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Territory’s Best Trainees, Trainers and Employers Honoured at 64th NT Training Awards

Office of the Chief Minister

The best and brightest of Territory’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector have been celebrated at the NT Training Awards, held last night at the Darwin Convention Centre.

This year, the 64th year the awards have been held, there were 86 nominations received across 12 categories, with almost a quarter of nominees coming from remote areas.

The awards demonstrate the diversity of training fields in the Territory, with nominees representing electro technology, carpentry, mechanical technology, digital media, health, fitness, management, retail, agriculture, hospitality, childcare and construction.

Malak tradesman Rory Milner, 30, a former engineer who retrained in construction so he could work with his hands, took home the top individual honour, the 2019 Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year.

Alice Springs teenager Jack Short, 17, a trainee technician with Red Centre Technology Partners, was named 2019 Trainee of the Year, while former elite swimmer Jacqui Culgan, 19, was awarded 2019 Vocational Student of the Year, after completing a Certificate III and IV Fitness.

FORWAARD Aboriginal Corporation, which provides drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs for Aboriginal people, was named Small Employer of the Year, while NEC IT Solutions won the Medium Employer Award for the second consecutive year.

Some of the winners will now go on to represent the NT at the Australia Training Awards in Brisbane on 21 November.

 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Workforce Training, Selena Uibo.

“Congratulations to all this year’s winners and finalists on their outstanding achievements.

“Our Government’s number one priority is jobs for Territorians and a strong training sector is critical to ensuring our local people are equipped for the jobs of the future.

“Developing a strong local workforce means local business can take advantage of new opportunities and support the economic development of the Northern Territory.

“It’s great to see that almost a quarter of nominees this year came from regional and remote areas, reflecting the Territory Labor Government’s strong investment in jobs in the bush.

“The Northern Territory has one of the highest levels of VET engagement in Australia, and our government is investing to make it even stronger.

“Last year, we launched the first ever Skilling the Territory Annual Investment Plan, a $93 million investment in our training sector to support the creation of 2000 extra positions for apprentices and trainees across the Territory over the next four years.”

 

Quotes attributable to Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year, Rory Milner.

“I chose the building and construction industry as I love being able to see progress happen on a daily basis, see something get created from nothing and feel pride when I go home at the end of the day.

“An apprenticeship was the right choice for me, as it allowed me to work to support my son, as well as undertake on the job training at the same time, and eventually obtain my qualifications, something that would have been a lot harder any other way.”

 

FULL LIST OF NT TRAINING AWARD WINNERS

Individual awards

Trainee of the Year: Jack Short

Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year: Rory David Riwai Milner

Vocational Student of the Year: Jacqui Culgan

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year: Raelene Collins

School Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year: Ashlee Bree Gilder

VET in Schools Student of the Year: Laurent De Biasio

VET Teacher / Trainers of the Year: Patricia Sweeney Fawcett

International Vocational Student of the Year: Sunday Mishu

 

Organisational Awards

Training Provider of the Year: Charles Darwin University

Industry Collaboration Award: Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and Northern Territory Correctional Services

Small Employer of the Year: FORWAARD Aboriginal Corporation

Medium Employer of the Year: Winner NEC IT Solutions Pty Ltd

 

Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144

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