World Skills win a golden opportunity for Melissa Guiney

Melbourne's Melissa Guiney took out Gold in the Printing and Graphic Arts category of this year's World Skills Australia Competition.

The three-day event, held last weekend in Darling Harbour was "very tiring and extremely draining" for the 20-year-old graphic designer/production manager at Tap Printing but she was astounded when the judges declared her the winner.

"I was shocked and surprised, I wasn't expecting it at all," she said.

Amanda Hay of Breen Printing, Melbourne was awarded the Silver medal, and Sara Bricknell, Adelaide achieved a Bronze.

Guiney experienced a few problems with her computer crashing during the course of the competition, but not even this proved a hindrance to her performance. "I wasn't too sure how I was going to go but I was always ahead of everyone else time-wise which made me feel a bit more confident," she said.

Pictured: Melissa Guiney (left) with Amanda Hay (right).

Originally interested in a career as an animator, Guiney completed work experience with graphic arts company, Bouquet Productions (a part of Tap Printing) and was offered employment. Three-and-a-half years later, she has completed her apprenticeship in graphic prepress along with earning herself a number of coveted awards along the way such as the Fuji Xerox Pursuit of Excellence Award. She is a nominee for this year's LIA Graduate of the Year.

In September, Guiney will travel to Canada to compete in the World Skills International, along with competitors from 55 other countries.

"There's a lot of training to be done beforehand," she said, "but it will be an excellent experience. Already, a lot of great opportunities have come out of World Skills."