TAFE NSW Grafton students Zachery Cracknell, Emmanuelle Das-Neves Ramos to compete in WorldSkills Championships
Talented Clarence TAFE students and “future leaders” will take on the nation’s best as part of a worldwide event dubbed “the Olympics of trades”.
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Two TAFE NSW Grafton students are gearing up to represent the Clarence Valley in the nation’s largest vocational skills competition in hopes of advancing to the global stage.
Zachery Cracknell and Emmanuelle Das-Neves Ramos are set to compete in the WorldSkills Australia 2023 National Championships in August – Zachery in the painting and decorating event and Emmanuelle in cookery.
WorldSkills hosts regional, national and international competitions showcasing vocational educational and training.
More than 500 vocational students will compete in Melbourne over three days in August with their eye on the gold medal, and a chance to represent Australia with the ‘Skillaroos’ team The team is due to square off against 75 countries in France next year.
Zachery, a second year certificate three student in painting and decorating has been learning from mentor Ian Vickery.
Mr Vickery is NSW team leader and has more than 30 years of WorldSkills experience.
He first entered the competition in 1989 and has mentored students since.
Zachery has been practising on a wall in the garage of his family home and working with Mr Vickery after classes in preparation for the competition.
“I don’t want to be too confident going into Nationals – the competition is fierce,” he said.
“But I have done a lot of prep with my TAFE NSW teacher, who is one of the best in the business, so I know I’ve been set up for success.
“WorldSkills was described to me as the Olympics of trades … (so) I feel a sense of pride representing my company, my state and myself.”
Zachery plans to enter multiple pieces, including a painting of a Melbourne train station and door glossing.
Emmanuelle, meanwhile, is an apprentice chef working at Coffs Harbour’s Latitude 30 restaurant.
She has just completed a certificate three in commercial cookery.
Emmanuelle said she has always loved cooking and her passion for it grew when she was 15-years-old and started working in her mother’s cafe.
She said she found out about WordSkills from her TAFE teacher.
“I have been putting in extra hours in the kitchen each week to prepare and I have had huge support from my teacher … to finalise my menu and ensure I know what to expect,” she said.
“The WorldSkills competition is very similar to a commercial kitchen environment – it’s high pressure, and high intensity, with tight time frames.”
TAFE NSW education and skills north executive director Jason Darney said the talented students earned the right to compete.
“I’m proud to say northern NSW is home to these industries’ future leaders,” he said.
“The ultimate goal for Emmanuelle and Zachery is to earn a place on the Skillaroos team and represent Australia at the WorldSkills Competition in France next year.”
The championships will kick off at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on August 17.
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