Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010 - Department of ...

JASON’S CAREER LIGHTS UP
AS 2010 AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICE
OF THE YEAR
TOP-NOTCH TRAINING
TAFE NSW—WESTERN SYDNEY
INSTITUTE WINS LARGE TRAINING
PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
DRIVING AMBITION
YAZMIN’S JOURNEY TO BECOME
AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL-BASED
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Also in this issue:
Prime Minister’s Small Business of the Year—Diesel Electrics
Employer of the Year—Crown Melbourne Limited
Vocational Student of the Year—Michael Hogan
Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year—Gabriella Morona
Skills for Sustainability—Swinburne University of Technology (TAFE)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year—Rory Smeaton
Small Training Provider of the Year—Industrylink
VET in Schools Excellence—Inner Melbourne VET Cluster Incorporated
Australian Training Initiative—Tropical North Queensland TAFE
Celebrating Australian Training
Australian Apprentice of the Year
Jason Bryan

In this issue...
A word from the Minister_________________________________________________________________________ 1
JASON’S CAREER LIGHTS UP__________________________________________________________________________ 2
Jason Bryan—2010 Australian Apprentice of the Year
CROWNED THE LEADER_______________________________________________________________________________ 4
Crown Melbourne Limited—2010 Employer of the Year
SOWING THE SEEDS FOR SUCCESS___________________________________________________________________ 6
Gabriella Morona—2010 Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year
GETTING YOU GOING WHEN IT COUNTS ______________________________________________________________ 8
Diesel Electrics—2010 Prime Minister’s Small Business of the Year
A POSITIVE FORCE___________________________________________________________________________________ 10
Rory Smeaton—2010 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
TOP-NOTCH TRAINING________________________________________________________________________________ 12
TAFE NSW—Western Sydney Institute—2010 Large Training Provider of the Year
DRIVING AMBITION__________________________________________________________________________________ 14
Yazmin Brown—2010 Stella Axarlis Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year
The taste of success_____________________________________________________________________________ 16
Industrylink—2010 Small Training Provider of the Year
A real self starter_ ______________________________________________________________________________ 18
Michael Hogan—2010 Vocational Student of the Year
INSPIRING CAREERS_________________________________________________________________________________ 20
Inner Melbourne VET Cluster Incorporated—2010 VET in Schools Excellence
TRAINING FOR A HEAD START________________________________________________________________________ 22
Tropical North Queensland TAFE—2010 Australian Training Initiative
SUSTAINING MOMENTUM___________________________________________________________________________ 24
Swinburne University of Technology (TAFE)—2010 Skills for Sustainability—Educational Institution Award
Industry Awards_________________________________________________________________________________ 26
TAPPING INTO ONLINE TRAINING_____________________________________________________________________ 28
Wide Bay Institute of TAFE—The Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s Innovative
Business Award winner 2010
National Focus Categories _____________________________________________________________________ 29
What a difference a year makes_________________________________________________________________ 30
Blake McCarthy—2009 Australian Apprentice of the Year
Dasha Newington—2009 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
WA Department of Corrective Services—2009 Australian Training Initiative
honor roll________________________________________________________________________________________ 32

A word from the Minister
What an amazing night to be enjoyed at the recent 2010 Australian
Training Awards.
I was honoured to be in attendance to witness firsthand the excellence
being demonstrated by our registered training organisations, employers
and students within the vocational education and training sector.
The stories of inspiration and dedication by all finalists are testament
to the quality of our national training system and I extend my
congratulations, once again, to all who were represented at the event.
To make it to the Australian Training Awards is a commendable
achievement in itself.
It was of significance to note the diversity of excellence across
all states and territories, which only serves to reinforce the quality
in the delivery of vocational education and training within Australia.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
The Australian Government is focused on ensuring we maintain a
quality training system and recognises the importance of a skilled and
productive society.
It is important that we continue to focus on quality and to ensure
we meet the needs of the vocational education and training sector.
It is with this in mind that my state and territory counterparts agreed to
a number of changes to the Australian Training Awards from 2011.
Please visit the website at www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au and
familiarise yourself with these changes, which serve to enhance the
public recognition of the excellence in training and skills development
taking place across Australia.
In the meantime, I encourage you to take time to read the stories in
this publication, which showcase the winners and runners-up of these
prestigious awards.
Senator Chris Evans
Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations

JASON’S CAREER LIGHTS UP
Jason Bryan—Tasmania
2010 Australian Apprentice of the Year
The Australian Apprentice of the Year award is presented to an Australian
Apprentice who has been outstanding in all aspects of their trade.
Working as an electrician at
BSH Electrical in Tasmania is the
realisation of a lifelong interest
for Jason Bryan. As a child he
would sit in his mother’s car and
look up at the wires strung from
pole to pole next to the highway
and wonder how they worked.
‘I’ve always been fascinated
with the electrical industry
and the theoretical side of
electricity,’ Jason explains.
At 23, Jason already has an
impressive list of achievements
behind him since starting
his apprenticeship in 2004
through Hobart College’s
Electrotechnology Vocational
Education and Training (VET)
in Schools program. He
completed his Certificate III
Electrotechnology—Systems
Electrician in March 2010,
winning the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Year Electrical Apprentice
Award from Tastec Group
Training along the way for
his high academic and
professional performance.
‘I never really saw
myself going to university.
I much prefer the practical,
hands-on trade side of
things. I love the fact
you can learn something
one day and apply it
the next. It reinforces what you’ve
learned and I think you learn a lot
more in that situation,’ Jason says.
‘Another really strong influence on my
career has been the other tradesmen
I work with. I look up to them as mentors.
My supervisors and managers have given
me the opportunity to learn from them.’
Jason had to be resilient and dedicated
in his determination to complete
his apprenticeship. He moved out
of home at the age of 16 to give his
brother Richard more space to meet
the needs of his disability, and juggled
studying and living away from home
admirably. Then, in the third year of his
apprenticeship, his mother and sister
were in a serious car accident. While his
sister was unharmed, his mother was
in a wheelchair for six months, so Jason
took on other duties for his family. Even
with so many responsibilities, Jason didn’t
really consider dropping his studies.
‘I guess it crossed my mind a few times,
but never seriously. I knew where I
wanted to go and had that long-term
goal of finishing my apprenticeship.’
Jason is now doing what he loves
and continues to study in his own
time, at his own expense.
‘The benefits I’ve gained from my further
training are things like time management
and organisational skills but also being
able to apply different courses to my
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‘I definitely recommend doing an
apprenticeship or traineeship’
Jason Bryan
work. In the electrical industry, there is
a lot of theory and everything can be
applied across the industry,’ Jason says.
‘Ultimately, I’d like a managerial
type of role where I can encourage
others on their learning path.’
Jason is already sharing his knowledge
and enthusiasm with current
apprentices in his workplace.
‘Because I’ve only just finished my
training, I’m able to apply the theory
to the practical. I can relate to what
the apprentices are studying, so I can
encourage them in applying that theory
in a more practical sense,’ he says.
students there. I’ve spoken to those
guys, answered their questions and
encouraged them to keep going.’
Jason is still amazed at how far his
apprenticeship has taken him.
‘I definitely recommend doing an
apprenticeship or traineeship. I can’t
recommend it highly enough. I think
it still doesn’t get the recognition it
deserves as a training pathway,’ he says.
‘I certainly didn’t expect to win this award.
I guess I didn’t realise I would get that far.
I didn’t think that someone from little old
Tassie would take out such a huge award.’
‘I’ve also been to the Skills Institute
in Tasmania, to see the electrical
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Australian Apprentice of the Year
RUNNER-UP
Garreth Robbs
New South Wales
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
Garreth commenced his cookery apprenticeship in 2007
and won scholarships in 2009 and 2010, which enabled him
to travel to London to work with well-known chefs. He has
also travelled through France and Spain to learn extensively
about food in both regions. Garreth is well on his way
to achieving his goal of becoming an executive chef.

