Published Thursday, 11 September, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Hard work honoured at Queensland Training Awards
Queensland’s top employers, apprentices, trainees, vocational students and training providers were honoured tonight at the state final of the Queensland Training Awards.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford the winners were announced at a gala dinner and ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“This year’s 11 winners were chosen from 48 finalists across the state,” Mr Welford said.
“The winners include indigenous, school and TAFE students, working parents, employers and training providers that are supporting skilling opportunities in fields such as nursing, hairdressing, construction and information technology.
“These awards show how hard Queenslanders are working to improve their own skills and as a result, local industries are growing and our economy is strengthening.
“Queensland is currently facing an unprecedented demand for skilled workers and these awards showcase the achievements of the students, employees, organisations and training providers who keep industries competitive across the state.”
Mr Welford said in response to the strengthening economy and changing labour market the Bligh Government has released the Queensland Skills Plan 2008.
“The Queensland Skills Plan 2008 is a new blueprint to address Queensland’s skills shortages,” he said. “The new plan updates the Queensland Skills Plan 2006—the most significant reform to our vocational education and training system in 40 years.
“With demand for skilled workers at an all-time high, more Queenslanders are embracing the chance to gain apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications more than anywhere else in Australia.
“According to the latest figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), 31,700 apprentices and trainees completed their training for the 12 months to the end of March 2008. That’s an increase of eight per cent in Queensland compared to the national increase of two percent.”
The Queensland Training Awards, now in their 47th year, are run by the State Government’s Department of Education, Training and the Arts.
Individual award winners were rewarded with $1000 from National Australia Bank, a return international flight from Royal Brunei Airlines and a laptop from Dell.
Queensland winners can now enter the Australian Training Awards which will be presented in Darwin on 20 November 2008. The full list of winners in the 2008 Queensland Training Awards follows. For more information, visit www.qta.qld.gov.au.
Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Construction Skills Queensland
Rachel Niemann, Murgon
Training provider: Skills Tech Queensland
Qualification: Certificate III in Furniture Making (Cabinet Making)
Employer: Wide Bay Group Training Scheme Limited
Trainee of the Year, sponsored by BUSY AT WORK Apprenticeships Services
Matthew Graham, Bundamba
Training provider: Civil Train
Qualification: Certificate III in Civil Construction (Pipelaying)
Employer: Southern Regional Water Pipeline Alliance
Vocational Student of the Year, sponsored by Queensland Alumina Limited
Jeni Wycha, Greenbank
Training provider: Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE
Qualification: Certificate III and IV in Information Technology (Networking)
School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year, sponsored by BUSY AT WORK Apprenticeships Services
Rohan Greer, Cambooya
Training provider: Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE
Qualification: Certificate III in Electro-technology Systems Electrician
School: Harristown State High School
Employer: Downs Group Training
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Bernard Pope, Maryborough
Training provider: Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE
Qualification: Diploma of Nursing
Small Employer of the Year, sponsored by Small Business Solutions
Surrender Dorothy Hairdressing, Pomona
Employer of the Year, sponsored by CareerOne – The Courier-Mail
Stowe Australia, Eight Mile Plains
Public Training Provider of the Year
Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Mount Gravatt
Private Training Organisation of the Year, sponsored by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET)
First Impressions Resources, Brisbane
Skilling for the Future Award, sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
My Other Mum Childcare – Working with Schools Initiative, Woree
Premier’s Innovation in Skilling Award, sponsored by Education City
Glendyne Education and Training Centre - Glendyne Employment Initiative, Nikenbah
Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford the winners were announced at a gala dinner and ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“This year’s 11 winners were chosen from 48 finalists across the state,” Mr Welford said.
“The winners include indigenous, school and TAFE students, working parents, employers and training providers that are supporting skilling opportunities in fields such as nursing, hairdressing, construction and information technology.
“These awards show how hard Queenslanders are working to improve their own skills and as a result, local industries are growing and our economy is strengthening.
“Queensland is currently facing an unprecedented demand for skilled workers and these awards showcase the achievements of the students, employees, organisations and training providers who keep industries competitive across the state.”
Mr Welford said in response to the strengthening economy and changing labour market the Bligh Government has released the Queensland Skills Plan 2008.
“The Queensland Skills Plan 2008 is a new blueprint to address Queensland’s skills shortages,” he said. “The new plan updates the Queensland Skills Plan 2006—the most significant reform to our vocational education and training system in 40 years.
“With demand for skilled workers at an all-time high, more Queenslanders are embracing the chance to gain apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications more than anywhere else in Australia.
“According to the latest figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), 31,700 apprentices and trainees completed their training for the 12 months to the end of March 2008. That’s an increase of eight per cent in Queensland compared to the national increase of two percent.”
The Queensland Training Awards, now in their 47th year, are run by the State Government’s Department of Education, Training and the Arts.
Individual award winners were rewarded with $1000 from National Australia Bank, a return international flight from Royal Brunei Airlines and a laptop from Dell.
Queensland winners can now enter the Australian Training Awards which will be presented in Darwin on 20 November 2008. The full list of winners in the 2008 Queensland Training Awards follows. For more information, visit www.qta.qld.gov.au.
Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Construction Skills Queensland
Rachel Niemann, Murgon
Training provider: Skills Tech Queensland
Qualification: Certificate III in Furniture Making (Cabinet Making)
Employer: Wide Bay Group Training Scheme Limited
Trainee of the Year, sponsored by BUSY AT WORK Apprenticeships Services
Matthew Graham, Bundamba
Training provider: Civil Train
Qualification: Certificate III in Civil Construction (Pipelaying)
Employer: Southern Regional Water Pipeline Alliance
Vocational Student of the Year, sponsored by Queensland Alumina Limited
Jeni Wycha, Greenbank
Training provider: Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE
Qualification: Certificate III and IV in Information Technology (Networking)
School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year, sponsored by BUSY AT WORK Apprenticeships Services
Rohan Greer, Cambooya
Training provider: Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE
Qualification: Certificate III in Electro-technology Systems Electrician
School: Harristown State High School
Employer: Downs Group Training
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Bernard Pope, Maryborough
Training provider: Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE
Qualification: Diploma of Nursing
Small Employer of the Year, sponsored by Small Business Solutions
Surrender Dorothy Hairdressing, Pomona
Employer of the Year, sponsored by CareerOne – The Courier-Mail
Stowe Australia, Eight Mile Plains
Public Training Provider of the Year
Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Mount Gravatt
Private Training Organisation of the Year, sponsored by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET)
First Impressions Resources, Brisbane
Skilling for the Future Award, sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
My Other Mum Childcare – Working with Schools Initiative, Woree
Premier’s Innovation in Skilling Award, sponsored by Education City
Glendyne Education and Training Centre - Glendyne Employment Initiative, Nikenbah
Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000