Competing against the world's best welders was a blast for Farmborough Heights' Kallon McVicar but the 20-year-old is glad it's over.

McVicar was one of five TAFE Illawarra students and graduates in the 25-strong Australian Skillaroos team at the 2015 WorldSkills International in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from August 11-16.

He spoke to the Advertiser after winning a medal of excellence in welding, scoring more than 500 points out of 600. TAFE Illawarra team-mates Nowra resident John Reminis (bakery) also won a medal of excellence, as did Willow Vale's Nicholas Roman (joinery), while Southern Highlands resident Sam Spong won a bronze in bricklaying. Matt Sawers, Gerringong, competed in the manufacturing team challenge.

McVicar was pitted against welders from 43 countries and said the competition was intense.

"I was up there but I wasn't good enough to get a gold, silver or bronze, but I still got the other medal," he said.

"Them people are freaks over there, it's ridiculous. It was heaps stressful, you'd lose sleep over it. That's why I'm glad it's over too."

McVicar had to weld three vessels and four "test coupons", in 18 hours over four days. He said it was a good experience and he made plenty of friends. He learnt to work quickly and efficiently.

His path to WorldSkills was long - training began two years ago after he won the regional, then national competitions. He travelled to the US, China and New Zealand with the Skillaroos for training this year.

McVicar is a now fully qualified boilermaker/metal fabricator, after completing his four-year TAFE apprenticeship, and works at Mainteck.

TAFE Illawarra institute director Dianne Murray said they were very proud of the team and thanked TAFE Illawarra international experts Troy Everett, Paul Buttenshaw, Paul Condron, Martin Bezzina and Herve Boutin.