Central Regional TAFE Student Molly McCuish to Represent WA at 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships
Estimated reading time:
3 minutes
Central Regional TAFE Student Molly McCuish to Represent WA at 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships
Central Regional TAFE Student Molly McCuish to Represent WA at 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships
Molly McCuish, a dedicated hairdressing student at Central Regional TAFE, has been selected to represent Western Australia at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Brisbane.
Molly has also been named flag bearer for Western Australia and will represent WA VETiS competitors at the parade of flags as part of the event.
WorldSkills is Australia’s premier vocational education and excellence competition, bringing together top regional talent to compete and benchmark their skills on a national stage. Held biennially, the event forms a key part of Australia’s vocational training landscape.
Molly, who completed her Certificate II in Salon Assistant through VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) at Champion Bay Senior High School, has shown exceptional commitment in preparing for the competition.
After receiving enough points at the regional World Skills competition held at Central Regional TAFE last year, Molly was added to Team WA to represent her home state in Brisbane, on June 12th to 14 2025.
Molly travels 160km a day to attend three additional training sessions per week at TAFE, all while balancing life and community commitments and playing three games of hockey weekly.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Molly said. “I taught myself how to braid hair when I was seven. I’ve always been interested in doing hair.”
She credits her success to the support of her lecturers, Christine Harvey and Renee Hapke. “Renee and Christine have been very helpful—they’ve been there for me whenever I need anything,” she said.
Molly also practices at home using three mannequins and is looking forward to the experience of travelling interstate for the first time. “I’ve never been on a plane, so the experience of the travel and being part of this competition is like the biggest thing I’ve done in my life.”
Over three days of competition the VETiS Hairdressing catergory Molly will complete a range of hairdressing services on clients and manikins. These will include applying hair colours, creating up-braided hairstyles, performing head, neck and shoulder massages, and providing blow-dry services.
Following the competition in June, Molly will continue her studies and has already accepted an apprenticeship offer. Her long-term goal is clear: “I’d love to have my own salon one day—here or anywhere.”
Molly’s journey exemplifies how passion, perseverance, and the opportunities offered through vocational education can shape a remarkable pathway to success.
World Skills Team WA Uniform Presentation Csmith Photography-1015
Photo Caption
DSC03496 - Molly McCuish working on her hair dressing manikin, at Central Regional TAFE, Geraldton Campus.
DSC03561 – From Left to right Central Regional TAFE Hairdressing Lecturer Renee Hapke, 2025 World Skills Team WA Representative Molly McCuish VETDSS Student at Central Regional TAFE, Central Regional TAFE Hairdressing Lecturer Christine Harvey. At CR TAFE Campus Geraldton.
World Skills Team WA Uniform Presentation Csmtih Photography - Brigitte Collins, General Manager WorldSkills Australia; TeamWA flag bearer Jonathan Yates (Open competitor Baking – South Metropolitan TAFE) representing WA Open competitors at the WorldSkills parade of flags; Jodie Wallace, Director General, Department of Training and Workforce Development; TeamWA flag bearer Molly McCuish (VETiS Hairdressing competitor) who will represent WA VETiS competitors at the parade of flags; and Stuart Aubrey MLA, Member for Scarborough.