CROWNED the LEADER
Crown Melbourne Limited—Victoria
2010 Employer of the Year
The Employer of the Year award is presented to a business enterprise
with more than 20 employees that has demonstrated outstanding
commitment and achievement in the provision of nationally
recognised training for employees.
Crown Melbourne’s Executive General
Manager, Human Resources, Peter Coyne,
says that investing in staff through training
is vital to the company’s success.
‘With the development of our Learning
Pathway initiative we’re shifting the mindset
from training for a job to learning for a
career,’ Peter says.
‘It’s a win-win for the Australian hospitality
industry, whether Crown staff stay or move on.’
Crown Melbourne employs around 6500
staff—1100 of whom are currently completing
nationally accredited training qualifications
in 10 streams, including commercial cookery,
security and leadership. In partnership with
educational institutions, training is delivered
in-house at Crown College, a $10 million
purpose-built learning centre, which includes
a training kitchen and restaurant—Culinarium.
Crown provides training in technical and
operational skills as well as business,
leadership, and personal skills, all
scheduled on a corporate training
calendar published on its intranet.
‘Our employees are given every opportunity
to broaden their knowledge and move
across the organisation,’ Peter says.
Crown Melbourne has more than
1000 employees across the business
completing accredited training. To
accommodate rosters and shift work, training
is held in staggered timeslots between
8 am and midnight, seven days a week.
Crown’s 70 trainers all have a Certificate IV
in Workplace Training and Assessment and
extensive industry experience, typically
15 years or more.
It’s a friendly and comfortable learning
environment and the high completion
rates are testament to its effectiveness.
New employees are given a corporate
induction attended by members of Crown’s
Executive team, and all employees receive
reminders about the importance and
availability of training initiatives and programs
via staff newsletters and electronic news
boards. These are ideal avenues for informing
staff of their professional development options,
and celebrating recent staff successes.
In 2009, Crown Melbourne graduate Simon
Consentino, who completed his Certificate
III in Commercial Cookery was a Commis
Chef to Australian representative Luke
Croston at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or in
France, known as the ‘Culinary Olympics’.
Australia finished a credible 12th (out of 24).
Further demonstrating its commitment
to professional development, Crown
recently developed a 12-month leadership
program aligned to the Certificate IV
in Frontline Management, and already
more than 400 Crown supervisors
have commenced this program.
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‘Our employees are given every opportunity to broaden
their knowledge and move across the organisation’
Peter Coyne, Executive General Manager, Human Resources
Recent graduates of the program, run in
partnership with Swinburne University of
Technology (TAFE), have provided feedback
that the program has given them more
confidence as supervisors and practical
strategies for dealing with difficult situations.
They feel more valued by the organisation
because of the extra time they each spend
with their manager and their personal coach.
In 2011 Crown launches its new management
program ‘The Next Gen of Leaders’ which is
aligned to a Diploma of Management.
Peter Coyne says that Crown Melbourne
being awarded Employer of the Year was
a wonderful achievement for the Crown
brand, Crown College and employees.
‘Winning this award is a great branding
opportunity. It demonstrates our commitment
to the development of our employees and
recognises the dedication of our training
teams and Crown College,’ he says.
‘Our executive team is thrilled with our
successes, and is genuinely committed
to building on these and providing our
employees with meaningful learning, so that
Crown continues to be an industry leader in
hospitality, and training and learning.’
Employer of the Year
FINALISTs
ETSA Utilities
South Australia
Serco Sodexo
Defence Services
Direct Nomination
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
ETSA Utilities is one of South Australia’s largest
businesses delivering electricity to more than 810 000
residential and business customers. ETSA Utilities
Training Services is also a registered training organisation
delivering training and assessment to its employees,
contractors and customers in the electrical supply industry.
It aims to ensure an engaged, skilled and safe workforce
through a range of 25 accredited and non-accredited
technical and safety-based training programs. It offers
the Certificate III in ESI [Electrical Supply Industry]
Distribution (Powerline) as well as frontline management
training at Certificate III, IV and diploma levels.
Serco Sodexo Defence Services is a dedicated prime
contractor that provides facilities management services
to the Australian Defence Organisation. In addition
to providing services to its clients, it aims to serve
its most valuable asset—its 2800 employees.
The company’s Employee Benefits Program helps
to encourage an important work–life balance. In
the wider community, Serco Sodexo supports
local communities through sporting sponsorships,
donations and fundraising. It has corporate and social
responsibility strategies that include training and
development programs, innovative environmental
management and heritage and cultural protection.

SOWING THE SEEDS
FOR SUCCESS
Gabriella Morona—New South Wales
2010 Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year
The Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year award is presented to
an individual who is undertaking a traineeship and has been outstanding
in all aspects of their training.
Gabriella Morona’s family has farming
in its blood, and she is proud to be
following the family tradition.
‘My grandparents, Nonno and Nonna,
immigrated to Australia from Italy and
settled on a farm in the Deniliquin
region. Now my dad and uncle run the
family farms, which include a mix of dry
land and irrigation,’ Gabriella says.
Gabriella couldn’t be happier with the
skills and knowledge she has developed
over the 12 months of her traineeship.
‘I wanted to complete a gap year working
on the farms to be sure I had the passion
to pursue agriculture as a career option.
My mum encouraged me to sign up for
a Certificate III in Agriculture with Murray
Mallee Training Company, as it would
ensure the skills I was performing on
the farms would be recognised through
a formal qualification,’ she says.
Gabriella gained a theoretical understanding
of the workings of a farm as well as
on-the-job learning with her family.
‘I believe that you learn as much on the
job as you learn off it. The traineeship was
structured in such a way that the tasks I
was undertaking on the job were consistent
with those in my training plan,’ she says.
Gabriella attended courses and field days
to expand her agricultural knowledge, and
develop relationships with industry experts.
‘I attended a week-long course about
improving business outcomes through
the use of financial data to identify
areas of the business that are inefficient
and absorbing potential profits. I also
attended a seed information evening,
where agronomists [who use integrated
sciences to manage plant resources]
from around Australia came together to
discuss new seed varieties and fertilisers.’
Gabriella found her responsibilities
on the farm increased as she
progressed through her traineeship.
‘I was organising the stock feeding
and weed-management programs and
attended a number of industry meetings,
including the Rice Growers Annual
General Meeting,’ Gabriella says.
‘I’m in the process of setting up our
seasonal worker program, which will be
up and running by the end of summer.
This will allow us to engage backpackers
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‘I believe that you learn as much
on the job as you learn off it’
Gabriella Morona
to work on the farm for one to three
months during the busy periods.’
Completing her traineeship inspired
Gabriella to apply to the University
of Sydney to undertake a Bachelor
of Agricultural Economics.
‘After completing my degree I intend to
further my education in economics by
working for an international organisation.
I believe this experience will provide me
with a better understanding of international
markets and consumer demands,
giving me an advantage in selling the
commodities we produce on our farms
to national and international buyers.’
Now in her second year of the degree,
Gabriella returns to the family farms
when she can, continuing to cement
the knowledge she has learnt through
her traineeship and university studies.
‘If it’s a long weekend and we’re really
busy I’ll come home, otherwise I’m home
between university terms,’ she says.
There’s no time for rest and relaxation,
but Gabriella isn’t afraid of hard work.
‘Uni’s the holiday! But being on the
farm doesn’t feel like work—it’s more
enjoyable. It’s good to be part of the team
and get going.’
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year
RUNNER-UP
Josephine Shannon
Queensland
Certificate III in Business
After 20 years out of the workforce raising seven children, Josephine
resumed her career in office administration with a traineeship.
She adapted quickly to the huge changes in technology and
streamlined reporting processes in a workplace health and safety
program. Josephine was offered a position with Western Downs
Regional Council the day after completing her traineeship.

GETTING YOU GOING
WHEN IT COUNTS
Diesel Electrics—Queensland
Prime Minister’s Small Business of the Year
The Prime Minister’s Small Business of the Year award is presented
to a small enterprise which has achieved excellence in the provision
of nationally recognised training to its employees.
Diesel Electrics’ motto is ‘getting you going
when it counts’. Based in Dalby, Queensland,
the commercial and heavy equipment
service centre operates a 24-hours-a-day,
seven-days-a-week, on-call service to meet
the needs of its customers in the farming,
feedlot, transport and energy sectors.
Owners Anthony and Kellie Wenning know
customers need machinery back in action
as quickly as possible, a challenge they’re
embracing in the wake of the Queensland
flood crisis.
To ensure the highest quality work, Diesel
Electrics has developed a culture of training,
promoting continuous learning and personal,
as well as professional, development.
‘My husband still remembers when I first
came to him and said I wanted to take half
the budget from technical training and use
it for team and professional development,’
says Business Manager Kellie Wenning.
‘Previously, all the money had been put
into technical development, but there’s
so much more to training. It really
needs to be holistic,’ she says.
In the last four years, Diesel Electrics has
increased its capability to deliver in-house
training, and spends up to five per cent of
its turnover on training annually. As the
amount spent on training has increased,
so has overall turnover. Every staff member
is training in a Certificate II qualification,
or above, including Certificate II in Air
Conditioning, Certificate IV in Training and
even a Bachelor of Science (Psychology),
which Kellie herself is undertaking.
‘I began studying psychology when I was at
uni but then left and sought out my career.
It’s interesting that the way I originally
intended to use it is different to what I’m
using it for. I’m able to apply it on a different
level within our business, in terms of
performance management and motivation
and attitude.’
Diesel Electrics also trains its customers. It
makes sense, as they’re at the top of Diesel
Electrics’ inverted organisational structure.
‘We asked who’s the most important
person here? First, the customer, because
without them you don’t have a business,
then the frontline staff, the back end
and your technical support staff, right
down to the bottom, which is managerial
staff, who need to support all those
people above. It works well because it
maintains a culture of customer focus.’
To boost team moral, Diesel Electrics
organises two team-building weekends
per year.
‘We usually have all sorts of activities,
like jumping out of 17-metre trees on
the Gold Coast hinterland, and bouncing
around inside giant water-walking balls.
We couldn’t get to our planned location
for Christmas so we just used them in
our backyard—which was full of water!’
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

