Whizz Welder Crowned Top Apprentice

Sunshine Coast welder Thomas Prior has added another accolade to his regional WorldSkills gold medal, winning TAFE Queensland's Apprentice and Trainee of the Year Award for the Sunshine Coast region in recognition of his technical skills and commitment to mastering his trade.

Thomas received the top honour at the Sunshine Coast Apprentice and Trainee Awards at TAFE Queensland’s Mooloolaba campus, where The Honourable Fiona Simpson MP, Member for Maroochydore, presented him with the award.

Thomas completed a MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking/Welding) with TAFE Queensland and was named the overall winner after being selected from finalists across all award categories, earning the title of TAFE Queensland Sunshine Coast Apprentice and Trainee of the Year 2026.

Judges recognised Thomas as an outstanding example of strong work ethic and a willingness to go above and beyond. His nomination also highlighted his strong technical progression, his independent learning and his willingness to mentor others.

That extra effort and determination also led to first place at the WorldSkills Australia East Coast regional competition earlier this year, where Thomas took out the gold medal in welding.

WorldSkills Australia regional competitions are held every two years and test the skills and knowledge of apprentices, trainees and students across a range of trades and professions. Winners of the 2026 regional competitions may progress to the WorldSkills Australia National Championships, which will be held in Adelaide in 2027.

Thomas first discovered his interest in trades at high school through a MEM20105 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways. After school, he started out in aluminium welding and fabrication with his first employer, Dynamic Welding and Fabrication in Marcoola, before moving to Studio Steel in Cooroy to learn steel fabrication. Even though he changed employers, he chose to continue his training with TAFE Queensland.

"With TAFE Queensland you have the week in classes and the workshop where you can actually zone in on it and have more one-on-one time with the teachers," Thomas said.

He said the advice from his teachers was simple: "Do what you need to do and it'll work out for you. Just play the straight arrow, don't muck around."

"They like to joke a bit, but they're very knowledgeable."

Thomas said finding the right pathway took him a little time, and he encourages others to start with a training provider. "If you want to get a trade and you're not too sure how to go about it, look for a provider," he said.

TAFE Queensland engineering teacher Tasvir Singh said: "Thomas is an outstanding example of what hard work and a willingness to go above and beyond can achieve. He's always keen to get better.

He'd stay back after class, ask for feedback and keep working on his technique until he was happy with it, and that drive is a big reason he took out gold at WorldSkills. He's also happy to share what he knows and give other apprentices a hand. It's been great watching him grow into such a capable tradie, and he's a worthy winner and a role model for apprentices across the Sunshine Coast."