[Pictured: Maxima Apprentice Jemma Glatz at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships]
Breaking news: Maxima apprentice Jemma Glatz has won silver at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships and is on track to represent Australia at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai in 2026.
After months of training and preparation, Jemma’s talent and hard work paid off as she impressed judges with her precision and technique in the painting and decorating category. Her silver medal not only recognises her exceptional skill but has resulted in Jemma being selected to wear the green and gold on the world stage.
See below for an article that was published in the lead up to the competition.
Maxima apprentice Jemma Glatz has always loved being creative, and even at a young age had an eye for detail. These traits have stayed with her into adulthood and helped shape her future as a painter and decorator.
Now in the second year of her apprenticeship, Jemma is completing a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating through TAFE SA while employed by Maxima and hosted by the City of Adelaide. Her day-to-day work ranges from graffiti removal to restoring park benches and picnic tables, helping to keep the city’s public spaces clean and inviting.
Jemma says it was the variety in the trade that appealed to her. ‘Painting and decorating combines creativity, attention to detail and a wide variety of work,’ she says. ‘One day I might be working on something decorative, the next I’m restoring street furniture or making the city look better for the people who use it.’
She credits Maxima with helping her get a strong start, providing the training, licensing, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ongoing support that’s made her apprenticeship experience a positive one. ‘They’ve made sure I have everything I need and have been checking in regularly to make sure I’m being treated well on the job – which I definitely am!’
Late last year, one of Jemma’s TAFE lecturers encouraged her to take on a new challenge: entering the regional WorldSkills painting and decorating competition. Although she was unsure at first, she gave it a go and surprised herself with the result, winning the silver medal with a score of 94.5 out of 100.
That score secured her a spot at the WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships in Brisbane, where she’ll compete alongside top apprentices and trainees from across the country. She’s been spending her weekends, evenings and RDOs preparing for the three-day event, including a full mock competition to practise working under time pressure.
‘I’m excited to test my skills, but also to meet people and take in the experience,’ she says. ‘It’ll be a great chance to see how far I’ve come, and if I win gold, I could represent Australia in Shanghai next year – which would be incredible.’
Looking further ahead, Jemma says she’s keen to stay on with the City of Adelaide if the opportunity arises. ‘I really like my job here,’ she says. ‘There’s lots of variety, and it’s rewarding knowing you’re helping make public spaces better for everyone.’
For other young people thinking about a trade, she encourages giving it a go. ‘If you’re unsure which trade suits you, try a Certificate II in Construction Pathways as it gives you a feel for a few different types,’ she says. ‘And don’t let gender hold you back – anyone can do a trade if they put in the work.’
To find out more about apprenticeships with Maxima, click here
For information about the WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships, click here