‘One of my goals in 2011 is to be really active in encouraging
other small businesses to be proactive and innovative about
their approach to training’
Kellie Wenning, Owner, Diesel Electrics
The workshop escaped damage from
the floods, but was isolated and able
to trade only three days out of three
weeks. In response, Kellie has given
the staff purple wristbands from the
complaintfreeworld.org initiative.
‘Every time you find yourself complaining,
you have to shift the wrist band to the other
hand. Scientists say it takes 21 days to
create a new habit and the aim is to keep
the wristband on the same wrist the whole
time. The floods have been devastating
but let’s try and be positive. I have to
admit though, some asked for two bands
so they could wear one on each wrist!’
There’s some muddy times ahead as
Queensland industry recovers from the
effects of flooding, but Kellie is excited
about the future.
‘I’m looking forward to speaking at the
Skills Tasmania conference. One of my goals
in 2011 is to be really active in encouraging
other small businesses to be proactive and
innovative about their approach to training,
particularly in financially tight times like
this. Developing good relationships with
registered training organisations and other
training services is really important too.’
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Prime Minister’s Small Business of the Year
FINALISTs
Verriers Engineering
Services
Western Australia
A strong training culture and a proud history of developing
its workforce have helped Verriers Engineering Services
become the business it is today. Winning the WA and
then the national Prime Minister’s Small Business of the
Year in 2008, the family-owned and operated business
has been supporting the transport, mining, agricultural
and food industries for the past 64 years. With a longterm
vision for sustained success, Verriers Engineering
Services is a business at the top of its game.
Littlehampton Child
Care Centre
South Australia
Littlehampton Child Care Centre’s Crawl, Walk, Run—
Steps to Success initiative aims to counter the shortage
of child care students and improve the availability of
suitably qualified workers. The program, which began in
2008, up-skills existing child care workers and encourages
prospective students to pursue a career in child care. More
than half of the centre’s staff has now completed nationally
recognised training. In recognition of the centre’s strong
commitment to learning, TAFE SA has re-established the
course at its Mount Barker Campus and Littlehampton
Child Care enjoys the benefits of a designated trainer.

A POSITIVE FORCE
Rory Smeaton—Victoria
2010 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Student of the Year
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year award
recognises the achievement of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
student who displays a strong understanding and knowledge of the
vocational education and training system and demonstrate the relevance
of life long learning for themselves and their community.
Rory Smeaton has always had a strong
work ethic, but he didn’t always enjoy
school. In Year 10, he opted to begin a
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning
(VCAL), a new hands-on alternative to
the Victorian Certificate of Education.
‘I completed foundation right through to
senior level and won Koori student of the
year for VCAL, while at the same time
doing a school-based apprenticeship
with AFL SportsReady,’ Rory says.
‘Because I’d finished my maths subjects
in Year 11, I had only four subjects in
Year 12, and knowing I didn’t have
exams made me stress less.’
So how did he end up with a career in the
education field?
‘I’ve always wanted to help people—I sort
of got led into it through sport. So I went
that way,’ Rory says. He first studied a
Certificate III in Community Recreation and
then completed a Diploma of Youth Work.
‘It just shows you can go from being
diagnosed with dyslexia and being
bullied in primary school and then come
through with a Certificate III. I said I’d
never go on the dole and now I’ve got
the qualifications to back me up.’
Rory says he’s lucky to have people
around him who are positive
influences and encourage him to
succeed, especially his family.
‘They’ve always been a positive force,
telling me I can do anything. They’re very
proud of me!’
He’s now a positive role model for
other young people as Indigenous
Liaison Officer at Kangan Institute in
Broadmeadows, Victoria.
‘I look after student welfare, everything
from enrolments to marketing, to going
out to schools to see if they’ve got any
disengaged students. I also get out to the
prisons around here to talk to Indigenous
women, children and men—so that when
they do come out of prison they know they
can come to me. Five or six people this
year have come out and gone into study.’
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

A career highlight for Rory so far was
attending a conference in Helsinki.
The only delegate under 30, he made a
great impression.
‘We did a joint presentation with a lady
from Canada and it was a real eye opener
to learn the similarities of indigenous
cultures in both countries. In Canada they’d
had a lot of the same issues—they had
stolen generations and drug and alcohol
problems over there as well,’ he says.
‘I also did a presentation in front of 80
to 90 people—I couldn’t even speak in
front of five people six months before!’
And what does the award mean to Rory?
‘I feel like I didn’t have a great story
compared to a lot of the other finalists.
I don’t think I’ve done big things in my
life but a lot of little things that added up.
It just shows you can be anything if you try.
There’ll always be barriers but you’ve just
got to overrun them. There’s two people in
life—followers and leaders. I always thought
I was a follower but now I’m starting to see
myself as a leader.’
‘I don’t think I’ve done
big things in my life but
a lot of little things that
added up’
Rory Smeaton
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Student of the Year
RUNNER-UP
Russell Freeburn
New South Wales
Certificate IV in Retail Management
Russell has completed an apprenticeship in light vehicle
mechanics, and also holds a Certificate IV in Workplace
Assessment and Training and Certificates II, III and IV in Retail.
He was offered a management position with Gibbo’s Auto
Spares after completing his traineeship, making him their
youngest manager ever. He has also received numerous awards
for excellence from TAFE NSW—North Coast Institute.

TOP-NOTCH TRAINING
TAFE NSW—Western Sydney Institute
2010 Large Training Provider of the Year
The Large Training Provider of the Year award is presented to a registered
training organisation with more than 1500 enrolled students for
outstanding delivery of vocational education.
It was a case of second time lucky for TAFE
NSW—Western Sydney Institute (WSI),
which, after being a finalist in 2009, took out
top honours at this year’s awards ceremony.
Institute Director, Susan Hartigan, says the
award recognises the important contribution
her organisation makes to the western
Sydney region and particularly its focus
on providing the best possible vocational
education and training to individuals,
enterprises and communities.
‘TAFE NSW—Western Sydney Institute has
gained a reputation for being responsive
to the training needs of individuals and for
its leadership in developing sustainable
practices,’ Susan says.
‘We provide education and training that
meets industry’s future skills needs, including
the new ‘green collar’ sector as well as the
traditional trades and professions, and we do
this using flexible and accessible
delivery modes.’
Reflecting on WSI’s success at both the
national and state level (it has been named
NSW Large Training Provider of the Year for
the last two years), Susan says the strategic
decision to reform its business model
was critical.
‘In 2009 we adopted a market-based approach
to positively impact on enterprise productivity
and sustainability and individual aspirations,
and build community capacity in the region,’
she says.
‘We wanted to position the institute as a
corporate partner to local industry.’
Susan says the shift to a market-based approach
demands that her organisation be more
entrepreneurial and more responsive to its
customers.
‘As a result [of the shift] we have expanded
our range of enterprise-based workforce
development services and strengthened our ties
with industry and community organisations.’
One of these is the Western Sydney GreenSkills
Hub—the first vocational education and training
facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere—
at Nirimba College in Quaker’s Hill, which
opened in November 2010.
This state-of-the-art facility models sustainable
practices and provides innovative training
opportunities for students in the subject areas
of green electrical engineering, plumbing,
refrigeration and information technology.
WSI is the largest training organisation in
western Sydney and covers a geographic area
that extends from Parramatta in the east to the
Blue Mountains in the west and includes the
rapidly expanding area of north-west Sydney.
The institute services a range of industries,
including tourism, agriculture, manufacturing,
transport and logistics, property and financial
and retail services.
It provides more than 1000 courses at
local colleges throughout the region and by
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‘We wanted to position the institute as a
corporate partner to local industry’
Susan Hartigan, Director, TAFE NSW—Western Institute
distance education. Its training programs
are delivered face to face, via e-learning,
in the workplace, and off-shore with
its international business partners.
‘What really pleases me is that students
tell me the training is relevant and that the
range of ways the programs are delivered
meets their requirements,’ Susan says.
‘Our capability to deliver is very important
to us.’
In 2009, WSI had 95 000 students enrolled
in courses delivered by more than 3500 staff
with 91.6 per cent student satisfaction and
a completion rate of almost 80 per cent.
Susan says the favourable statistics (and
the awards) are pleasing but stresses the
importance of building on this success in 2011.
‘Two priorities for 2011 are to invest in
developing our staff capability to enhance
their readiness to be VET practitioners of
the future, and to continue to integrate
sustainability practices and opportunities
into the business of teaching and learning.
WSI has achieved much in 2010 and being
named Large Training Provider of the Year
says it all—that we have continued to be
an innovative, responsive, collaborative and
environmentally responsible organisation,
providing relevant and accessible training.’
Large Training Provider of the Year
FINALISTS
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Durack Institute of Technology
Western Australia
The Durack Institute of Technology serves an area
of 640 000 square kilometres in the mid-west
Murchison and Gascoyne regions of WA.
Durack works closely with industry and the community
to align training with the workforce and community
development needs of the region. Training is delivered
online, in the workplace, in regional and remote
areas, in schools and many Aboriginal communities,
as well as through a blend of these arrangements.
Durack recently increased its recognition
of prior learning services and streamlined
apprenticeships and traineeships.
Wide Bay Institute of TAFE
Queensland
Wide Bay Institute of TAFE is the largest training
provider in the region, delivering more than 300
vocational programs to about 12 000 students each
year. The institute offers vocational education and
training programs ranging from Certificate I to advanced
diploma, from arts and automotive to horticulture
and sport and is leading the way in e-learning.
It has a long record of serving the region’s needs,
enhancing the productivity of industry and enterprise
through quality training. Its engagement with
community agencies was integral to meeting the
challenges posed by the recent economic downturn.

