Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) has announced the results of its 2025 National Skills Competition following a final set of tests held in April.
Having a legacy of over twenty years, the National Skills Competition allows Toyota technicians and apprentices to test their abilities and product knowledge in a range of written and practical challenges across TMHA's range of Toyota forklifts, Huski Construction Equipment and allied equipment.
Following two rounds of online written tests, eight technicians and six apprentices were chosen as finalists and flown to TMHA's head office in Moorebank, NSW to determine the nation's best product experts.
After being flown to Sydney and greeted with a welcome dinner, the final eight technicians were put to the test with a two-day competition comprising eight stages.
Four stages were dedicated to servicing equipment across the entire TMHA range, with the other four stages challenging technicians to find and identify faults in products and repair the products to a working state.
2025 further built upon the new concept that was rolled in previous years where all products were integrated into a single contest, truly testing the product knowledge of the technicians and apprentices. The two day technician contest is a huge task which all participants took head on with great spirit and skill shown by all.
Techs were given 90 minutes to perform at each station, with the performance at each station marked by adjudicators based on a specific set of criteria and combined with results from the first two rounds of testing to determine the final score.
The results were announced at a Gala Awards dinner held at Port Douglas on the 2nd of May.
Matthew Norris from TMHA Launceston was judged Master Technician for 2025.
TMHA Brisbane-based Timothy Partridge claimed the runner-up prize, while Aaron Smith also from TMHA Brisbane rounded out the top three.
As Master Technician, Mr Norris was awarded a $5,000 cash prize as well as a free international trip and factory tour of one of Toyota Material Handling's manufacturing facilities. Possible destinations include Japan, Sweden and the US.
Second prize came with a $2,000 cash prize, while third place was awarded $1,000.
While participation in the competition is voluntary for technicians, all TMHA apprentices are required to compete, making for an exciting and closely contested final test.
Six of the highest-scoring apprentices were also flown to Moorebank, where they spent a single day rotating through six 45-mintue stations ranging from fault finding, to servicing and electrical processes such as crimping terminals and soldering, testing batteries and fork tynes, chains and hydraulics.
After a close-run finish, fourth-year apprentice Andrew Pope from TMHA Brisbane was awarded the 2025 National Apprentice of the Year award, and as a result will be accompanying Mr Norris on an overseas factory tour.
All eight final technicians received a $250 voucher for making it to the finals, while the six apprentices were awarded a $100 voucher. All technicians and apprentices who made it to the second round of testing also scored a voucher worth $50.
130 total technicians signed up for the 2025 National Skills Competition, which is a valuable training resource that ensures technicians can offer the best possible product knowledge and customer service to clients.
