Nominations for this year's SA Training Awards are now open, kick-starting the annual recognition of South Australia's Vocational Education and Training (VET) champions.
Minister for Industry and Skills David Pisoni said the Awards, which are now in their twenty-fourth year, provides a celebration of the achievements of students, teachers, apprentices, employers and training organisations.
"The SA Training Awards, hosted by the Training and Skills Commission, acknowledge the hard work of employers, apprentices, trainees, students, teachers and trainers in building skills and establishing careers," he said.
"This is also a crucial event to promote the value of vocational education and training, where applicants inspire others with their unique training stories and encourage young people and jobseekers to consider VET, apprenticeship and traineeship pathways.
"An apprenticeship or traineeship is an excellent pathway towards a rewarding career, including the provision of a wage from day one, gaining national and industry-recognised qualifications, and off-job training that complements hands-on experience."
A new addition to the 12 categories - the VET Innovation Award for Schools - has been introduced this year to recognise creativity, entrepreneurial thinking and secondary schools that have developed innovative practices to enhance VET pathways for students.
Minister for Education John Gardner said the Marshall Liberal Government has made a commitment to South Australians to strengthen vocational pathways for school students.
"The new VET Innovation Award for Schools further elevates the role these pathways play in skilling our young people and helping to ensure they are job-ready when they leave school," he said.
"By sharing their experiences across South Australia, the winner of the award will help promote good practice and encourage more schools to offer VET pathways."
Training and Skills Commission Chair Michael Boyce said the SA Training Awards represent a celebration of the State's vocational education and training success.
"Each year we are inspired by a new crop of enthusiastic applicants who are building a well-deserved culture of respect around hands-on skill development in South Australia," he said.
"For the applicants themselves, it's a fantastic way to begin a career or promote organisation's dedication to training, with State winners also invited to compete nationally at the Australian Training Awards in November."
The Training and Skills Commission will hold a free information session on 4 March, which will include advice on making an application. To register visit http://www.tasc.sa.gov.au/SA-Training-Awards/About-the-awards.
Nominations close on 8 April 2019.