DRIVING AMBITION
Yazmin Brown—Northern Territory
2010 Stella Axarlis Australian School-based
Apprentice of the Year
The Stella Axarlis Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year award
is awarded to a student who is undertaking a Certificate III qualification
as a part-time Australian School-based Apprentice. The award recognises
the student’s commitment to both their formal studies at school and in
the workplace.
Yazmin Brown loves racing cars, but
she wasn’t so keen on school. She was
thinking about dropping out, but her
mother encouraged her to finish school
to enhance her future career prospects.
Yazmin found a compromise that was
perfect for her. She enrolled at the
Australian Technical College in Darwin in
2009, which not only offered her a pathway
to finish her schooling, but also gave her
a head start on her career through an
Australian School-based Apprenticeship in
Automotive (Light Vehicle). She completed
her Year 12 at Casuarina Senior College
in 2010 and achieved excellent results.
‘I enjoy working on cars and getting
my hands dirty. I race cars and have
a great interest in fixing them,’ says
Yazmin, who first became interested
in cars after helping her brother fix his
race car when she was just 11. Even
then she wanted to get in and drive.
Yazmin’s love of racing shows in her
achievements. She was awarded the 2009
Junior Sports Person of the Year for her
good sporting behaviour. When she is not
racing, she helps out around the Darwin
Northline Speedway track to prepare for
sprint car titles or monster truck events.
Juggling her busy life, including trade
school, working, volunteer work and
school has given Yazmin excellent
skills in time management.
Thanks to her apprenticeship, Yazmin is
also learning about teamwork and gaining
an aptitude for supervision. She has been
working at Kerry’s Automotive Group
for almost two years and as the senior
first-year apprentice she is responsible
for delegating jobs to other first-year
apprentices and checking their work on
completion. She loves the opportunity to
work on many different cars, and manages
well in the male-dominated industry,
getting along well with her co-workers.
‘They didn’t know the boundaries
initially, but after a couple of months
they knew what they couldn’t get
away with any more!’ she says.
Yazmin has recommended the industry
to her girlfriends. ‘I’m proud to think
that I have set an example for other
women wishing to become involved in
the automotive industry,’ she says.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

Outside work, Yazmin volunteers at
The Shed, a program for young offenders
required to complete community service.
She instructs them in maintenance tasks
based on the racing industry, including
working on race cars. She also provides
some informal counselling and has taken
some of the participants to the race track
to show them possible career pathways.
Yazmin’s ambition is to finish her
apprenticeship and continue working in the
automotive repair industry. She hopes to
become a service adviser and will undertake
studies in customer service to achieve this.
‘Doing an Australian School-based
Apprenticeship has allowed me to
do something I enjoy every day. I am
certain it will help me later on in life
for opportunities within the automotive
industry or other career paths,’ says Yazmin.
‘Doing an Australian
School-based
Apprenticeship has
allowed me to do
something I enjoy
every day’
Yazmin Brown
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Stella Axarlis Australian School-based
Apprentice of the Year
RUNNER-UP
Alex Jones
New South Wales
Certificate III in Community Services—Aged Care Work
Alex is undertaking an Australian School-based Apprenticeship,
completing a Certificate III in Community Services—Aged Care
Work. Her employer describes her as a shining light for the
future of nursing because of her ability to deliver inspired care
to each individual resident. On completion of her traineeship,
Alex is planning a career in nursing and medicine.

The taste of success
Industrylink—Tasmania
Small Training Provider of the Year
The Small Training Provider of the Year award is presented to a
registered training organisation with fewer than 1500 enrolled students
for outstanding delivery of vocational education and training.
It’s not yet five years old, but Tasmanian
registered training provider Industrylink
is celebrating its second visit to the
Australian Training Awards with a
victory. With three state training awards
already under its belt, this success
can easily be put down to passion.
‘From the very beginning we wanted to
make a big difference to hospitality—the
attitudes, the perception people had about
the industry—and not just give the basic
skills and qualifications, but really treat it
as an industry and a profession,’ explains
Nicholas Platon, CEO of Industrylink.
‘Industrylink has by far been my greatest
challenge and biggest achievement—
now with 12 passionate professionals
we’re delivering to over 220 trainees and
apprentices. We believe in giving everyone
education and that they should not be
limited because of their level of privilege
or location. We even travel to the far west
coast of Tasmania to train just one student.’
It’s clear that Industrylink staff members
appreciate the importance of training—
so much so that many of them are
undertaking training—including the CEO.
‘I began my career with a Diploma
in Hospitality, and I’m currently
enrolled in my apprenticeship in
commercial cookery,’ Nicholas says.
‘I like to stand alongside my apprentices
to show them I don’t know everything
and I’m here to learn. We’ve also had an
administration officer do her apprenticeship
in cookery and our bookkeeper was
doing a Bachelor of Accounting.’
Whether they’re training in kitchen
operations, hospitality, commercial
cookery or patisserie, students are
gaining unique exposure to the hospitality
industry. In addition to experience in their
own workplaces, students gain skills in
Industrylink’s Baraki training bar—a fully
operational cocktail and tapas bar—and
its a la carte Kuzina training restaurant.
‘Kuzina is one of only two restaurants
in Tasmania to have gueridon service,
which is French for flambé, where food
is finished in front of the guests. It really
encourages apprentices to interact with
customers, and build their confidence, and
customers just love it,’ Nicholas says.
Australian Apprentices also enjoy field
trips to nearby primary producers,
where they get an understanding of the
process from paddock to plate. It’s also
an opportunity for third-year students
to plan for their final practical exam.
‘At the beginning of the year they’re given
work on menus and themes—this year
we’re doing gastronomy and using local
produce. Students do their own research
into the produce, and create the menu
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

‘Industrylink has by far been my greatest
challenge and biggest achievement’
Nicholas Platon, CEO, Industrylink
and they invite family and friends and
employers to be the guests at the event.
That brought tears to parents’ eyes—they
could not believe how far their children
had come. It’s also a very proud moment
for us as trainers and assessors and
also for the employers,’ Nicholas says.
‘I’d like to really thank Skills Tasmania,
because of their amazing support for
our organisation, and the opportunity
to discuss areas of concern with
them has really opened the lines of
communication. It’s made it really
easy for us to achieve our goals.’
Winning at the Australian Training
Awards is another proud moment.
HELP Enterprises
Queensland
Small Training Provider of the Year
FINALISTs
HELP Enterprises is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation established in 1968 to help support
people with disability. With training facilities in Nundah, Mitchelton, Caboolture, Redcliffe, Strathpine and
Toowong, the organisation creates simulated work environments for a range of industries. Training includes
frontline management, hospitality, business administration, construction and forklift operations.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Spectrum Education and
Training Centre
Victoria
The Spectrum Education and Training Centre is the registered training organisation arm of Spectrum Migrant Resource
Centre, a community agency serving people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds across Melbourne’s
north-western corridor. Since 2007, it has trained more than 960 students, 98 per cent of these from a migrant
background. Working in an area of high unemployment, the centre has fostered local service partnerships and created
innovative skills development programs and social enterprises to support its vision of empowering migrants to settle
into Victorian business and community life.
College of Electrical Training
Western Australia
The College of Electrical Training is one of the longest established private training providers in Western Australia delivering
pre-vocational, post-trade and apprenticeship training to more than 50 per cent of all electrical apprentices in the state.
The college’s courses include safety, business, estimating and tendering, and are designed to up-skill the existing workforce.
It is also developing a higher level qualification in instrumentation in response to the shortage of skilled workers in this area.

