WorldSkills Australia has announced the 2024 Skillaroo Team, which will be representing the the nation at the 47th international competition.

The Skillaroos, consisting of 33 young apprentices, trainees, and students, is the largest contingent the organisation has sent oversees since Lyon last hosted the event back in 1995.

Lestatt Hammond-Hurst will be representing Australia in the Bakery competition.

“I have nine siblings, so not only am I never lonely, I have a lot of very willing volunteers to sample my treats and provide plenty of welcome feedback. I’ll be thinking of them and my entire family and community when I’m in Lyon,” he said to WorldSkills.

Lestatt said he’d always loved to be in the kitchen and over time found his niche in baking.

He currently works under his mentor, Brooke Stephen from Glenreagh Bakery.

Set to be held in Lyon, France, in September, the 47th WorldSkills is set to be the biggest skills competition ever, with more than 1500 competitors from 75 countries set to compete in 59 skills.

More than 250,000 visitors are also expected to attend the event, which will take place from September 10 to 15.

The journey for selection has been a two-year journey for the Skillaroos, beginning with a regional WorldSkills competition in 2022. This involved more than 3000 competitors.

The winners from each region then competed in the National Championships in 2023, with the medallists being eligible for selection in Team Australia that will travel to France.

 Image: Lestatt Hammond-Hurst with John Reminis. WorldSkills