Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the North Coast region.
Winners were announced online on 23 July 2021 – watch the announcement here!
Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year
Regional winner: Casey Hewitt
Qualification: Certificate III in Picture Framing
Training provider: Regional Trade Assessments
Employer: Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery
As a young artist herself, Casey Hewitt takes pride in her work as a framing consultant. Casey believes her apprenticeship was the perfect opportunity for her – complimenting her experience and passion for all things creative. Learning different processes and techniques has improved her depth of knowledge and capabilities. Casey believes her training is helping both herself and Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery remain at the forefront of the framing industry.
Regional finalists
Steven Langeveld
Qualification: Certificate III in Carpentry
Training provider: Blue Dog Training
Employer: Josiah Carpentry
Thomas Wood
Qualification: Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology
Training provider: Work Skills
Employer: Sunshine Coast Marine Electrical Doctor
Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year
Regional winner: Anja Siebers
Qualification: Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management
Training provider: Ballistic Training Solutions
Employer: ECOllaboration Ltd
After emigrating to Australia, Anja Siebers worked in a number of different fields – but it was while volunteering at a nursery that she discovered her true path, and her Conservation and Land Management traineeship. After finishing her studies, Anja gained employment as a Bush Regenerator, a role that allows her to explore her passion for nature and environmental protection each and every day.
Regional finalists
Shari Eggmolesse
Qualification: Certificate III in Work Health and Safety
Training provider: Harness Energy Services
Employer: Shell QGC
Benjamin Hussain
Qualification: Certificate III in Fitness
Training provider: Fitness Industry Training
Employer: Spiders Boxing Club Inc.
Vocational Student of the Year
Regional winner: Mikayo Mundy
Qualification: Diploma of Screen and Media
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Mikayo Mundy left traditional schooling in Year 7, completing distance education so that he could train full-time as a professional wakeboarder. This alternative pathway led him to complete a Diploma of Screen and Media, fast tracking his studies. Through training, Mikayo has been able to follow his passions and achieve his goals, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Film and Screen Media at just 18.
Regional finalists
Brandie Griffiths
Qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support
Training provider: Look Now Training
Employer: Woombye Care
Benedicte Tournier
Qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support
Training provider: Look Now Training
Employer: Self-employed
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Regional winner: Maddison Wiggs
Qualification: Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance
Training provider: Mater Education Limited
Group training organisation: Australian Training Works
Host employer: Metro North Hospital and Health Service
School: St Columban's College
Maddison Wiggs is a proud Ngemba woman, currently engaged in a school-based traineeship through the Deadly Start program. The Deadly Start program was developed to support and grow the Indigenous workforce within the health sector. Having been involved in sport from a young age, Maddison has a keen interest in biomechanics and is delighted to be completing a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance, with a focus on physiotherapy.
Regional finalists
Justine Brown
Qualification: Certificate IV in Health Administration
Training provider: College Australia
Employer: Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service
Nina Meaton
Qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support
Training provider: Leading Aged Care Australia
Employer: Institute for Urban Indigenous Health
School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
Regional winner: Loralei Coleman
Qualification: Certificate III in Dental Assisting
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Employer: Sandstone Point Dental
School: St Columban's College
Loralei Coleman went from having a childhood fear of the dentist to choosing it as a career path, after hearing her dentist's own inspiring story of how she got started in the industry. Loralei enquired about work experience and was delighted to be offered a school-based traineeship as a dental assistant. Loralei now plans to complete her Certificate III in Dental Assisting and join the Royal Australian Navy with a dental preference, so that she can continue her training and studies and eventually become a qualified dentist or oral surgeon.