A real self starter
Michael Hogan—Victoria
Vocational Student of the Year
The Vocational Student of the Year award recognises an outstanding
student’s achievement in a course of study leading to a nationally
recognised qualification.
There are key career moments in everyone’s
working life. Some people see them and
grab the opportunity with gusto; others
choose not to act, and some wonder what
happened. Michael Hogan—the 2010
Vocational Student of the Year—was one of
those who grabbed his career moment with
all the energy of a high-powered car on a
starting grid when the lights turn green!
Strange as it may seem for someone
so determined and gifted, Michael
was actually unsure about what
career to pursue when at school.
‘When I was in secondary school, in fact
even after I’d completed Year 12, I was
really confused about where I was heading;
I didn’t know what I wanted to do.’
‘I’d tinkered with cars all my life and
was basically self-taught. If I couldn’t
fix something it was a case of try and
try again. But with cars becoming more
technical I wanted to up-skill. I looked
on the internet and saw there was a
Motor Vehicle Accessories course at the
[Holmesglen] Moorabbin campus.’
‘My vocational training gave me a direction
and opened my eyes to the possibility of
teaching and running my own business.
It also allowed me to mentor other
students and hone my public speaking
skills by giving class presentations.’
‘There are so many young people who
are undecided about what to do in
life. I’m eager to get out there and tell
them about the options available in the
vocational system. By following their
passion they will find their motivation.’
After sitting in on one of Michael’s
class presentations his teacher and
mentor Charlie Vella said, ‘See, that’s
the reason I want you teaching for
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE’. Charlie
was referring to Michael’s knowledge
of car maintenance and upgrading and
his engaging way of communicating.
‘Michael was by far the most outstanding
student in the certificate courses.
I recognised his academic ability
and competence in the automotive
field immediately,’ Charlie says.
Michael completed a Certificate I and
II in Automotive Electrical Technology
with Holmesglen Institute of TAFE in
2009, winning the institute’s Student
Excellence Award for Certificate II. Now
he’s teaching the certificate courses at
Holmesglen two days a week, working
as a fire indicator panel operator on a
casual basis for Melbourne and Olympic
Parks Trust, and running his own autoelectric
business, Hound Audio Visual.
‘I recommend the Holmesglen course
because it gives you those all-important
practical skills which make you highly
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

‘My vocational training gave me a direction and opened my eyes
to the possibility of teaching and running my own business’
Michael Hogan
employable. Studying at Holmesglen
provided me with the skills and
knowledge to set up my business.’
Passionate about learning, Michael has
also completed a Certificate IV in Fire
Technology through Swinburne TAFE, and
a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and
Assessment with Holmesglen. Add to that
numerous short courses with the Country
Fire Authority, where he has attained the
rank of Lieutenant, and the Army Cadet
Corps. Michael also helps people solve their
auto-related problems through networking
and internet forums, and offers work
experience opportunities for students at
Hound Audio Visual. ‘It’s very important
to me that I give something back to the
VET sector. It set me on the right path and
gave me the skills necessary to run my
own business. I now want my business
to do its bit in helping to train the next
generation of car maintenance lovers!’
And how does being Vocational Student of
the Year sit with the 24-year-old who got his
big break on the vocational starting grid?
‘Winning an award such as this
demonstrates that you can not only achieve
your dreams, you can surpass them too.’
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Vocational Student of the Year
RUNNER-UP
Heidi Scher
New South Wales
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
While working as a store manager for Howards Storage World,
Heidi began studies in training and assessment with the aim of
mentoring new store managers. She demonstrated exceptional
skills in designing training programs that were engaging and
effective for learners. Heidi is now undertaking a Masters of
Business Administration at the University of Technology Sydney.

INSPIRING CAREERS
Inner Melbourne VET Cluster Incorporated
2010 VET in Schools Excellence
The VET in Schools Excellence award recognises innovation, partnership
and excellence in the delivery of recognised vocational education and
training to school students.
A commitment to a vision and being able to
broker all aspects of vocational education
and training were among the key elements
of Inner Melbourne VET Cluster’s (IMVC)
nomination and subsequent success at the
2010 awards ceremony.
‘We have never wavered from our vision—our
focus has always been young people,’ says
Penny Vakakis, IMVC Executive Officer.
‘The cluster is a strong advocate for young
people and we engage in initiatives that
develop their capabilities in vocational
education and training, expand their career
and transition options, and ultimately develop
their employability skills sets.’
The IMVC’s host schools model provides
those schools in the inner Melbourne region
with limited senior secondary curriculum
offerings with an opportunity to offer an
extensive vocational education and training
program without significant changes to
internal structures or cultural philosophy.
‘Member schools contribute annually to IMVC
VET brokerage coordination which ensures
the cluster is sustainable and increases
students’ options,’ Penny says.
‘Curriculum and common timetable
arrangements have been developed to
facilitate student access to programs at
various host venues.’
The IMVC is a unique cross-sectoral
partnership comprising representatives
from government, Catholic and independent
schools in a collegial association that extends
the vocational training needs of students in
the post-compulsory education years.
The cluster was established in 1998 to cater
for local school and industry needs to expand
vocational pathway opportunities. More than
a decade later it has at least 51 member
schools—testament to its ability to generate
a high level of cooperation and deliver quality
programs.
‘No other cluster in Victoria has a similar
model. It allows us to operate under a central
overarching system with its accompanying
economies of scale and with no duplication,’
Penny says.
The cluster’s programs are designed for
young people aged between 13 and 19.
Currently, the IMVC offers 26 VET in Schools
and four Work Skill programs to more than
1200 students from Years 10 to 12.
‘The stats tell us that the host school model is
working,’ Penny says.
‘Participation in the VET in Schools programs
has increased from 130 in 1999 to more than
1200 in 2010.’
The 2009 completion rate was also
impressive, with 90 per cent of students
moving into further study, employment
or both. This has resulted in placements
increasing from 55 in 2001 to 610 in 2009.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

‘We have never wavered from our vision—
our focus has always been young people’
Penny Vakakis, Executive Officer, IMVC
Penny says these achievements should not
be underestimated.
‘Our success can be attributed to building
strong cluster relationships that have been
sustained over a number of years. These
relationships have thrived because of our high
level of customer service and ability to deliver
quality outcomes to member schools.’
She is hoping for similar success with
IMVC’s latest initiative, the City of Port Phillip
Community Skills Hub, in which the cluster
will invest $320 000.
‘The sustainable structure at Albert Park
will satisfy the increase in demand for VET
programs in secondary schools and the
urgent need for access to affordable, industrycompliant
training programs,’ Penny says.
‘We will use the space as a market-based
hairdressing hub that will offer training in a
supportive environment.’
Qualified staff will be employed as mentors
to oversee business activities and provide
traineeships/school-based apprenticeships and
work placement opportunities to local youth
and targeted members of the community.
‘This investment goes to the heart of
what IMVC is all about—investing in the
development of skills sets for young people
in our community...for the betterment of our
community.’
VET in Schools Excellence
FINALISTS
Kimberley TAFE
Western Australia
Beginning in the remote Indigenous community of
Lombadina with 13 students, the Kimberley TAFE’s Hook,
Line and Thinker program has now spread throughout the
Kimberley and hosts 61 students across five programs
and four Australian Qualifications Framework levels.
Through the program, students are offered flexible
training that also addresses literacy and numeracy.
Despite covering an area almost twice the size of
Victoria, Kimberley TAFE proves that geography
is no barrier to providing exceptional training.
Nhulunbuy High School
Northern Territory
Nhulunbuy High School is a registered training organisation,
running a suite of courses that cater for local industry
in mining, hospitality, retail and business. As a small
school, it is able to offer a highly personalised service
to match its students well with potential employers,
and all students find Australian Apprenticeships or
some form of employment upon leaving school.
The school has doubled its VET enrolments and an upward
trend continues due to the popularity of the courses.
The school has been a finalist or winner in Northern
Territory Training Awards programs over recent years
and is very proud of its reputation for quality training.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

TRAINING FOR A HEAD START
Tropical North Queensland TAFE
2010 Australian Training Initiative
The Australian Training Initiative award is presented to an organisation
that demonstrates excellence and innovation in a leading-edge initiative,
program or product in the field of vocational education and training.
SchoolTech, a forward-thinking initiative
delivered by Tropical North Queensland TAFE,
has revolutionised vocational education and
training in schools in Far North Queensland.
The SchoolTech program is delivered
in partnership with Woree State High
School, group training organisation Skill360
Australia and local industry and employers.
SchoolTech provides Year 11 and 12 students
in Cairns with the opportunity to combine
senior studies with vocational education and
training at the Cairns TAFE campus, with
graduates securing TAFE qualifications and
a Queensland Certificate of Education. The
students participate in industry placement
as part of their studies, while Skill360
Australia works to secure apprenticeships
and traineeships with local employers.
Institute Director, Tropical North
Queensland TAFE, Jo Pyne says an
average week at SchoolTech is made up
of maths, English, social and community
studies, sport, vocational studies and a
work placement with a local employer.
‘All delivery is undertaken in one location
and students move from their traditional
classrooms into a fully equipped trade
workshop or vocational area,’ Jo says.
‘The students undertake training
beside current apprentices or adults
training for work in the same field.’
SchoolTech has excellent attendance
rates—in excess of 85 per cent—and
student achievement has exceeded
initial expectations. Jo puts this success
down to a number of factors.
‘Students can see how what they are
learning relates to the real world work
environment. The mathematical concepts
they are learning are helping them directly
in the trade classes with calculations and
percentages. The traditional school and
vocational curriculums are closely linked
and there are open lines of communication
between teachers to ensure students are
provided with support in areas where they
require additional assistance,’ she says.
Enrolments at SchoolTech have almost
tripled since it was launched in 2008.
The initial intake of students was largely
made up of males, with low enrolment
rates for females and Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students.
‘By introducing a broader range of
qualifications, including Indigenous primary
health, child care, hairdressing, cookery
and marine, we were able to boost our
2010 enrolment, with 114 boys, 39 girls and
17 students of Indigenous heritage,’ Jo says.
Students attend the workplace for two
days and SchoolTech three days per
week. Strong partnerships with local
employers are a critical factor to the
success of the SchoolTech model.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

