Skills on a world stage

Centre stage for the 47th WorldSkills competition, held in Lyon, France in 2024. An estimated 250,000 attended the four-day event.

WorldSkills is to trades trainees what the Olympic Games are for sportspeople. A system of regional, national and international competitions foster and highlight the mastery of a range of skills learnt within vocational education and training (VET) systems.

In 2024, France was centre stage for the Olympics and also for WorldSkills. The international competition is biennial, and in September 2024, Australia sent its 32-member team of ‘Skillaroos’ to compete against trainees from 64 countries. An estimated 250,000 visitors attended the event held at Eurexpo in Lyon.

Team Australia’s Skillaroos enter the Euroexpo stage in Lyon during the opening ceremony.

Woodworkers undertaking VET at a secondary school or through an apprenticeship or traineeship in cabinetmaking, joinery or construction at an Australian RTO (registered training organisation), TAFE colleges or universities can enter. There are no age restrictions for regional competitions, however the national and international competitions are for younger people – in 2025 you’ll need to have been born after 1 January 2001.

WorldSkills was established in Europe in the wake of a skills shortage after World War II. The first competition took place in Madrid in 1950 and was small by today’s standard however after that it grew quickly.

Lewis Italiano with his TAFE lecturer and mentor Nick Johnston.

Lewis Italiano was part of last year’s Skillaroo team and placed 9th overall out of 23 competitors in cabinetmaking. He received a medallion for excellence, however the rewards in terms of boosting his skills and confidence were far greater.

Lewis was mentored by his TAFE lecturer, Nick Johnston, who encouraged him to enter. We asked Lewis to tell us about his experience.

Can you describe the path that you took to Lyon, France this year?
I started my WorldSkills journey in 2022 at the regional competition at South being selected for Team Australia as a Skillaroo. Another six months of intense training at home, work and TAFE in my spare time prepared me for the 47th WorldSkills.

I started my WorldSkills journey in 2022 at the regional competition at South Regional TAFE in West Australia. From there I was selected for team WA at the national competition in 2023. I trained for six months in my spare time to prepare for the three day competition held in Melbourne. I ended up winning gold and was named Australia’s best young cabinetmaker.

Focusing on the job at hand. Projects had to be completed in 22 hours over the four days of the event. With onlookers at close quarters, the pressure was intense.

Did you have to pay your own expenses to participate?
Expenses are covered, the Australian Government being a major contributor. Fundraising is also done by competitors and sponsors. From there I was selected in Team Australia’s training squad along with 31 other competitors, each representing their own skill. I trained for six months before

What was it like at the event?
The atmosphere was very intense. There was a race to use machines, planning out your project to the minute. Thousands of visitors and spectators pass by and watch you, not even a metre away from your work area. There was an immense amount of pressure.

The opening and closing ceremonies were an amazing experience, comparable to those of the Olympics, a truly surreal event. The end of the competition was something I will never experience again, the adrenaline and rush to finish with thousands of spectators surrounding you, cheering and chanting for their country’s competitors.

The competition piece was ‘involved and technical’ with a wide range of layout, machining and hand tool processes to accomplish.

Growing up on a dairy farm, what made you decide to become a cabinetmaker?
I took on woodwork in high school and from there developed a passion and picked up an apprenticeship. I was also featured in Wood Review’s Maker of the Year, student category, for a hall table I built in year 11, 2020 (age 16). How did you prepare for the championships? I spent hundreds of hours training for this competition and learning many new skills and techniques. I completed eight full four-day competition run-throughs, each with a different practice project.

How did you deal with the pressure of working under observation within such a limited timeframe?
I attended many training camps and sessions around Australia and competed in the global skills challenge held in Melbourne this May. I also spent a week in Wuhan as a guest of WorldSkills China to train and share experiences.

During my training I really focused on not worrying about what was happening around me and only on what had to be done. In France, I planned out everything that I needed to complete, not only for each day, but also down to the minute. This was crucial to make sure I was on track to finish the project in time.

Lending support to Team Australia’s Skillaroos in Lyon during the opening ceremony.

Can you describe the cabinet you had to make?
The project was very involved and technical for the 22 hours we had to make it. It had curved, shaped and tapered legs mortised to suit tenons on a half-lapped X-frame. The bottom drawer had handcut dovetails and traditional drawer slides while the top one had handcut finger joints and was fitted on steel runners. The door had mitred bridle joints and a handcut and pressed veneered panel. The side lattices were half lapped and ‘woven’ and then fitted into 20 handcut mortise and tenons.

What difficulties did you encounter?
I was confident in my ability but found that the time given was the biggest challenge. The environment and being under time pressure also led to some small mistakes that should have been avoided.

What were your main take-aways from participating?
I learned a lot of new skills, not only in woodworking but also social skills. I met a lot of great people who I will remain friends with for the rest of my life. It has made me confident in my ability and with going out of my comfort zone.

Do you feel participating will benefit your future career as a cabinetmaker?
I do believe WorldSkills will benefit my future career, as it has recognised not only the skills but also the work ethic I have developed through the two-year process.

What’s your aim as a woodworker moving forward?
My aim now is to complete my apprenticeship (I am still a third year apprentice) and also stay involved in the WorldSkills community where I can give back to upcoming competitors.

Lewis Italiano placed 9th within 23 cabinetmaking competitors and received a medallion for excellence.

Would you recommend this program to other trades students?
WorldSkills really shows just how far a trade pathway can take you if you put your mind to it. It presents opportunities to travel the country and the world, meet different people, build up a network in your field and learn new skills from people in your trade.

The 47th WorldSkills competition took place 10–15 September 2024 in Lyon, France. The next WorldSkills will take place in Shanghai, China in 2026. Learn more at www.worldskills.org.au

Images courtesy WordSkills Australia and Lewis Italiano

First published in Australian Wood Review, issue 124, September, 2024.