunity for my future career, and honestly, I couldn’t have done it without the support from Mr Imrie and Aveley Secondary College.”

The stakes are high, not only are Ava and Ellie competing for national recognition, but also for a chance to join Team Australia and represent the country at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai in 2026.

The college is incredibly proud of Ava, Ellie, and seven other students who were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2024 regional competition.