‘Winning this award is great recognition for
those who have worked so hard to bring the
SchoolTech model to life’
Jo Pyne, Institute Director, Tropical North Queensland TAFE
‘Some employers were initially a bit reluctant
to come on board as students would only be
in the workplace two days a week,’ Jo says.
‘But, we really sold employers on the
benefits of succession planning. By the time
the students finish Year 12 they will be in a
position to replace fourth-year apprentices
who are moving into full-time employment.’
Tropical North Queensland TAFE has
also had to counter the negative effects
of the economic downturn in Far North
Queensland, which saw unemployment
reach an Australian high of 17 per cent.
SchoolTech responded quickly, with
initiatives like ‘50 jobs in 15 days’ to ensure
students were placed with employers.
‘The fact we have been able to find a
workplace placement for every student
is a real credit considering the current
economic environment,’ Jo said.
‘Winning this award is great recognition for
those who have worked so hard to bring the
SchoolTech model to life. We put our heart
and soul into the program and we feel we
are part of something that is really benefiting
students and giving them a great start
with a career they are passionate about.’
NMIT—The Centre of
Excellence for Students who
are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Victoria
Australian Training Initiative
FINALISTS
Charles Darwin University
Northern Territory
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE’s Centre of
Excellence for Students who are Deaf and Hard of
Hearing is a state leader in providing information, research
and advice to educational policy makers, teachers and
support staff who work with deaf students in Victoria.
The centre is unique in that it delivers the Certificate
IV in Training and Assessment with Auslan—Australian
Sign Language—as the primary language in the
classroom. The training uses specific learning strategies,
while maintaining the qualification’s standards.
In collaboration with the Department of Resources—
Fisheries Group and the NT Police—Marine and Fisheries
Enforcement section, Charles Darwin University
recently delivered the Certificate II in Seafood Industry
(Fisheries Compliance Support) qualification to 21
remote Indigenous Marine Rangers. All successfully
completed the training and will play an integral role in
protecting the Northern Territory coastline by identifying
and reporting fishing and maritime-related incidents to
Northern Territory and Australian Government agencies.

SUSTAINING MOMENTUM
Swinburne University of Technology (TAFE)—VIC
Skills for Sustainability—Educational Institution Award
The Skills for Sustainability—Educational Institutional Award recognises
an education provider that demonstrates outstanding achievement in
delivering qualifications and skills in sustainability, through programs,
products and work practices in nationally recognised training.
Swinburne University of Technology (TAFE)
won the Australian Training Award for Large
Training Provider of the Year in 2009 and
the Innovative Business Award in 2008.
But Linda Brown, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
and Director, TAFE, is especially excited
about the 2010 Skills for Sustainability—
Educational Institutional Award.
‘Sustainability is what Swinburne’s
known for and we work really hard
for that. We’ve been at this for more
than 15 years and we’re developing a
response to green skills,’ Linda says.
Swinburne established the National
Centre for Sustainability in 2001 and
continues to lead the way in innovative
training from foundation level through
to a Diploma of Sustainability and
Graduate Certificate in Sustainability,
as well as Australia’s first accredited
green course in carbon accounting.
‘We’ve got the first teaching qualification
up and running—it’s a vocational
graduate certificate for teachers about
teaching sustainability and embedding
it into their practice,’ Linda says.
‘We’ve also rolled that out nationally and we
allow other TAFEs and vocational providers
to use it as well. You’ve got to build the
capacity of teachers to deliver training in
sustainability and that’s the work we’ve been
doing over the last year. It’s really important
for us to keep ahead of the game—it
takes time to develop your teachers and
qualifications but you’ve got to have them
ready for when industry needs them.’
Sustainability is embedded in Swinburne’s
staff performance plans, and staff are also
encouraged to help reduce their carbon
footprints through Planet Swinburne, one
of many programs under the universitywide
sustainability strategy. The targets
are ambitious, but Swinburne is well on
the way to achieving them. It is aiming
for 100 per cent of its programs to feature
a sustainability element by 2015.
Swinburne University of Technology
(TAFE) is also educating local businesses
on the value of green skills. So far
the Business Transformer program
has helped more than 35 businesses
reduce their energy consumptions.
‘People say to us, ‘I really believe in greening
our world but I can’t afford to run my
business in different ways’. But a lot of the
time they find it saves them money and
brings them new ethical buyers. It’s exciting
when that happens and sustainability
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

‘It’s really important for us to keep ahead of
the game—it takes time to develop your
teachers and qualifications’
Linda Brown, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Director,
Swinburne University of Technology (TAFE)
becomes intrinsic to the business and not
something they do on the side,’ Linda says.
From 2011, Swinburne is also offering
sustainability training to secondary
students through the Knox Innovation,
Opportunity and Sustainability Centre
based at its Wantirna campus.
‘Seven schools put their trade training
centres together to create the centre,
worth $10 million. Now we’re going
to have students coming to this green
technology centre—which is all interactive,
with robotics, electric cars, and wind
power—to get them interested in green
skills from age 12 onwards,’ she says.
‘I go out to a lot of secondary schools
and talk to students and they’re really
green—they’re the ones coming home
and teaching us how to use water
efficiently. I hope we don’t lose that
interest and they can go into a career for
something they’re passionate about.’
Skills for Sustainability—Educational Institution Award
FINALISTS
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
Victoria
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE is the largest provider
of vocational education and training services
in north-west Victoria, covering a geographic
area of 77 000 square kilometres. It is a major
contributor to the social, cultural and economic
environment of the region.
The institute strives to equip the community
with essential tools to practice sustainable
management of natural resources by engaging
with the community on sustainability,
fostering industry partnerships and enhancing
environmental and socially sustainable
performance in all aspects of its operations.
TAFE NSW—Sydney Institute
New South Wales
TAFE NSW—Sydney Institute has a proud history
as Australia’s first vocational education and
training institution. It is committed to delivering the
skills that Australia requires to meet the challenges
of a sustainable future.
Sydney Institute is leading by example and has
instituted a number of strategies that have
successfully reduced its carbon footprint.
It maintains a rigorous focus on sustainability
in all areas of training and in its own performance
as an organisation through institute-wide planning,
implementation and monitoring.

Industry Awards
The Industry Awards recognise a commitment by employers to training within their own
industry. The selection of winners is a component of the Employer of the Year awards.
Rio Tinto Capability Development Hub
Resources and Infrastructure
Rio Tinto is a global supplier of mineral resources, employing more than 26 000 people in 29
countries. In the Gladstone region, Rio Tinto’s Boyne Smelters and RTA Yarwun business units,
which employ more than 1600 people, historically operated training independently, but in 2009
the Gladstone Hub was created to increase training efficiency and effectiveness. The hub
planned and provided logistical support for 1074 courses during 2009, as well as facilitating the
registration of 540 Australian Apprentices now in the process of completing their Certificate III
in Process Plant Operations.
Crown Melbourne Limited
Services
Crown Melbourne Limited is an enterprise-based training organisation, offering certificates in
hospitality, security operations and frontline management. Currently 1200 employees, nationally,
are undertaking accredited training qualifications.
A significant proportion of training is delivered in simulated training environments, such as the
training restaurant, and focuses on both front-of-house and back-of-house environments.
Having a strong learning framework gives employees a well-structured learning pathway taking
them from Certificate I qualifications through to a Certificate IV in Frontline Management
for staff who reach supervisory positions, all the way to Crown’s Diploma of Management
(currently under development) for employees at management level.
ETSA Utilities
ElectroComms and Energy Utilities
ETSA Utilities is one of South Australia’s largest businesses, delivering electricity to more than
810 000 residential and business customers. ETSA Utilities Training Services is also a registered
training organisation delivering training and assessment to its employees, contractors and
customers in the electrical supply industry.
It aims to ensure an engaged, skilled and safe workforce through a range of 25 accredited and
non-accredited technical and safety-based training programs. Its primary qualification is the
Certificate III in Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) Distribution (Powerline). ETSA Utilities also
offers frontline management training at Certificate III, IV and diploma levels, tailored to the
company’s skills needs while ensuring exposure to the industry.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

