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Media Release
REWARDING OUR HIGH ACHIEVERS IN VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
29 March 2006
Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, today welcomed the announcement of Australia’s highest achievers in vocational and technical education in secondary schools.
Mr Hardgrave today joined the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, at Parliament House, to present 17 students with the inaugural Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence.
“I congratulate these top students who undertook Vocational and Technical Education in Schools or a School-Based New Apprenticeship in 2005,” Mr Hardgrave said.
“With critical skills needs across multiple industries, more young people, like these Award winners, are appreciating the challenging, diverse, and lucrative career opportunities a vocational and technical education can offer.”
Today’s 17 winners represent each state and territory, key industries, and include the highest achieving Indigenous student. Each winner was honoured with a cheque for $2,000, and a framed certificate signed by the Prime Minister.
“I hope these awards and the achievements of these young Australians will inspire more Australian senior secondary students to take up a vocational and technical education,” said Mr Hardgrave.
“Vocational and Technical Education in Schools, including New Apprenticeship programmes, allow students to develop industry-specific skills, gain nationally recognised qualifications and employability skills that are recognised and valued by industry. These people are learning the nation-building skills we need as a country to continue to prosper.
“These programmes are now available in more than 95 per cent of Australian secondary schools with more than 211,000 year 11 and 12 students participating in these programmes compared to 94,066 in 1997.”
A list of winners is attached. Profiles of the winners, and further information is available at: http://www.dest.gov.au/pmaward
Media Contact: Suzanne Ferguson 0402 896 100
To arrange an interview with one of the 17 winning students contact:
Natalie Cooper on 0412 650 549, or Courtney Bryant on (02) 6240 8136
2005 Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence
Highest Achieving Student in the Australian Capital Territory
Sally Goleby
Gowrie, ACT
Highest Achieving Student in New South Wales
Marianne van Schie
Cromer, NSW
Highest Achieving Student in the Northern Territory
Geraldine Dixon
Wagaman, NT
Highest Achieving Student in Tasmania
Michael Smith
Glenorchy, TAS
Highest Achieving Student in Queensland
Katherine Van der Meer
North Rockhampton, QLD
Highest Achieving student in South Australia
Julie-Ann Markey
Peterborough, SA
Highest Achieving Student in Victoria
Ben Sweeney
Benalla, VIC
Highest Achieving Student in Western Australia
Amanda Colli
Chidlow, WA
Highest Achieving Indigenous Student
Gjai Hoolihan
Narrabundah, ACT
Highest Achieving Student in the Agri-Food Industry
Luke Dickens
Howard, QLD
Highest Achieving Student in the Community Services & Health Industry
Jessica Gard
Boronia, VIC
Highest Achieving Student in the Construction & Property Services Industry
Paul Marinos
Carina, QLD
Highest Achieving Student in the ElectroComms & EnergyUtilities Industry
Craig Folker
Helensvale, QLD
Highest Achieving Student in the Innovation & Business Industry
Leigh Ritchie
Botany, NSW
Highest Achieving Student in the Manufacturing Industry
Joel Frazer
Charleville, QLD
Highest Achieving Student in the Services Industry
Joshua Li Donni
East Bentleigh, VIC
Highest Achieving Student in the Transport & Logistics Industry
Georgia Lyons
St Ives, NSW
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