TAFE NSW Diploma of Nursing graduate Neave O’Reilly will next week represent Australia at the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France. WorldSkills is the largest skills competition in the world, bringing together 1,400 competitors from more than 70 countries to compete in 59 skills.

Neave will compete against 19 of the world’s best Health and Social Care students and be judged on her healthcare skills in self-management, communication, problem-solving, innovation, creativity and empathy.

"After more than a year of training, it's surreal to think I’ll be competing in Lyon in less than a week,” Neave said. “I’m excited to experience how different countries approach healthcare. Practices vary widely across the world and each country has its own standards and expectations. It will be fascinating to see how these differences play out in the competition."

Balancing full-time work as a nurse at Hunter New England Health while training for WorldSkills has been no easy feat, but Neave feels the experience has strengthened both her professional skills and her ability to excel under pressure.

"The WorldSkills competition closely mirrors the clinical healthcare environment. I believe the hands-on experience I gained at TAFE NSW, and on the job, gives me a competitive edge.

"To prepare for this competition, I’ve been honing my hands-on skills in a clinical setting including wound care, dressing, and feeding. TAFE NSW takes WorldSkills seriously–I’ve participated in training camps and practice sessions, so when the clock starts, I feel confident I’ll do my best."

TAFE NSW Head Teacher, Anne MacLeod, will accompany Neave to the competition, and is Australia’s Health and Social Care Expert at WorldSkills.

"We’ve put in months of hard work to make sure Neave isn’t just good at health and social care, but truly an expert. At TAFE NSW, we get students job-ready from day one, starting their practical training early on in real-world clinical settings. It can be challenging, but it’s all about building the confidence and competence needed to hit the ground running working in the Healthcare sector. Neave’s ready to show what she can do against the world’s top competitors,” Anne said.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, an extra 66,000 nurses will be needed across Australia by 2033. Neave hopes the global competition will shine a light on the opportunities in healthcare and inspire more people to study nursing.

"Nurses are always present, around the clock. We’re the ones interacting directly with families, supporting our patients, coordinating with doctors, all while handling the fast-paced demands of clinical work."

Media contact: Sarah James, Communications Specialist, sarah.james70@tafensw.edu.au