The finalists for the 2021 South Australian Training Awards – presented by the South Australian Skills Commission and supported by Collaboration Partners MEGT and Mas - have been announced, highlighting quality, excellence and innovation in the state's vocational education and training (VET) sector.
The awards are celebrating their 25th year, with the winners to be announced at a recognition event at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday 27 August, pending COVID-19 restrictions.
South Australian Skills Commissioner Renee Hindmarsh said judges were extremely impressed with the quality of entrants, with 110 applications received across 12 award categories.
"A total of 77 individuals and 33 organisations submitted nominations for consideration in the 2021 South Australian Training Awards," Ms Hindmarsh said.
"The strength of the applications made it difficult for the judging panel, who could select up to four finalists in each category.
"All of the finalists can be extremely proud of what they have contributed to the state's VET sector, whether they are starting their career journey as an apprentice or trainee or teaching valuable skills to the next generation of skilled workers.
"The South Australian Skills Commission was established on 1 July 2021 to simplify the process for employers to hire apprentices and trainees, and to provide an easier dispute resolution process for all stakeholders.
"By breaking down these barriers, the state's VET sector will continue to go from strength to strength."
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said the awards showcased the tremendous opportunities in South Australia.
"The individuals and organisations featured in these awards are great examples of the pathways that exist through quality training," Minister Pisoni said.
"More people are taking up those opportunities to start new careers, or to upskill and become an asset to their business.
"The latest National Centre for Vocational Educational Research (NCVER) data showed South Australia had the highest percentage increase in the country for apprentice and trainee commencements in the year to 31 December 2020, up 21.5 per cent compared to 2019.
"We also led the national with the largest percentage increase, 22.5 per cent, in the number of apprentices and trainees in-training as at 31 December 2020 compared to the same time in 2019.
"There are also great State and Federal Government incentives for businesses to take on apprentices or trainees.
"The South Australian Government is delivering a skilled workforce that contributes to the state's economic recovery.
"There has never been a better time for a business to take on an apprentice or a trainee."
The program's silver jubilee was due to be held last year, however the event was postponed due to the impact of COVID-19 on the South Australian community.
The finalists for the 2021 South Australian Training Awards are:
Apprentice of the Year finalists |
|||
Name |
Qualification |
Employer |
Training provider |
Tom Hodgson |
Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician |
Host Employer: RNW Fire Services |
PEER |
Sarah Jones |
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery |
National Wine Centre |
Quality Training and Hospitality College |
Harrison Sanders |
Certificate III in Carpentry |
Hoffmann Building Services |
North East Vocational College |
Amber Shelton |
Certificate III Plumbing and Gas Fitting |
Host Employer: Cushman Wakefield |
Trainee &Apprentice Placement Service |
Trainee of the Year finalists |
|||
Name |
Qualification |
Employer |
Training provider |
Irshad Haidari |
Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) |
Cara (Community Accommodation and Respite Agency) |
Open Colleges School of Health |
Emma Hoffrichter |
Certificate IV in Horse Racing (Racehorse Trainer) |
Gillespie Racing |
Skillinvest Note: Emma is from Ceduna |
Mia-Tari Piantedosi |
Diploma of Leadership and Management |
Department for Child Protection |
ASC Training and Development |
Tayla Standley |
Certificate III in Business |
My Tax Accountant |
TAFE SA Note: Tayla is from Naracoorte |
Vocational Student of the Year finalists |
|||
Name |
Qualification |
Employer |
Training provider |
Thomas Alexander |
Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) |
PEER |
PEER |
Annette Burmeister |
Diploma of Landscape Design |
Ironwood Institute |
TAFE SA |
Chloe Cox |
Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) |
Community Living Australia |
TAFE SA |
Kuvam Lockyer-Sharrock |
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) |
Southern Cross Care |
ANMEC |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year finalists |
|||
Name |
Qualification |
Employer |
Training provider |
Tameeka Bagnara |
Certificate III in Hairdressing (apprenticeship pathway) |
Station 95 Hair and Beauty |
The Parlour Hair Academy |
Sophie Bailes |
Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice |
Oodnadatta Health Service |
Aboriginal Health Council of SA Note: Sophie is from Oodnadatta |
Jacinta Bendessi |
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery |
Ibis Hotels Accor Group |
Meridian Vocational College |
Breanna Croft |
Certificate III in Business |
Department for Correctional Services |
TAFE SA |
School Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year finalists |
|||
Name |
Qualification |
Employer/ School |
Training provider |
Samuel Ivanoff |
Diploma of Applied Technologies |
GTO: AI Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre Host Employer: Aurecon Group St Patrick's Technical College |
Skills Lab |
Rachael Kelly |
Certificate III in Business |
Key 2 Sale Grant High School |
Limestone Coast Training Note: Rachel is from OB Flat |
Kayla Rainsford |
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care |
Happy Haven OSHC Pty Ltd Springbank Secondary College/Unley High School |
MADEC |
James Vaughan |
Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication trades |
BAE Systems Maritime Australia Springbank Secondary College |
TAFE SA |
VET Teacher Trainer of the Year finalists |
|
Name of applicant shortlisted /RTO name/school |
Vocational area |
Kayla Ide-Ant'z Teacher Thebarton Senior College |
Visual Art/Design |
Justin Mamo Training Manager Cardijn College |
Manufacturing/Engineering |
Stuart Rimmington Lecturer of cookery TAFE SA |
Commercial Cookery |
Greg Watkins Hospitality / Management Trainer Quality Training and Hospitality College |
Hospitality/Commercial Cookery/Management |
Industry Collaboration finalists |
|
Partner organisations |
Vocational area |
Department of Human Services Accommodation Services MEGT TIME Education & Training |
Disability |
Flinders University BAE Systems Australia TAFE SA |
Defence |
Australian Child Care Career Options Happy Haven OSHC Pty Ltd |
Community Services |
PEER BAE Systems Maritime Australia Department for Education Parafield Gardens High School |
Maritime |
Small Employer of the Year finalist |
|
Employer name |
Vocational area |
My Kingdom for a Horse |
Food/Wine/Hospitality |
Medium Employer of the Year finalists |
|
Employer name |
Vocational area |
Happy Haven OSHC Pty Ltd |
Community Services |
Hindmarsh Plumbing |
Construction |
Say Cheese Wholesale Pty Ltd |
Food and Manufacturing |
Supashock |
Advanced Manufacturing/Technology |
Large Employer of the Year finalists |
|
Employer name |
Vocational area |
North East Group |
Automotive/Manufacturing/Transport |
One Rail Australia |
Transport |
SA Water |
Water/Sewerage |
Training Provider of the Year finalists |
|
Training provider name |
Vocational area |
ASC Training & Development |
Leadership/Management/Training and Assessment |
Norgrove Training |
Aged Care/Disability/Community Services |
Quality Training and Hospitality College |
Hospitality/Commercial Cookery/Management |
TAFE SA |
Public provider |
VET Innovation for Schools Award finalists |
|
Christian Brothers College |
Education |
Henley High School |
Education |
Urrbrae Agricultural High School |
Education |
