Young Greek Australian Liam Papas is set to compete in the WorldSkills competitions, a year on from winning gold for regional and bronze at national level.
Last year, Liam came first in VET Automotive Certificate 2 in Victoria, which earned him a place at the national competition, where he came third.
Graduating from Camberwell Grammar, he also studied a VET subject in year 11 and 12 at Box Hill Institute.
“It was definitely something that was a bit overwhelming,” Liam told Neos Kosmos.
“When I didn’t hear my name after first and second, and got a bit scared, but coming third, I’m very grateful.”
Like the Olympics, WorldSkills Australia competition activity begins at grass roots level, in competitions held in one of 34 regions around Australia.
Competitors are able to progress to competing at national and international levels, in front of over 200,000 people.
More than 60 trades and skills from seven skill clusters are represented.
Liam, whose name is Vasili in Greek, is currently completing his first-year apprenticeship for automotive at Box Hill Institute.
He is doing this while working in his family’s business and has been offered a placement for a mechanical engineering course at Swinburne University.
And it seems the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree in this family from Florina and Psarades.
“I’d say it’s in the blood. My grandfather was an engineer and my dad’s also a mechanic who studied engineering, so it’s kind of just something that’s always been around us,” he said.
Liam said he’s striving to come first in the certificate three competitions and hopefully earn a place to compete against other skilled young tradies worldwide.
