And many of Australia's competitors are coming to Wollongong to train with the region's strong contingent.

The Illawarra has a great record of achievement, with TAFE Illawarra students winning a record nine medals at the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition last September.

Any medal means a competitor is the best at their trade, with the award a testament to their skills and commitment.

That is why Illawarra Institute director Dianne Murray was excited to learn the Illawarra won more gold medals than any other region, and was expected to make up a quarter of the national team.

The Australian team is being finalised this month and will compete in Sao Paulo in July.

A national training camp was run in Wollongong in December and seven of the nation's young guns visited Stanwell Tops this month for more personal development opportunities at the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) held at Stanwell Park.

Illawarra competitors who won gold at the WorldSkills Australia competition in Perth were Nick Roman , John Reminis, Matt Sawers, Sam Spong and Kallon McVicar.

While not a member of this year's team, Mikayla Brightling, a third-year pastry chef apprentice, was also invited to join members at RYLA as she is recognised as a Worldskills' star of the future and expected go to Dubai in 2016.

Last September Ms Brightling, 20, won national bronze before winning a trophy at the Baking Association of Australia's (BAA) Excellence in Baking National Awards where she was named BAA's National Apprentice Pastry Cook of the Year with a record score.

Ms Brightling said she found RYLA very beneficial.

"We found out about how to set goals for success, do resumes, learn life skills and tap into your inner energy," she said.

Ms Hillier said all the Worldskills national team members felt it helped them get to know each other better, which would help them in Brazil.

Illawarra Regional WorldSkills Committee chairman Troy Everett said the team was also going to New Zealand in April for the Oceania Championships.