Regional finalists
Jay Carstens
Qualification: Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)
Training provider: Aviation Australia
Employer: Airwork Helicopters
School: St Columban's College
Grace Waning
Qualification: Certificate III in Beauty Services
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Employer: Serenity Skin Spa
School: Xavier Catholic College
Equity VET Student of the Year
Regional winner: Courtney Baker
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration
Training provider: Axiom College
Employer: Youth Development Foundation
For Courtney Baker, the opportunity to complete a traineeship with the Youth Development Foundation was her big chance to break the cycle of her family's experience. As the first person in her family to complete a traineeship, she is proud of her determination to succeed and achieve her goals. Through her training pathway, Courtney has found sustainable employment, financial independence and become a role model for her younger siblings and community.
Regional finalists
Claire Clarke
Qualification: Certificate III in Hairdressing
Training provider: TAFE Queensland
Benjamin Hussain
Qualification: Certificate III in Fitness
Training provider: F-I-T Fitness Industry Training
Employer: Spiders Boxing Club Inc.
VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year
Regional winner: Narelle Crick
Employer: TAFE Queensland
As a beauty teacher at TAFE Queensland's Mooloolaba campus, Narelle Crick inspires students every day with her passion for her industry. Narelle first began teaching others in 2008 while running her own salon. Her career path changed when she was encouraged to become a trainer, after receiving recognition for her mentoring skills. Narelle has now spent the past 13 years inspiring and skilling the next generation of beauty therapists.
Regional finalists
Bianca Frankling
Employer: Look Now Training
Ross Wilson
Employer: MTA Institute
Community Training Initiative of the Year
Regional winner: Five Bridges
Program: Caring for our Community
www.fivebridges.org.au
(07) 3812 2395
Five Bridges' programs and services provide a culturally safe environment for the local Indigenous community to access training and employment opportunities. Supported by the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, Five Bridges aligns its training partnerships to current and emerging industry opportunities, delivering employment pathways across a range of demand-driven sectors. In 2020, Five Bridges' Caring for our Community program achieved employment outcomes for 70 per cent of its participants.
Regional finalists
Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre
Program: Orbital Works
www.dbnc.org.au
(07) 3204 2022
Reclink Australia
Program: Linking Employment Pathways Caboolture
www.reclink.org
0407 374 988
Large Employer of the Year
Regional winner: Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service
Training has been key to supporting the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service's strategic direction. The organisation is dedicated to developing and investing in its staff, and is committed to excellence through innovation. A focus on strategic infrastructure, systems and workforce ensures its facilities and services meet the demands of the region it supports – which includes Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Maryborough and surrounding local areas. According to the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service's learning management system, each employee undertakes an average of 10 training events each year.
Regional finalists
Fraser Coast Regional Council
www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au
1300 794 929
Nolan Meats
www.nolan.com.au
(07) 5489 6888
Medium Employer of the Year
Regional winner: Just Better Care Brisbane North
www.justbettercare.com/brisbane-north-cbd/home
(07) 3056 0777
Just Better Care Brisbane North provides disability and aged care support to people across Brisbane's north and Moreton Bay. Training and professional development are ingrained in the organisation's values, and it is proud to support staff from induction and throughout their careers. Up to 76 per cent of its community support professionals hold at least a Certificate III qualification – which is 15 per cent more than in 2019.
Regional finalists
Greenstock Nurseries
www.greenstocknurseries.com.au
(07) 3204 4522
Noosa and District Landcare Group
www.noosalandcare.org
(07) 5485 2468
Small Employer of the Year
Regional winner: Hamilton
www.hamilton-au.com
(07) 5481 2226
Hamilton is an instrumentation, engineering and electrical company focused on delivering exceptional quality. Its combination of in-house training and accredited programs has given staff the opportunity to experience learning in different ways – while focusing on the individual employee's needs and role requirements. Hamilton have developed an ongoing training matrix to match the right staff to the right training program, maximising both learning and business outcomes.
Regional finalists
Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery
www.artframes.com.au
(07) 5444 0009
We Care 2 Inc.
www.wc2.org.au
(07) 4124 0913
Last updated 23 July 2021
