Winner: Christine Stock - South Australia
A childhood fascination with science and technology led Christine Stock into the male-dominated area of mechanical engineering. Christine, of Seacombe Gardens, is now a project engineer for Electrolux major appliances. Not satisfied after a first year of industrial design at university, Christine undertook a four-year mechanical engineering New Apprenticeship in 2002. She completed a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering last year and is currently studying for her Advanced Diploma.
Runner up: Nathan Heinrich - Northern Territory
Nathan Heinrich of Palmerston, is the first person to complete a cablejoiner New Apprenticeship with PowerWater. Nathan last year completed an New Apprenticeship in the electrical supply industry including the Certificate III in ESI Distribution, specialising in high voltage cablejoining. In addition to the New Apprenticeship, Nathan approached the Power Networks Supervisor and General Manager for help in earning qualifications in dual trades - in cablejoining and as a system electrician.
Winner: Kylie Fleetwood - South Australia
Kylie Fleetwood changed careers from clerical to childcare as a mature age student, undertaking a Certificate III in Children's Services New Apprenticeship (Traineeship) via correspondence. Kylie is due to complete the course this month. Kylie is employed by Hutchison's Early Learning Centre - Ingle Farm and is working as an New Apprentice (trainee) with under two’s. Once she completes her Certificate III, Kylie plans to do her Diploma of Children's Services, with a career goal of becoming a team leader or a teacher’s assistant or kindergarten assistant.
Runner up: Elspeth Trautwein - ACT
Elspeth Trautwein of Melba wants to run her own chain of fashion stores and is on the way with Certificate III in Retail Supervision qualification and the manager’s position at Sussan’s in Westfield Belconnen. She has developed and implemented new store policies and procedures including a staff induction programme, staff meetings, training nights and performance management. In her spare time, Elspeth also runs a fashion stall at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston.
Winner: Robert Fielding - South Australia
Robert Fielding of the Mimili Community is an office manager, who completed a Certificate II in Business this year, doing on the job training at Mimili Community Office and off the job training at Mimili Anangu School. Robert works within Mimili Community Office at its Pitjantjatjara Yankunyjatjara Ku Centre which provides services for Anangu people. His training has allowed him to develop a high level of office and event coordination skills.
Runner up: Adam Austin - Northern Territory
Adam Austin has completed a Certificate III in Business through Group Training Northern Territory. He is a Medicare Officer at the Danila Dilba Health Service in Darwin. Adam is passionate about Indigenous issues and enjoys being part of a service that is helping to improve the health status of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in his community.
Winner: Ty Menzies - Victoria
At 20, Ty Menzies was the youngest student to complete a Diploma of Outdoor Recreation at Chisholm Institute of TAFE Frankston Campus in 2004. He was named Outstanding Student of the Year at Chisholm Institute in 2005. Ty is also a qualified instructor and leader in a wide range of outdoor activities including scuba, deep diving, ski touring and sailing. He is currently studying a Certificate III in Fitness and has already established his own business, Outdoor Adventure Specialists and Instructional Services (OASIS).
Runner up: Trish Olsson - Northern Territory
Trish Olsson graduated with a Diploma of Library and Information Services (which qualifies her as a library technician) from Charles Darwin University last year. Her hard work and commitment earned her the Most Outstanding Student prize for her study in 2004. She plans to move onto a Bachelor of Library and Information Management and become a fully-qualified librarian.
Challenger TAFE - Western Australian
Challenger TAFE has developed Centres of Excellence to push ahead with initiatives to address both labour shortages and skill gaps across a variety of industries, including building and construction, migrant fast-track training for the ship building industry (particularly Austal Ships), the oil and gas sector, and commercial cookery New Apprenticeships. The College has also developed significant new business including the extension of overseas training contracts - Business and IT in Vietnam and Indonesia, Curriculum Development in Singapore, Maritime Studies in India and Sri Lanka, Hospitality in India and Education Policy in Fiji.
Organisation & Professional Development Services - South Australia
Organisation & Professional Development Services (O&PDS) delivers programs across the entire state of South Australia with a sizable proportion of its client base in rural and remote locations. Many participants are mature age females who are studying for the first time since high school. What makes O&PDS (RTO) unique and successful is a passion to see clients succeed; resourceful staff who are flexible and lateral in their approach; highly contextualised training and assessment and a clear focus on recognition of prior learning. Partnerships across government, with industry and other community organisations have enabled OPDS to jointly plan strategies for service delivery. These collaborative approaches have broadened their capability to deliver high quality learning opportunities to their clients.
