Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the Metropolitan region.
Winners were announced at the regional final:
When
Friday 19 July 2019
Where
Brisbane City Hall
View the Metropolitan regional final dinner program (PDF, 1.7MB).
The Metropolitan region thanks their sponsors.
Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Electrogroup Apprenticeships and Training
Regional winner: Lachlan Thoms
Qualification: Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)
Training provider: Aviation Australia
Employer: Qantas Airways Limited
Lachlan Thoms has always been interested in the aviation industry, and was driven to seek out an apprenticeship by a desire to understand the complex machinery that makes flight possible. Lachlan was accepted into the Qantas apprenticeship program in 2016, and has developed not only his mechanical skills and knowledge, but personal capabilities as well. He is on schedule to complete this apprenticeship a year early.
Regional finalists
Gesine Magdalena Berger
Qualification: Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Employer: Energy Queensland Limited
Kritesh Chand
Qualification: Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Group training organisation: MIGAS Apprentices and Trainees
Host employer: O'Brien Boiler Services
Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year
Proudly sponsored by BUSY At Work
Regional winner: Aman Meles
Qualification: Certificate III in Community Services
Training provider: Designer Life
Group training organisation: WPC Group Limited
Host employer: Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
Aman Meles' goal is to become a youth worker, a career path he believes will allow him to support young people in his community before they become disengaged. Aman is determined to make the most of every opportunity available to him to achieve his goal. He successfully completed his Certificate III in Community Services in 2018 and is working towards a Diploma of Youth Work.
Regional finalists
Nathan Shay
Qualification: Certificate III in Travel
Training provider: Institute of Training and Further Education
Employer: Flight Centre Limited
Isabelle Vint
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration
Training provider: Oceania College of Technology
Employer: WPC Group Limited
Vocational Student of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Challenge Employment & Training
Regional winner: Kristy McDermott
Qualification: Diploma of Landscape Design / Diploma of Horticulture
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Kristy McDermott was looking for a career that would allow her to spend quality time with her family, and support her passion for land management and sustainability. Completing the dual qualification has also given Kristy the opportunity to work alongside her partner's lawn care business. Through her new venture, Dreamtime Landscapes and Horticultural Services, Kristy designs and plans projects for clients, while her partner maintains the finished product.
Regional finalists
Cassandra Broadfoot
Qualification: Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations
Training provider: SDS Training
Employer: New Hope Group
Sarah-Jade Maidment
Qualification: Certificate III in Community Services
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Statim Yaga - An initiative of Hutchinson Builders
Regional winner: Shaunah Downton
Qualification: Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Training provider: Stanborough Wemyss Contracting Pty Ltd
Group training organisation: Australian Training Company Limited
Host employer: Metro North Hospital and Health Service
School: Southern Cross Catholic College
Shaunah Downton is a school-based trainee who hails from the Kamilaroi tribe in Mungindi. After completing work experience at a local hospital, Shaunah was inspired to pursue a career in nursing and secured a traineeship with Metro North Hospital and Health Service. She hopes her qualification and the experience gained through training will support her future plans to study midwifery.
Regional finalists
Floyd Hill
Qualification: Certificate III in Business
Training provider: Max Solutions
Employer: Max Employment
School: Sunnybank State High School
Luke Harmer
Qualification: Certificate III in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Employer: Spotless Services Australia Limited
School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
Proudly sponsored by McDonald's Australia
Regional winner: Jonah Moten
Qualification: Certificate III in Carpentry
Training provider: Blue Dog Training Pty Ltd
Employer: Anthony Speedy Constructions Pty Ltd
School: Marist College Ashgrove
For Jonah Moten, a trade pathway was an obvious choice. Seeing his family build 4 homes, he had firsthand experience of the process and people in the construction industry, and was excited for an opportunity to work alongside them. Jonah successfully secured a school-based apprenticeship and is looking forward to finishing school so he can focus on his apprenticeship full-time.
