PRINT APPRENTICES AT SKILLS EXPO

The WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships and Skills Show kicked off in Brisbane last week, and once again featured sign and graphics apprentices, sponsored by Visual Connections, as well as Try-A-Trade activities run in partnership with the Australian Sign and Graphics Association (ASGA) and TAFE Queensland.

The event was co-located with the Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo, where the Sign and Print Career Connections team promoted industry careers to students.

Visual Connections continued its longstanding support for WorldSkills by funding the travel and accommodation costs for the sign and graphics students, and their teachers, to participate in the National Championships and Skills Show, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Visual Connections also cast the new talent net more widely at the Careers Expo, holding a range of on-stand activities run by industry volunteers, which engaged visitors and created opportunities for conversations around potential career opportunities in the print, sign and graphics sectors.

WorldSkills was established in 1981 to promote excellence in skills-based trades. The Australian competition sees the very best apprentices from around the country compete over three days with others from the same industry group, to determine the ‘best of the best’.

Karren Challoner-Miles, executive general manager of Visual Connections, said the skills competitions provided an important opportunity for Australia’s trainees and apprentices to test their skills and knowledge in their chosen field against their peers.

“We’re excited to have once again partnered with WorldSkills Australia on the delivery of the 2025 competition, which aligned closely with our values and an association, and our commitment to supporting young people to take up careers in industry trades,” she said.

“It’s always exciting to meet the finalists in the sign and graphics category from around the country, and to see them demonstrate their skills as part of the Skills Show at the National Championships.”

Visual Connections also collaborated with ASGA and TAFE Queensland on the ‘Try-A-Skill’ activities for the Skills Show, which is said to be important in building engagement with young people, and promoting careers in the print, sign and graphics sectors.

Visitors tried their hand at car wrapping on one of the latest model electric vehicles from BYD Automotive, under the guidance of the TAFE team, and gained valuable insights into the exciting range of careers in the sign and graphics sectors.

“Every two years, the WorldSkills National Championships and Skills Show attracts school groups and senior students to explore trade careers,” Challoner-Miles explained.

“The Skills Show was a great opportunity for students to not only see demonstrations from some of the very best apprentices from around the country, but also to try their hand at typical industry tasks.

“This year, it was great to see the co-location with the Careers Expo, which provided visitors with the chance to find out more about industry careers and training opportunities at our Sign and Print Career Connections stand.

“It was great to be involved in inspiring young people to explore career opportunities in the sign and graphics sector, and we are grateful to our partners at ASGA and TAFE Queensland, and to all those who volunteered on the Sign and Print Career Connections stand, for sharing their expertise in this way.”