Anvers Confectionery
AgriFood
When Igor Van Gerwen came to Australia from Belgium in 1989, he brought extensive expertise
in the art of making confectionery and a dream to create the ‘total chocolate experience’.
Beginning in a small factory, his company, Anvers Confectionary marketed its products across
Australia. The wholesale business soon increased and the products became available in all major
department stores across the country. To meet demand the company expanded and in October
2002 the House of Anvers opened in northern Tasmania.
Today Anvers Confectionery is a thriving and diverse business employing more than 40 staff
across a range of areas including food processing, wholesale and retail sales, hospitality
and tourism.
Department of Health and Families
Government
The Northern Territory Department of Health and Families is committed to building a culture
that values professional development and lifelong learning. Through vocational education and
training, the department has increased its leadership and management capability, and increased
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment in the critical skills shortage areas of Aboriginal
health which has contributed to improved outcomes for Territorians.
The department has recently invested in a major e-learning initiative to deliver an online learning
management system that will revolutionise the way it delivers training and create a central point
for staff in regional and remote areas to access training opportunities.
O-I Sydney
Manufacturing
O-I Sydney is the leading manufacturer of glass packaging in the Asia–Pacific region,
manufacturing glass containers for the beer, wine, spirit and non-alcoholic beverage, readyto-drink
and food markets. It has established a strong reputation for excellence in quality and
service, and leading-edge product design. The company employs more than 3500 people,
with more than 10 per cent of employees based in Penrith.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
Lifelong learning is a critical element of their corporate culture at O-I and the company is
committed to providing excellence in training for all employees through a variety of programs.
These include trade qualification Certificates II,III and IV and diplomas in a variety of disciplines.
Serco Sodexo Defence Services
Construction and Property Services
Serco Sodexo Defence Services is a dedicated prime contractor that has been providing
facilities-management services to the Australian Defence Force. In addition to providing
services to their clients, Serco Sodexo Defence Services aims to serve its most valuable asset
—its 2800 employees.
The company’s Employee Benefits Program helps to provide an important work–life balance.
Serco Sodexo’s mission statement extends to the wider community, supporting local and
Defence communities through sporting sponsorships, donations and fundraising.
This commitment continues with corporate and social responsibility strategies, including
specialised recruitment, training and development programs, innovative environmental
management and heritage and cultural protection.

TAPPING INTO ONLINE TRAINING
Wide Bay Institute of TAFE
The Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s
Innovative Business Award winner 2010
This award is presented to an organisation that has demonstrated
excellence in using information and communication technologies
to deliver education and training programs.
An e-learning system that delivers on-site
training to water suppliers located outside
south-east Queensland was the innovation
that led to Wide Bay Institute of TAFE
(WBIT) winning the Innovative Business
Award at the Australian Training Awards.
The institute began using e-learning
in the mid 1990s as a tool to increase
access to training for learners unable to
attend face-to-face classes because of
distance or work commitments. However,
it wasn’t until 2009 that learners could
tap into the Water Online Program.
‘In 2009, in partnership with the Queensland
water industry, we developed Water Online,
which uses videoconferencing, point-ofview
technology and online communities to
deliver nationally recognised qualifications in
water management,’ explains Helen Leeson,
WBIT’s Director of Education and Training.
‘To ensure learners receive the support
they need, the program uses social
networking tools to build a virtual
community. Learners can access the online
chat room, forums, instant messaging
and the virtual coffee shop to connect
with their trainers and peers, regardless
of distance or time differences.’
Water Online is also delivering significant
savings for water operators, eliminating
transport and accommodation costs for
remote learners to attend training.
WBIT is the largest training provider in
the Wide Bay region, delivering more
than 300 vocational programs to more
than 12 000 students each year.
WBIT has built strong partnerships with
a number of industries, including retail,
hospitality and community services
and provides flexible training strategies
to meet the needs of students who
would ordinarily face challenges due
to their geographic locations.
Institute Director, Ana Rodger says
WBIT continues to work closely with
industry to ensure its training programs
are current and equip students with
the skills employers are seeking.
‘We are constantly redefining our
programs and investing in infrastructure
to create a vibrant skills centre in
the Wide Bay region,’ Ana says.
The institute offers qualifications ranging
from Certificate I to advanced diploma,
and programs include arts, general
trades, hair and beauty, hospitality and
tourism, Indigenous studies, information
technology, retail and water.
The Australian Flexible Learning Framework
is the national training system’s e-learning
strategy. Visit www.flexiblelearning.net.au
for a range of free support services, products
and resources, including funding, to assist in
the delivery of effective e-learning programs.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

National Focus AWARDS 2011
Introducing the National Focus Awards
In 2011, five National Focus Award categories will be presented at the Australian Training Awards.
These prestigious awards will recognise outstanding contributions to Australia’s vocational
education and training sector by individuals, schools, businesses and organisations.
Contributions may be new innovations, new knowledge, or ways to improve professional
practice to support delivery of a productive, sustainable and inclusive workforce.
The 2011 National Focus Award categories are:
Innovative Training Practices for
Employers of Australian Apprentices
Quality Leadership
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
VET Pathways
VET in Schools Excellence
Skills for Sustainability—
Educational Institution Award
people, organisations, businesses, programs or services
If you know of outstanding people, organisations, businesses, programs or services that have improved the outcomes
for vocational students, apprentices and trainees, then consider nominating them for a National Focus Award this year.
Nominations for the National Focus Awards are made direct to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace
Relations. For more information visit www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au
Nominations

What a difference
a year makes
Blake McCarthy
2009 Australian Apprentice of the Year
It’s been a busy year for Blake McCarthy,
but he wouldn’t have it any other
way. He is halfway through his twoyear
traineeship with Apprenticeships
Australia, in conjunction with the Energy
Apprenticeships Group and Woodside,
working on the Pluto Liquefied Natural Gas
project in Karratha, Western Australia.
‘It’s close to a once in a lifetime
opportunity. Gas plants don’t start up
every day. Some people work in the
industry for 20 years and never get this
opportunity—although others travel around
the world to do this job,’ Blake says.
Overseas travel is on the horizon for
Blake, who plans to travel to one of
Woodside’s overseas projects with his
Australia Overseas Foundation Scholarship.
Working two weeks on and two weeks
off helps Blake find time for speaking
engagements, visits to schools, career
expo and Industry Skills Council meetings.
‘It’s been a full-on year—I’ve been to
every state except Tasmania and the
Northern Territory. I’ve presented quite
a few awards, been on judging panels,
and been involved with the Minister for
Training and Workforce Development.’
Blake was appointed as a governing
council member for Polytechnic West,
which he says is eye-opening, and still
finds time for the Volunteer Fire and
Rescue Service, recently adding a heavy
rigid truck licence and a Certificate III in
Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency
Operations) to his list of qualifications.
He is completing a Certificate III in Process
Plant Operations at Woodside through
the Australian Centre for Energy and
Process Training, and will then study a
Masters of Business Administration part
time at Murdoch University, supported
by a scholarship from the ElectroComms
Contracting Foundation, which was
established by the National Electrical
and Communications Association.
Dasha Newington
2009 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Student of the Year
For Dasha Newington, vocational education
and training articulated into study to
become a doctor. Dasha’s VET studies
included a Certificate III in Disability Work,
Certificate III in Aged Care, a Diploma of
Counselling and Communication, and an
Advanced Diploma of Applied Social Science
(Counselling). Now in her second-last year
of a post-graduate medicine degree, Dasha
also regularly draws on the Diploma of
Aboriginal Studies she completed in 2008.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010

‘Next week I’m going to Broken Hill for six
months to do my GP practical clinic work at
Maari Ma Aboriginal Clinic. Hopefully I’ll get
to spend some time in Wilcannia and also
time with the Flying Doctors,’ says Dasha,
who plans to become a paediatric surgeon.
‘I want to make surgery more
accessible to Aboriginal people so I’d
like to do rural clinics,’ she says.
‘We still only have one Aboriginal surgeon
in Australia and none that I’m aware of
currently in training, so it will be at least
six years before we have another one.’
Dasha is on the student representative
council for the Australian Indigenous Doctors
Association and was an Australian Training
Awards judge in 2010. She hosted the 20th
anniversary NSW TAFE Gili Awards (for
Indigenous students and staff) at the Sydney
Opera House, appeared on a promotional
DVD, Inspiring Indigenous Stories, and has
been mentoring Indigenous primary school
students. She is proof of how far vocational
education and training can take you.
WA Department of Corrective Services
2009 Australian Training Initiative
Over the last 12 months, the WA
Department of Corrective Services has
continued to expand its training program.
‘We’re up to 18 qualifications now to
meet the needs of an increased prisoner
population,’ says Ray Chavez, Acting
Managing Director, Education and Vocational
Training Unit.
‘As part of this through-care model,
prisoners are set a career path upon
sentence and are case managed until
they are released. Upon release they are
supported post placement for up to
12 months to ensure they are given every
opportunity to succeed. Our through-care
model also allows us to determine how
effective our training is and how we can
identify emerging skills gaps,’ he says.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010
‘We had 5855 students in 2010, up from
5013 last year. We have more than some
TAFE colleges out here.’
Larry Smith, Manager of Prisoner
Employment Programs says supporting
prisoners once they’re placed in a job is
very important.
‘In 2010, we had 197 prisoners placed
into employment upon release. Of that,
only 15 have returned to prison, so that’s
about a 92 per cent non-return rate. We’ve
developed extensive links with outside
providers, particularly big mining companies
focusing on training Aboriginal prisoners
and giving them skills for employment
when they’re released,’ Larry says.

