Outstanding individuals or businesses in the vocational education and training (VET) sector are the focus of the 2023 Australian Training Awards, which are now open for nominations.
The prestigious awards celebrate our nation's hard-working VET sector, and will be presented in Hobart on 17 November 2023.
This year's national awards will honour 16 recipients. Eleven categories are nominated through state and territory training awards. The remaining five - including the Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector Award - are by nominations directly to the Australian Training Awards.
Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O'Connor, said the annual awards were a great way to celebrate the skills, commitment and professionalism of the VET sector and the enormous benefits it brings to the community.
"These awards showcase the VET sector and remind us all how crucial it is for a solid, trained workforce that allows Australian businesses to thrive," Minister O'Connor said.
"The awards recognise not just the talented trainees, apprentices and students, but also the people and organisations that support them, like schools, training organisations and employers.
"They shine a light on what can be achieved with the power of VET across the nation, from electrotechnology and carpentry to business studies and community services.
"The VET sector and the people within it are the key to solving one of the biggest economic challenges - the lack of skilled workers.
The VET sector is the lynchpin of the Australian Government's comprehensive plan to tackle the skills needs of individuals and industry, and the factors that will shape demand for jobs and skills over the next 10 and 20 years.
"We have honoured our key election commitments to establish Jobs and Skills Australia, provide 180,000 fee-free TAFE places in 2023, and we are continuing to build a strong and effecting vocational education sector," Minister O'Connor said
"These awards remind the whole country about just what is possible if we focus on quality training and skills development.
"We want to build a bigger, better trained, and more productive workforce - one that will help to deliver secure jobs with growing wages, boost incomes and living standards and create more opportunities for more Australians.
"I encourage anyone in the VET sector to recognise the exceptional work, excellence or innovation of a colleague, business or organisation with a nomination."
The Australian Training Award nominations are open until 31 May 2023.
More details and how to nominate can be found at: www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au
