Congratulations to the 2018 winners and finalists from the Darling Downs South West region.
Winners were announced at the regional final:
When
Friday 3 August 2018
Where
Oakey Cultural Centre
View the Darling Downs South West regional final dinner program (PDF, 1.9MB).
The Darling Downs South West region thanks their sponsors.
Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Oakey Beef Exports
Regional winner: Tom Bourne
Qualification: Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (Maintenance - Diesel Fitting)
Training provider: Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Employer: Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Having grown up surrounded by engines at his dad's fuel injection workshop, Tom Bourne was always fascinated by machinery. After spending his weekends and holidays working on a farm in his hometown of Goondiwindi, Tom quickly developed a passion for heavy machinery. He believes he found his dream job at Hastings Deering, where he completed his diesel fitting apprenticeship in 2018.
Regional finalists
Leo An
Qualification: Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Employer: Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
Chelsea Hayward
Qualification: Certificate III in Plumbing
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Group training organisation: Golden West Apprenticeships
Host employer: Maranoa Regional Council
Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year
Proudly sponsored by BUSY At Work
Regional winner: Shyann Doyle
Qualification: Certificate III in Business
Training provider: Aurora Training Institute
Employer: Western Downs Regional Council
While investigating post-school education options, Shyann Doyle was excited to discover the benefits that a traineeship could provide her with, including developing a range of new skills while earning an income, and gaining invaluable on-the-job experience. Shyann jumped at the chance to complete her training with Western Downs Regional Council - an experience she has described as life changing - and is proud to have now secured permanent employment there.
Regional finalists
Chloe Appo
Qualification: Certificate III in Business
Training provider: Sero Institute
Group training organisation: MIGAS
Host employer: Downs Industry School Co-op (DISCO)
Samantha Nordling-Baker
Qualification: Certificate III in Community Services
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Employer: SBcare Kingaroy
Vocational Student of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Jobs Queensland
Regional winner: Samara Hegarty
Qualification: Certificate IV in Captive Animals
Training provider: The University of Queensland Gatton Vocational Education Centre
Employer: Rockhampton Regional Council
Combining her university studies with vocational training was key to unlocking Samara Hegarty's career pathway. While completing her Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in wildlife science at university, she undertook a Certificate IV in Captive Animals. Fulfilling the practical requirements of her certificate with on-the-job training provided her with valuable industry experience, which led to her eventually gaining employment at Rockhampton Zoo.
Regional finalists
Rikki-Lee Dess
Qualification: Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
Training provider: The University of Queensland Gatton Vocational Education Centre
Employer: Animal Emergency Services
Paige Gayton
Qualification: Certificate I in Animal Studies
Training provider: Animal Industries Resource Centre
Employer: Nanango Veterinary Surgery
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Golden West Apprenticeships
Regional winner: Tayla Dennis
Qualification: Certificate I in Business
Training provider: HB Training
Group training organisation: Golden West Apprenticeships
Host employer: Maranoa Regional Council
Tayla Dennis successfully applied for a Certificate I in Business traineeship through Skilling Queenslanders for Work in 2017. As a result of her hard work and dedication to her traineeship with the council, Tayla was offered the opportunity to complete a Certificate III in Tourism and hasn't looked back. She is a passionate advocate for training, and the skills and self-confidence it provides for young people.
Regional finalists
Chloe Appo
Qualification: Certificate III in Business
Training provider: Sero Institute
Group training organisation: MIGAS
Host employer: Downs Industry School Co-op (DISCO) &
Adelayde McKellar
Qualification: Certificate III in Hairdressing
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Employer: Oakey Silver Scissors
School: Oakey State High School
School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
Proudly sponsored by DGT
Regional winner: Lachlan Darr
Qualification: Certificate III in Agriculture
Training provider: Rural Training Australia
Employer: Oakey Beef Exports
School: Oakey State High School
Agriculture has been a lifelong interest for Lachlan Darr, and the experience he gained through his traineeship with Oakey Beef Exports has convinced him that he has indeed found his dream job. Working with livestock has allowed Lachlan to gain greater insight into the day-to-day requirements of a career in agriculture, and further developed his desire to work in the cattle industry after school.
