Seventeen recipients from across Australia were honoured on Friday night for their outstanding achievement in vocational education and training (VET) at the 2020 Australian Training Awards.
The 17 winners represented students, apprentices, trainees, teachers, registered training organisations and employers. They took out their respective awards against a high-calibre field of 75 national finalists. The full list of winners and finalists is on the Australian Training Awards website.
The VET sector’s night-of-nights was held virtually for the first time this year. Excellence was recognised across three broad categories: individuals including students, apprentices, trainees and teachers; employers who train their workforce; and registered training organisations.
Outstanding leadership and contribution to the VET sector was also recognised though the Lifetime Achievement Award. This top honour went to Mary Campbell, CEO of TAFE Queensland. Mary was honoured for her dedication and commitment to VET, spanning across more than 30 years in leadership and operational roles.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists!
Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Mary Campbell, QLD
National Achievement Award
- Debbie Blow, QLD
Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award
- Rachel Leigh Taylor, NT
VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award
- Kevin Nunn, VIC
Vocational Student of the Year Award
- Heetham Hekmat, TAS
Trainee of the Year Award
- Breanna Cassidy, QLD
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award
- Lisa Cherie Birnie, ACT
Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year Award
- Sebastian Connor, ACT
Apprentice of the Year Award
- Caitlin Radford, TAS
Australian Apprenticeships—Employer Award
- Fairbrother, TAS
Small Employer of the Year
- Kent Saddlery, QLD
Medium Employer of the Year
- Outside Ideas, SA
Large Employer of the Year
- SA Power Networks, SA
Industry Collaboration Award
- Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and Australian Defence Force, NT
School Pathways to VET Award
- St Paul's College Kempsey, NSW
Large Training Provider of the Year
- South West Institute of TAFE, VIC
Small Training Provider of the Year
- Builders Academy Australia, VIC
For those who missed it, you can watch the awards ceremony on the ATA website.
More information
- For information on the 2020 Australian Training Awards, including the winners and finalists visit Australian Training Awards.
- View the winner’s announcement at Best and Brightest Recognised in 2020 Australian Training Awards.
- The National Careers Institute was established to ensure people have access to authoritative and accurate careers information and support irrespective of their age or career stage. Find out more about the NCI.