The apprentice painter and decorator had to draw and paint a 3D box on a wall for the state finals and was judged on style, design, neatness and accuracy.

Mr Pergolizzi will travel next month to Brisbane, where 250 qualified judges will assess his work. He will do another diagram on a wall; this time it will be a bridge with a map of Queensland in it.

Competitors' talent will be judged on national and international benchmarks, training packages and employability competencies.

There will be more than 500 competitors from 50 trade skills categories vying for a place in the WorldSkills team the 'Skillaroos', which will represent Australia at the International Worldskills final in London next year.

Mr Pergolizzi has completed two years of his four-year TAFE course at Victoria University and works as an apprentice at his dad's business.

His job involves working with clients to design, prepare and complete home redesign.

TAFE teacher Alan Schumer, who recommended Mr Pergolizzi should enter the competition, said: "I picked him because he works for his father and one of the biggest problems with students [is that] if you put them into WorldSkills, their employers stop them going ahead.

"Fortunately Frank, his dad, has backed him up to the hilt.

"Paul is very neat and very competent and what he does here is to a high standard. He's in the age group where he can compete and he's done very well.

"I'm hoping for a gold from him."

WorldSkills Australia provides those 23 and under an opportunity to gain new skills, compete against their peers in their chosen trade and fast-track their skills and career development.

Mr Pergolizzi thanked his sponsors The Paint Spot and Executive Maintenance for helping him get to the finals next month.