Two Western Australians have been named national winners at the prestigious Australian Training Awards (ATA) 2023.
Now in its 30th year, the Australian Training Awards reward and recognise apprentices, trainees, VET students, teachers, practitioners, employers, and training providers from around Australia.
The awards not only recognise students but pay tribute to employers, teachers and trainers who support them throughout their VET journey.
Find out more about the WA Training Awards at dtwd.wa.gov.au/watrainingawards
Individual category winners received $5,000 prize money and runners-up received $2,500. The Australian Training Awards showcases the amazing and diverse options the VET sector has to offer, and how it can transform lives.
Kingsley's Amy Hunt is the worthy winner of Australian Apprentice of the Year. She is the only woman and youngest cable jointer at her worksite. Amy was drawn to the fast-changing environment of the power industry. Amy says her close relationship with her father (a panel beater) and her brother (a signwriter) inspired her to follow in their footsteps and pursue a similar lifestyle through a trade apprenticeship in the power industry.
Amy cites her experience working on low and high voltage electrical cables as having opened her eyes to the implicit value of safety - both on an individual level and within a team. She also credits her training experience with enhancing her leadership and communication skills.
Cragie's Holly Gudsell was named Australian VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year. A teaching position in a remote Aboriginal community near Fitzroy Crossing was the catalyst for a change in career direction for Holly, as she discovered an interest in Aboriginal education. Having previously worked as a teacher, and then abroad, teaching English in Kenya and China,
It was while lecturing in Education Support at North Metropolitan TAFE that Holly was approached to develop and deliver a new program for the Department of Education, to upskill Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officers (AIEO) across Perth metropolitan schools. She delivered a 'mixed mode' course which successfully supported Aboriginal students through the Certificate III and IV in School Based Education Support (AEIO).
Aveley's Anthony Nelson-Burns was the runner-up for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year after achieving his long-standing career goal of completing his Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade) and becoming a mechanical fitter.
Western Australian organisations also took out one silver and three bronze awards across multiple categories:
- EK Contracting received the silver award for Small Employer of the Year
- Defence Industry Pathways Program received the bronze award for Industry Collaboration
- Hedland Senior High School received the bronze award for School Pathways to VET
- WA College of Agriculture Cunderdin received the bronze award for Small Training Provider of the Year
This year, Western Australia had representatives in six individual categories:
- Apprentice of the Year;
- School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year;
- Trainee of the Year; Vocational Student of the Year;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year; and
- Trainer of the Year.
There were also two direct entries into the awards this year:
- Anthony Georgeff - Advanced Skills Lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE, for the Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award; and
- Hedland Senior High School for the School Pathways to VET Award.
For the full list of ATA winners, visit australiantrainingawards.gov.au