Claremont College - Tasmania
Claremont College believes its ‘secret weapon’ is delivering flexible programmes that reflect the diversity and skills needs of local industries. The school has established strong partnerships with industry, and increasing numbers of employers call staff directly looking for suitable job applicants. Unique partnerships have been formed with TAFE Tasmania to deliver VTE Motor Vehicle Bodyworks Certificates, and with the Australian Defence Forces, so students can access a career by studying units from Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation.
Geraldton Resource Centre - Western Australia
The Geraldton Resource Centre is a not-for-profit community organisation providing services to disadvantaged people in WA’s remote Mid West and Gascoyne regions. With a staff of 18 supported by a volunteer team of 35, the organisation offers a range of services – from legal assistance, financial counselling, housing and tenancy assistance, prison transition accommodation, and Indigenous and rural women’s legal outreach services. Training delivery is tailored to allow the organisation to work collaboratively with the local Indigenous community, with coaching and mentoring underpinning its training success.
Queensland Ambulance Service - Queensland
The loss of medical practitioners from country hospitals have left paramedics as the first responders in medical emergency situations, a fact coupled with a worldwide skills shortage for qualified paramedics. The Queensland Ambulance Service introduced its Flexible Learning Organisation Initiative, which has embraced a range of new technologies and techniques including CD ROM-based teaching tools, e-learning, electronic workbooks, online support and forums and video conferencing, which is tailored to the needs of this particular workforce.
Eurobodalla Shire Council - New South Wales
Experiencing problems associated with an ageing workforce (with a third of its permanent staff aged over 50, and almost three quarters over 40), the Eurobodalla Shire Council responded with accredited training for mature age workers so they could retain and update their skills. Staff employed at the Council have more qualifications from the Local Government training package than any other council in NSW.
Agri Food Industry – Premium Fresh
Premium Fresh Tasmania is a vegetable packing operation based in Forth, Tasmania. The family owned company operates the largest carrot washing facility in the state with a workforce of 120 during peak harvest periods.
Community Services and Health Industry – Therapy Focus
Therapy Focus is a not-for-profit community service organisation that delivers therapy and professional services in the home, school and community to children and young adults. The organisation employs a team of 109 staff at head office and 11 bases across the Perth metropolitan area.
Construction and Property Services Industry – Independent Property Group
Locally owned Independent Property Group employs more than 150 staff and services all aspects of the market – including sales, property management and development, project marketing, strata management, finance, sales training and software development.
Innovation and Business Skills Industry – Territory Insurance Office
Territory Insurance Office is the only locally owned and operated banking and insurance organisation in the Northern Territory. It employs 255 staff and provides a network of branches including a small claims centre and a call centre.
Manufacturing Industry – Dingo Mini Diggers (Finalist - Employer of the Year)
Dingo Mini Diggers is a market leader in the manufacture of mini-diggers supplying the Australian market while also exporting to New Zealand, South Africa and Europe. The company has its headquarters in Queensland. A strong commitment to training underpins continual refinements and improvements made to the machine over the past 13 years.
Resources and Infrastucture Industry – Queensland Alumina Limited (Finalist - Employer of the Year)
Queensland Alumina Limited operates the worlds largest alumina refinery at Gladstone in Central Queensland. All QAL training programmes are developed, implemented and focussed around the site priorities of doing it ‘safer, cleaner, better’ QAL believes training has led to a greaer commitment to safety, cost control and flexibility within the organisation resulting in work progressing more safely and smoothly.
Services Industry – McDonalds Australia (Finalist - Employer of the Year)
McDonalds Australia is a Registered Training Organisation providing nationally recognised training to all its employees – from restaurant crew members through to senior management staff – to equip them for success within the companyor in the wider hospitality and retain industries.
Transport and Logistics Industry – Public Transport Authority of Western Australia
Formed in 2003, the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia employsmore than 1000 people and delivers an integrated public transport system of bus, coach, train, ferry and other services throughout the state.
Government and Safety Industry – Eurobodalla Shire Council (Winner – Employer of the Year)