Australia’s best young apprentices, trainees, and professionals have officially begun their journey to the world stage, with the launch of the 2026 Team Australia Training Squad at Parliament House in Canberra.
Among them is Point Cook’s Rajeev Jawaji, a second-year student at Melbourne’s RMIT University, who has qualified to compete in web technologies at the 48th WorldSkills International Competition, to be held in Shanghai, China, from 22–27 September 2026.
Rajeev has been fascinated by programming since Year 8, drawn in by a love of robotics and gaming that quickly grew into a passion for coding and web development.
Local MP Tim Watts congratulated him, saying the community would be “cheering him on” as he trained for the world’s largest international skills competition.
WorldSkills brings together more than 80 countries to showcase over 60 trades and skills, often referred to as the “Olympics of skills.” Competitors face rigorous assessments of their technical expertise, problem-solving ability, teamwork, and leadership.
This year’s Team Australia, known as the Skillaroos, consists of 39 competitors and 35 experts. They were recognised at the launch by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles, who praised their dedication and talent.
The squad recently completed a development camp at the Canberra Institute of Technology, focusing on high-performance training, resilience, and team-building. Guest speakers included former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock and resilience coach Annie Harvey.
WorldSkills Australia, which has operated since 1981, describes the competition as a platform to celebrate vocational excellence and open career-boosting pathways for young Australians.
As the countdown to Shanghai begins, the Skillaroos will spend the next year honing their skills, representing not just their trades but the future of Australia’s workforce.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