Regional finalists
Libby Burgess
Qualification: Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Group training organisation: Australian Training Company Limited
Host employer: St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital
School: St Mary's College Ipswich
Mitchell Olley
Qualification: Certificate II in Sports Turf Management
Training provider: Horticultural Training Pty Ltd
Group training organisation: Australian Training Company Limited
Host employer: Warehouse Cricket Association (Qld) Inc
School: St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe
Equity VET Student of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Jobs Queensland
Regional winner: Aman Meles
Qualification: Certificate III in Community Services
Training provider: Designer Life
Group training organisation: WPC Group Limited
Host employer: Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
Aman Meles came to Australia as an Eritrean refugee, and as a teenager became disengaged with school and study. Realising he was on a bad pathway, Aman knew he needed to turn his life around and wanted to find a way to help other young people make positive choices. For Aman, completing his traineeship is the first step towards a successful career in youth work.
Regional finalists
Selena Burrows
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration
Training provider: Designer Life
Employer: MEGT (Australia) Limited
Natasha Parker
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration
Training provider: Designer Life
Employer: OSMAC Apprenticeships
VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Australian Child Care Career Options (ACCCO)
Regional winner: Glen McMurtrie
Employer: TAFE Queensland
After a serious motorcycle accident interrupted his electrical career and training, Glen McMurtrie found a new VET pathway as a teacher and assessor at TAFE Queensland. Glen has now been delivering Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control qualifications across Queensland and the Northern Territory for 7 years. His commitment to offering his students the best possible training is reinforced through continued VET and university studies.
Regional finalists
Jane Franchina
Employer: Institute for Urban Indigenous Health
Stephen McCann
Employer: Aviation Australia
Community Training Initiative of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Designer Life
Regional winner: All About Living Inc
Program: Carers Consortium
www.allaboutliving.com.au
(07) 3269 1915
All About Living Inc (AAL) is a not-for-profit community organisation providing home care services in Brisbane's north. Through its Carers Consortium program, AAL is delivering individual support qualifications in order to provide essential workers to the aged care sector, and is facilitating workforce pathways for people with barriers to employment. In 2018, 82% of Carers Consortium participants went on to employment and further study.
Regional finalists
ICYS Ipswich Community Youth Service Inc
Program: ICYS Increasing Options Program
www.icys.org.au
(07) 3812 1050
Marist180
Program: Marist180 Work Skills Traineeships
www.marist180.org.au
(02) 9672 9200
Large Employer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by MEGT (Australia) Ltd
Regional winner: Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
www.hastingsdeering.com.au
(07) 3717 2202
Hastings Deering is focused on driving business performance through training. It provides ready access to learning programs that build leadership, technical and product expertise, and a safe environment for its employees. In 2018, Hastings Deering grew its apprentice intake by more than 50%, with increased participation rates of female, Indigenous and mature age apprentices demonstrating a dedication to its flexible and inclusive workplace culture.
Regional finalists
Qantas Airways Limited
www.qantas.com/au/en.html
13 13 13
RetireAustralia
www.retireaustralia.com.au
1300 931 501
Medium Employer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by All Trades Queensland
Regional winner: Cummins South Pacific Pty Ltd
www.cummins.com.au
(07) 3710 4700
Cummins South Pacific is a global power provider, maintaining a comprehensive technical and non-technical training program. This approach ensures its apprentices and technicians receive technical training in both the classroom and workshop at least twice per year. Cummins is focused on investing in the personal development of staff in order to create a positive working environment, as well as a highly capable workforce.
Regional finalists
Brisbane Airport Hotels Group
www.bneahg.com.au
(07) 3139 8100
Watkins Steel Pty Ltd
www.watkinssteel.com.au
(07) 3414 7400
Small Employer of the Year
Proudly sponsored by OSMAC Apprenticeships
Regional winner: Kennedy's Timbers
www.kennedystimbers.com.au
(07) 3293 0528
Kennedy's Timbers' first employee completed a Certificate III in Forest and Forest Products Timber Merchandising in 1998. Since then, more than 20 individuals have successfully completed apprenticeships, VET qualifications and university studies while employed and supported by Kennedy's. The business has a dedicated training strategy that includes a commitment to provide a minimum of 1.5% of annual turnover to employee training.
Regional finalists
Elysium Hair Brisbane
www.elysiumhairbrisbane.com.au
(07) 3229 0816
Greenworx
www.greenworx.com.au
1300 476 979