The south-east’s training industry high achievers are being urged to nominate for the state’s most prestigious training awards.
Follow in the footsteps of Tamborine Mountain’s Patricia Arora who was a state finalist in the Vocational Student of the Year category at the 2018 Queensland Training Awards.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman announced nominations for the 2019 Queensland Training Awards open on Monday.
“These awards celebrate and acknowledge the hard work of Queensland’s top training achievers,” Ms Fentiman said.
“Making sure that Queenslanders have the training and skills they need to get a job and build a career is vital to Queensland’s growing economy.”
“The awards will also give some of Queensland’s winners the chance to compete at a national level and be recognised at the Australian Training Awards.
“Next year the awards celebrate 58 years as the state’s highest accolade within the training sector.”
“Through these annual awards we continue to recognise individuals and organisations who strive for success, best practice and innovation in training.
“I encourage eligible apprentices, trainees, VET students, teachers and trainers, employers, training providers and community-based organisations to take part.
“Recognising both organisational and individual efforts, the awards help broaden career opportunities and promote organisations as an employer or training provider of choice.”
Mrs Arora, who trained at Australis College where she studied a Diploma of Community Services, said the awards had given her industry exposure and propelled her into a rewarding career.
She now has two jobs at Tamborine Mountain Community Care Association working with seniors and serving her community.
“It is very fulfilling,” she said.
“I’m working with seniors and getting on great with them and learning a lot from them as well, so it is a win-win.”
Mrs Arora said she would recommend locals who are currently training to nominate for the awards because it could open windows to vocational options they may not have considered and a brighter future.
Tash Fee, winner of the VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year Award in 2012, said she could put her hand on her heart and say that winning the award elevated her professional profile to an international level.
“Since winning my award, I have been approached to deliver training in Africa, Egypt, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok and Papua New Guinea in a variety of topics, from mining and construction to fire and emergency response, as well as general corporate training,” Ms Fee said.
“I have been invited to be a guest speaker at numerous industry, trade and careers events.
“I won the Queensland Resource Council Gender Diversity Champion Award in 2013 and have been a finalist in the Australia Day Awards (Citizen of the Year category), Australian Institute of Management (AIM) Awards, Telstra Business Women’s Awards, and in 2017 I was the seventh woman to be profiled in the Top 100 Women in Construction Industry.
“There are so many dedicated students and teachers and trainers doing amazing work in the VET sector and their success stories should be shared and celebrated.
Ms Fee said she would absolutely recommend nominating for the Queensland Training Awards to anyone who is passionate about the training they are undertaking or delivering to others.
There are 14 categories in the Queensland Training Awards and winners of some categories will have the chance to vie for awards at a national level by competing at the Australian Training Awards in November next year.
The Queensland Training Awards are run by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.
For a full list of award categories, nomination details and eligibility criteria for 2019, visit www.qta.qld.gov.au. Nominations close on Sunday 17 March 2019.
