The WorldSkills International Competition, held every two years, brings together apprentices and trainees from around the world to compete in various trades, including jewellery manufacturing. A Ferntree Gully jeweller, Claire Bextream, will represent Australia at the event, taking place from 22 September to 27 September in Shanghai.
Bextream, who recently completed her apprenticeship, qualified for the competition earlier this year and prepared by competing at the Global Skills Challenge in Wollongong in June. She was surprised to learn she had been nominated to represent Australia, saying, “I am hoping that with this trip to Shanghai, I will stop, take in, and absorb everything that is truly happening.”
Claire Bextream developed an interest in jewellery in Year 10 and later took up a position at Precious Repairs in Ferntree Gully, a suburb outside of Melbourne. She started a school-based apprenticeship in 2022 and transitioned into a full-time apprenticeship, studying at Melbourne Polytechnic.
According to Claire Bextream, “I’ve always been a hands-on and creative person, and because I loved jewellery, I decided to give it a go. I quickly fell in love with the trade. Being able to use my creativity and skills every day to create something beautiful is what makes me truly love what I do.”
WorldSkills is the largest international skills competition, featuring over 1,400 competitors from more than 70 countries and regions. The competition will take place at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Centre, with over 500,000 visitors expected. Participants will compete across 64 skills, including jewellery manufacturing.
Claire Bextream’s experience has been life-changing, pushing her to become the best version of herself personally and as a jeweller. She is grateful for the opportunity and the support of her fellow co-workers, mentors, and expert Jyothi Forman. Claire Bextream hopes to bring back knowledge and skill, build lifelong friendships, and make long-lasting memories from the competition.
The competition will provide a platform for Claire Bextream to showcase her skills and learn from others in the industry. As she said, “This will be an unforgettable experience, and I am hoping that I can help make WorldSkills more widely known.” With her participation, Claire Bextream aims to make a positive impact and promote the WorldSkills competition to a wider audience.
