Australian Training Awards 2019: vocational education’s best of the year revealed

The 2019 Australian Training Awards acknowledged the year’s best vocational students, teachers, employers and training organisations. SEE THE FULL WINNER’S LIST

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The nation’s most inspiring vocational education students, employers and educators have been revealed at the 2019 Australian Training Awards in Brisbane tonight.

Nine individuals, five businesses and four registered training organisations were acknowledged, with finalists from the Northern Territory and Tasmania taking out the two most anticipated categories.

**SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS**

The Apprentice of the Year Award went to the NT’s Rory Milner, a carpenter with Sunbuild.

His plans for the future include further training to increase his workplace flexibility and his skill set.

Australian Training Awards 2019 Apprentice of the Year, Rory Milner. Picture: Shane Eecen

Meanwhile, Trainee of the Year was Tasmania’s Stephen Witkowski who had worked all over the country in the aquatic industry and was now a technical officer for Tassal, having completed a certificate III qualification.

Senator Michaelia Cash, minister for skills and employment, said the Australian Training Awards highlighted the excellence being achieved in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

“To be selected as a finalist is an outstanding achievement,” she said.

“All of the individuals, businesses and registered training organisations recognised at this year’s training awards are leaders and role models in their field.”

As well as national recognition and network development opportunities, category winners each received $5000 prize money and runners-up in the individual categories also received $2500 prize money.

Australian Training Awards 2019 Trainee of the Year, Stephen Witkowski. Picture: Supplied

Australian Training Awards 2019 winners:

INDIVIDUALS

Lifetime Achievement – Wayne Collyer, WA

National Achievement – Judith McKay, NT

Apprentice of the Year – Rory Milner, NT

Trainee of the Year – Stephen Witkowski, Tas

Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year – Arcadia Meldrum, NSW

Vocational Student of the Year – Shaona Imaru, SA

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year – Taylor Williams, ACT

VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year – Sarah Ford, NSW

Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice – Debra Guntrip, TAS

Vocational Student of the Year Shaona Imaru, from South Australia. Picture: Supplied

BUSINESSES

Small Employer of the Year – Crusader Homes, TAS

Medium Employer of the Year – Astill’s Electrical Services Pty Ltd, QLD

Large Employer of the Year – Barminco, WA

Australian Apprenticeships Employer – Essential Energy, NSW

Industry Collaboration – Holmesglen Institute and Royal Children’s Hospital, VIC

REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATIONS

Small Training Provider of the Year – Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta,

NSW

Large Training Provider of the Year – Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, VIC

International Training Provider of the Year – TAFE Queensland

School Pathways to VET – Circular Head Christian School, TAS

Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year, Arcadia Meldrum. Picture: Supplied

READ MORE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NEWS IN THE CAREERS SECTION OF SATURDAY’S THE COURIER-MAIL, THE HERALD SUN, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AND THE ADVERTISER