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Fourth generation brickie taking on nation’s best
Ryan Comino is taking on other bricklaying apprentices from around the country at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships.
Local Mount Crosby resident and TAFE Queensland bricklaying apprentice Ryan Comino is set to take on Australia’s top young trade talent in the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Champions in Brisbane from 12-14 June 2025.
With over 600 competitors, 300 judges, 200 volunteers and an expected 25,000 visitors, the WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships and Skills Show is a three-day celebration of trades, skills, and vocational education and training industry excellence – the largest event of its kind in Australia.
The 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships are proudly supported by the Queensland Government and TAFE Queensland.
Ryan was selected in the WorldSkills Queensland team after being awarded a medal at last year’s regional qualifier, and says he is excited to compete against Australia’s best apprentices and hopes to make his family, employer, and TAFE Queensland teachers proud.
“I’m a fourth-generation bricklayer. I started a plumbing apprenticeship at first, but really it was inevitable that I’d be a brickie,” Mr Comino said.
“My dad and other family members who were bricklayers inspired me to get into the trade, I’ve seen the benefits of the trade and how dad can run his own business. I want to take over the family business from my dad when I’m ready, so everything at the moment is leading towards that.”
“I'm looking forward to the WorldSkills experience and I’m feeling up to the challenge. I usually work with blocks more than with bricks, so the technical tasks with bricks will be tough.” he said.
More than 100 TAFE Queensland students have been selected to represent Queensland and compete against hundreds of apprentices from across Australia in their trade skill.
TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech General Manager Stephen Gates said TAFE Queensland is excited to continue its strong support for WorldSkills Australia, partnering with the Queensland Government to bring the nation’s biggest skills event to Queensland.
"As the largest and most trusted Vocational Education and Training (VET) provider in the state, TAFE Queensland leads the pack in WorldSkills participation and encourages our peers around the state to get involved as well, as broader participation strengthens the competition and lifts the overall calibre of the Queensland team," Mr Gates said.
"In fact, over 80 per cent of the WorldSkills Queensland team is made up of TAFE Queensland competitors and more than half of the competition judges are TAFE Queensland teachers, showcasing our talent and dedication to supporting both our students, employers and industries.”
"The WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships and Skills Show underscores our leadership in the training market and our commitment to providing industry-relevant training that transforms lives, industries and communities.”
"This event is about recognising and celebrating excellence in both participant skill development and educator training delivery and everyone at TAFE Queensland takes great pride in the success and excellence of our competitors and colleagues," he said.
Held every two years, the National Championships are Australia’s largest and most successful vocational education excellence event. With 63 skill area competitions on offer, students from all over the country compete in every vocation imaginable – from carpentry to cloud computing.
The top performers in eligible skills may earn a coveted spot in Team Australia (“The Skillaroos”), set to compete at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in 2026. This global event will bring together around 1,300 competitors from over 60 countries, making it the largest skills showcase in the world.
This event is proudly supported by the Queensland Government and TAFE Queensland.
To attend the inspiring competition in person at no cost, visit WorldSkills Australia.