NSW Training Awards 2025 winners: Apprentice of the Year’s advice for young Aussies revealed
Ten years ago Kathryn Beale was living in a youth refuge. On Thursday she was named NSW Apprentice of the Year. Here’s her advice.
Ten years ago Kathryn Beale was living in a youth refuge, kicked out of home at the age of 16. Yesterday, the 27-year-old electrician was named the NSW Apprentice of the Year.
Before the year’s end, she will have bought her first home.
Ms Beale was “a straight-A student” in high school with aspirations to study veterinary medicine at university, until her home life crumbled. Faced with homelessness, completing the HSC became impossible.
“I was trying to finish school while being on the youth allowance through Centrelink – it wasn’t working out for me, and then I ended up joining the army,” she said.
“I was like ‘there’s an income, they give you a place to live, they give you food — this is unreal’.”
But her military career wasn’t to last, with a shoulder injury rendering Ms Beale medically discharged.
Taking up a position as a junior administrative assistant at an electrical company to earn her keep, she rapidly rose through the ranks until reaching a ceiling she’d need an electrical licence to break.
“I was essentially just like, screw it – let’s do that!”
A four-year apprenticeship later and Ms Beale is now a fully qualified electrician working on a water treatment project around the new airport at Kemps Creek.
She describes her vocational education as “the best thing I’ve ever done” and wants young people – especially other women – to know it is a path they can (and should) follow.
“My advice now is get a trade – even if you ultimately decide to do something else with your life,” she said.
“I didn’t have to pay for any of my training; I don’t have a HECS debt … and it guarantees me work going forward.
“There’s such a massive skills shortage and demand for qualified tradespeople across Australia. There will always be work and there is so much money in the industry.
“For me, 10 years ago I was living on the streets, didn’t have an income, didn’t have anything, and now my partner and I are looking at buying a house at the end of this year.”
The NSW Training Awards, held at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday, celebrates and honours excellence in vocational education and training (VET), recognising a Trainee, Apprentice and Educator of the Year as well as school-based VET awards.
The event also celebrates the best training providers and employers in the industry with awards for organisations.
All the NSW winners are now in the running for the Australian Training Awards in Darwin at the end of the year.
Skills Minister Steve Whan said the winners’ achievements “are a powerful reminder” of the impact vocational education has both on individual lives and the wider community.
“Our future prosperity is dependent on growing our skilled workforce, and role models like our Training Awards winners are essential in breaking down stereotypes about VET careers,” he said.
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Originally published as NSW Training Awards 2025 winners: Apprentice of the Year’s advice for young Aussies revealed
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