honor roll
PRIME MINISTER’S SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
2010 Diesel Electrics Queensland
2009 Cyber Hair Tasmania
2008 Verriers Engineering Services Western Australia
2007 Clarence Valley Kitchens and Shopfitting New South Wales
2006 Jetset Norwood South Australia
2005 Geraldton Resource Centre Western Australia
2004 Mad About Plants Queensland
2003 Stephen Dibb Jewellery Queensland
2002 Alf’s Smash Repair Queensland
2001 Wholesale Timber Queensland
2000 Walshs Seeds Queensland
1999 Angus Clyne Australia South Australia
1998 Pro Paint ‘n Panel South Australia
1997 Scuba Warehouse New South Wales
1996 Raffelini Restaurant New South Wales
AUSTRALIAN TRAINING INITIATIVE
2010 Tropical North Queensland TAFE Queensland
2009 WA Department of Corrective Services Western Australia
2008 Group Training Northern Territory Northern Territory
2008 The Split Rock Inca Alliance Queensland
2006 C.Y. O’Connor College of TAFE
Western Australia
and WA Country Health Service
2005 Queensland Ambulance Service Queensland
2004 Auswest Specialist Education and Training Western Australia
Services—Department of Justice WA
2003 Youth in Recovery Program—
Queensland
Brisbane City Council (joint winner)
2003 Koori Leadership Program—
Victoria
RMIT and Victorian Aboriginal Community
Services (joint winner)
2002 Art Tourism Training Project—
Western Australia
West Pilbara College of TAFE and
Cheeditha Community
2001 Qantas College Online New South Wales
2000 NSW Police Service New South Wales
1999 Incat Tasmania Tasmania
1998 Russco Agencies Skills Centre Queensland
1997 Construction Training Australia Queensland
1996 Barclay Mowlem Construction Ltd Queensland
1995 Email Ltd New South Wales
1994 Work Skill Australia Foundation
(joint winner)
New South Wales
VET IN SCHOOLS EXCELLENCE
2010 Inner Melbourne VET Cluster Victoria
Incorporated
2009 WA College of Agriculture Cunderdin Western Australia
2008 2008 Central West TAFE in partnership Western Australia
with Geraldton Senior College and
Clontarf Midwest Football Academy
2007 Gladstone Schools Engineering Queensland
Skills Centre
2006 WA College of Agriculture, Cunderdin Western Australia
2005 Claremont College Tasmania
2004 Ballina High School New South Wales
2003 Futures Connect/Murray TAFE South Australia
2002 Benalla College Victoria
2001 Rosny College Tasmania
2000 Willunga High School South Australia
SMALL TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
2010 Industrylink Tasmania
2009 Blue Dog Training Queensland
2008 Australian College of Training Western Australia
2007 The Academy of
Interactive Entertainment
Australian
Capital Territory
2006 Marr Mooditj Foundation Western Australia
2005 Organisation & Professional
South Australia
Development Services
2004 River Murray Training South Australia
2003 Kyabram Community Learning Centre Victoria
2002 Traineeship Advisory Services Australia Victoria
STELLA AXARLIS AUSTRALIAN
SCHOOL–BASED APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
2010 Yazmin Brown Northern Territory
2009 Jacob Noonan Victoria
2008 Melinda Stephens Victoria
2007 Warwick Johnstone (joint winner) Tasmania
2007 Caitlin Cox
(joint winner)
Australian
Capital Territory
2006 Emma Clarke South Australia
SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
2010 Swinburne University
Victoria
of Technology (TAFE)
2009 TAFE NSW—Northern Sydney Institute New South Wales

LARGE TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
2010 TAFE NSW—Western Sydney Institute New South Wales
2009 Swinburne University of Technology Victoria
(TAFE Division)
2008 Wodonga Institute of TAFE Victoria
2007 TAFE NSW – Western Institute New South Wales
2006 The Bremer Institute of TAFE Queensland
2005 Challenger TAFE Western Australia
2004 TAFE NSW—North Coast Institute of TAFE New South Wales
2003 Torrens Valley Institute of TAFE South Australia
2002 Institute of TAFE Tasmania Tasmania
2001 South East Metropolitan Institute Western Australia
2000 TAFE Tasmania Tasmania
1999 Wide Bay Institute of TAFE (joint winner) Queensland
1999 Spencer Institute of TAFE (joint winner) South Australia
1998 West Coast College of TAFE—Joondalup Western Australia
1997 Regency Institute of TAFE South Australia
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
2010 Crown Melbourne Limited Victoria
2009 Hollywood Private Hospital Western Australia
2008 Weir Minerals Australia New South Wales
2007 John Love Electrical Queensland
2006 John Holland Group Pty Ltd Victoria/
Western Australia
2005 Eurobodalla Shire Council New South Wales
2004 ACI Glass Packaging—
South Australia
Adelaide Operations
2003 The Riviera Group Queensland
2002 Thiess—QLD and NT units Queensland
2001 Alcoa World Alumina Australia—WA Western Australia
2000 Nabalco Pty Limited Northern Territory
1999 St John of God Health Care Western Australia
1998 Austal Ships Western Australia
1997 National Rail Corporation National
1996 The Uncle Tobys Company Limited Victoria
1995 Ford Motor Company of Australia Victoria
VOCATIONAL STUDENT OF THE YEAR
2010 Michael Hogan Victoria
2009 Jason Bromley South Australia
2008 Jill Morris New South Wales
2007 Selena Smith Queensland
2006 Jason Walton Tasmania
2005 Ty Menzies Victoria
2004 Greg Wareham Victoria
2003 Vanessa Wood Victoria
2002 Susan Meli Victoria
2001 Marcus Deakes Tasmania
2000 Kylie Hooker Western Australia
1999 Catherine McAvoy Queensland
1998 Dale Meehan Northern Territory
1997 Georgiana Butt New South Wales
1996 Guy Doyle Tasmania
1995 Mark Cave Queensland
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT
ISLANDER STUDENT OF THE YEAR
2010 Rory Smeaton Victoria
2009 Dasha Newington New South Wales
2008 Michael Donovan New South Wales
2007 Shilo Barker New South Wales
2006 Roeina Edmund Queensland
2005 Robert Fielding South Australia
2004 Brendan Bishop Queensland
2003 Corey Murray Victoria
2002 Gary Richardson Queensland
2001 Anita Maynard Tasmania
2000 Natasha McAdam Northern Territory
1999 Allison Gear Western Australia
1998 Trevor Prior New South Wales
1997 Leroy Eggmolesse Victoria
1996 Michelle Simms Western Australia
1995 Joseph Cleland South Australia
1994 Michael Hutton New South Wales
AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICE (TRAINEE)
OF THE YEAR
2010 Gabriella Morona New South Wales
2009 Jacqueline Vella New South Wales
2008 Matter Machar Victoria
2007 Evan Brett Tasmania
2006 Tracy Sutton Queensland
2005 Kylie Fleetwood South Australia
2004 Samantha Johnson Western Australia
2003 Mark Devery Australian Capital Territory
2002 Tara Harding Queensland
2001 Sarah Karydis Tasmania
2000 Angela Pappin Queensland
1999 Anita Astley-Paulsen Tasmania
1998 Arleta Hodges Victoria
1997 Anita Van Oene Australian Capital Territory
1996 Ciaran McAssey South Australia
1995 Jacquelynne La Fou New South Wales
AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
2010 Jason Bryan Tasmania
2009 Blake McCarthy Western Australia
2008 Rachael Keiley Australian Capital Territory
2007 Thomas Spottswood Queensland
2006 Kevin Baker Victoria
2005 Christine Stock South Australia
2004 Brad Donaldson South Australia
2003 Jonathon Kemble South Australia
2002 Aaron Carle New South Wales
2001 Jennifer Grainger Queensland
2000 Shelley Clayton Queensland
1999 David Hodges Northern Territory
1998 Timothy Rosser South Australia
1997 Jason Jones Northern Territory
1996 Ella Wright Tasmania
1995 Teresa Greer Western Australia

Get recognised for your
training success!
Get recognised for your efforts in Australian training by
entering the 2011 training awards in your state or territory.
Nominations will open early in 2011 and information about
the selection criteria and process can be found on state
and territory training awards’ websites.
The winners of state and territory awards could be eligible to
nominate for the Australian Training Awards later in the year.
So go on! Get some recognition for what you’re doing and
help spread the word about excellence in Australian training.
You can find out more by visiting your local training
awards website listed below. You can also visit
www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au or phone
13 38 73 for more information.
queensland
www.qta.qld.gov.au 1800 660 207
victoria
www.skills.vic.gov.au/awards 03 9651 4507
australian capital territory
www.det.act.gov.au/vhe/awards 02 6205 7037
western australia
www.trainingwa.wa.gov.au/trainingawards 08 9238 2518
tasmania
www.skills.tas.gov.au 03 6233 3194
new south wales
www.det.nsw.edu.au/trainingawards 1800 306 999
northern territory
www.trainingawards.nt.gov.au 08 8901 1351
south australia
www.satrainingawards.sa.edu.au 08 8226 2335