Hayley Callow set to shine at WorldSkills Australia 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.

Hayley was selected in the WorldSkills Queensland team after being awarded a Silver medal at last year’s regional qualifier, and says she is excited to compete against Australia’s best apprentices and hopes to make her family and TAFE Queensland teachers proud.

"I started to struggle with my self-image and once I turned 15, I decided to change that. Not only did I want to feel better about myself, but I wanted to make people happy and help them see themselves positively,” Hayley said.

That decision sparked Hayley’s a Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics (SHB20121) at TAFE Queensland Townsville (Pimlico) campus, where she found a powerful way to combine creativity with compassion.

"I want to help others love who they are through self-expression," she explains. "Makeup is more than just appearance – it’s about confidence, identity, and joy."

Now preparing to compete in the VETiS Makeup Services category at the WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships, Hayley is excited about what lies ahead.

"I’m most excited about the new opportunities that will open for me, as well as meeting new people and exploring while I’m in Brisbane," she says.

"It’s a great opportunity to showcase my talents and skills, but also to prove that I’m a worthy employee who will always try my best to benefit my team and continue learning."

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 North region General Manager Susan Kinobe 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," Mrs Kinobe 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," she 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.