[1][2] He won a bronze medal at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand, lifting a total of 730 lb (330 kg).

Later at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he became the first Australian to win a weightlifting gold medal at a major international competition.

The seven-time national champion rounded out his career at the 1956 Summer Olympics in his home city of Melbourne, where he finished 11th.

[3] Barberis was the first Australian lightweight to clean and jerk over 300 lb (140 kg) which at the time exceeded the Victorian heavyweight record.

He was later inducted into the AWF Hall of Fame,[1] and on 30 August 2000 awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his weightlifting achievements.