Issy shows skill and passion for trade

ISSY Cromb took her love for precision to a higher level this month when she competed in a major trade challenge.

The year 11 Phoenix P–12 Community College student placed second in a Worldskills Australia all-female VET in Schools carpentry competition.

Held during the two-day Trade and Tech Fit Career Expo 2026 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre earlier this month, Cromb was pitted against other girls to build a shoebox.

“I was definitely falling behind a little bit because I did take my time to measure everything out before I started cutting or anything like that,” she said.

“But I feel like it did benefit me in the long run because I wasn’t doing one thing and then trying to measure another and then doing that.

“I just got it all done, and it was all the same, so I didn’t have to worry about trying to make everything the same after I’d already cut things.”

Cromb said she pays attention to detail.

“I like being precise and having things as perfect as I can get them,” she said.

She drew a lot of confidence from the result.

“It feels really good knowing that I am capable of doing the things I want to do,” she said.

Studying a VET class in building and construction, Cromb hopes to one day secure an apprenticeship in carpentry.

She developed a love for trades from woodwork in years 7 and 8 and from helping her dad Gordon with jobs at home.

Cromb wanted to thank her dad, mum Narelle and teacher Tim Blee for their support.

The competition took place during the expo, which attracted 4,500 students from 170 public schools.

“We’ve backed the Trade and Tech Fit Career Expo again because it works. More students, more exhibitors and more opportunities, this is what investing in public education looks like,” education minister Ben Carroll said.