Congratulations Lucy Southam – Gold Medallist at WorldSkills VETiS Nationals!

Congratulations Lucy Southam, who recently returned from the Australian National WorldSkills VETiS Competition in Brisbane with a Gold Medal in her category.

The Australian WorldSkills Competition is a national event that highlights the talents and technical skills of young Australians across a wide range of vocational and trade sectors. It offers students, apprentices and trainees a platform to demonstrate their capabilities, benchmark themselves against national industry standards, and gain recognition in their chosen careers.

This year the competition had over 600 participants from across the country, competing in hands-on challenges in areas such as construction, hospitality, beauty, information technology and engineering. Each competitor is assessed by industry experts on technical skill, creativity and workplace readiness.

Lucy was one of ten talented competitors from the Northern Territory, representing both Alice Springs and Darwin, and competed in the VETiS Make-Up Services category. Across three intensive days, she demonstrated her skills through a series of beauty treatments.

Lucy’s professionalism, creativity and technical excellence impressed the judges, earning her an outstanding score of 93/100 and securing the top spot in her category. Her Gold Medal also qualifies her for the 2027 National WorldSkills Competition in the Open Category, where she will compete at an even higher level.

Currently, Lucy is completing a School-Based Apprenticeship with Eco Beauty. She has already achieved her Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics through Charles Darwin University (CDU) and is now working toward her Certificate III in Beauty, gaining valuable industry experience alongside her academic studies.

Reflecting on the experience, Lucy shared:

“Overall, it was such a great experience, and the pathway available through CDU has been amazing. Completing a VET course has given me so many opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in an industry I love. I’m incredibly grateful to my teachers, Ella Adami and Deb Street, for their support and guidance throughout this journey.”

Her CDU trainer and former St Philip’s College student, Ella Adami, also shared: 

“As a former competitor myself, I’ve seen firsthand Lucy’s dedication, passion and natural ability. I’m so proud of the effort she’s put into preparing for this competition. Watching her grow both personally and professionally has been a joy.”

Lucy’s success is a great example of what can be achieved through commitment, hands-on learning, and following one’s passion. 

Sarah Tudor