Regional finalists
Billie Fox
Qualification: Certificate II in Engineering
Training provider: Major Training Group
Group training organisation: Golden West Apprenticeships
Host employer: Boomer Bullbars
School: Pittsworth State High School
Georgina Garnsey
Qualification: Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
Training provider: Work Skills
Employer: Black Toyota Miles
School: Miles State High School
Equity VET Student of the Year
Proudly sponsored by the SkillCentred
Regional winner: Tayla Dennis
Qualification: Certificate I in Business
Training provider: HB Training
Group training organisation: Golden West Apprenticeships
Host employer: Maranoa Regional Council
Tayla Dennis was looking to gain crucial skills, experience and knowledge that would improve her career options. Having little awareness of the VET system, Tayla was unsure whether a traineeship was right for her. After learning that she would be undertaking training while in paid employment, she leapt at the opportunity to complete a Certificate I in Business with host employer Maranoa Regional Council, and hasn't looked back.
Regional finalists
Sharifah Nakintu
Qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support
Training provider: CEDAR Centre
Employer: Breakaway Toowoomba
Scott Tiran
Qualification: Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management
Training provider: Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges
Employer: Mylestones Solutions
VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Fucheng Woodlands
Regional winner: Leanne Morgan
Employer: TAFE Queensland
Leanne Morgan is a proactive health industry educator, developing learning resources to suit her courses and students as required, in order to improve learning outcomes. Drawing on her wealth of experience, Leanne has introduced storytelling as a delivery strategy. Leanne believes that the sharing of experiences allows students to conceptualise the content being taught, learning to better application of knowledge and skills in the workplace.
Regional finalists
Brad Kendrick
Employer: Broadspectrum Training Services
Anne Catherine Smith
Employer: TAFE Queensland
Community Training Initiative of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Broadspectrum Training Services
Regional winner: YWCA Queensland
Program: Giving a Hand
www.ywca.org.au
(07) 3230 3410
YWCA Queensland works to empower women through improved safety and wellbeing, and economic participation. Twenty-six women have developed important employability skills by participating in YWCA's Giving a Hand program, funded through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative. The women selected for the program have been drawn from diverse backgrounds to ensure the program is accessible to those in genuine need and in a position to fully participate.
Regional finalists
DGT
Program: Skilled Up
www.dgt.org.au
(07) 4639 2099
Southern Downs Industry Education Association Inc
Program: Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects
www.sdiea.org.au
(07) 4667 0420
Large Employer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by TAFE Queensland
Regional winner: Easternwell
www.easternwell.com.au
(07) 4659 1555
Easternwell provides drilling, well servicing and camp management services to mining, minerals, oil and gas industries, working collaboratively with clients to support safe and sustainable operations. To support these operations, 58 per cent of Easternwell's current workforce is actively enrolled in training. Its employees are trained in exacting competency levels to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to meet the specific needs of their clients.
Regional finalists
New Acland Coal
www.newhopegroup.com.au
(07) 3418 0500
Toowoomba Regional Council
www.tr.qld.gov.au
131 872
Medium Employer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by MEGT (Australia) Ltd
Regional winner: SunPork Farms Tong Park
www.sunporkfarms.com.au
(07) 4668 1233
SunPork Farms Tong Park believes that producing high-quality products can only be achieved through the employment, training and retention of highly skilled staff. At SunPork, dedicated trainers adjust their training delivery and support to suit a range of staff needs. In a world-first pilot, SunPork employed and trained autistic adults in specialist animal care, with 70 per cent of participants retaining permanent positions when training was completed.
Regional finalists
BLASK Engineering
www.blask.com.au
(07) 4652 1050
Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Co. Ltd
www.facebook.com/Goolburri-Aboriginal-Health-Advancement-Co-Ltd-170111366494466
(07) 4632 0338
Small Employer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by CPL's Mylestones Employment
Regional winner: Astill's Electrical Services
www.astillselectrical.com.au
(07) 4162 7970
Astill's Electrical Services is a family-run business, located in Queensland's South Burnett and Sunshine Coast regions. The business currently employs an administrative team of two, along with an electrical team of nine electricians, one refrigeration mechanic and four electrical apprentices. Astill's is active in the local community, providing work placement for vocational students from the area's high schools, and apprenticeship and employment opportunities for school-leavers.
Regional finalists
Qwik Stop Convenience
(07) 4638 7767
The Fit Lab Health and Fitness Centre
www.fitlab.com.au
(07) 4638 7645
Last updated 10 January 2019
