2023 ACT Training Awards winners

ACT Australian School-based Apprentice of the year

POPPY CHALMERS

Poppy is a Year 12 student at Dickson College. In 2022, she undertook an Australian School-based Apprenticeship program with Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA). She completed a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance under a new program in the ACT called the “National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy”.

Poppy is proud of her achievements. She completed the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance within the first year of her apprenticeship. She is now obtaining a second qualification: Certificate III in Community Services at CIT.

Poppy chose to undertake an ASbA because she always wanted to work in the Health industry. Her dream is to help others and to have an impact on the experience of the patients and their families. The VET Pathway opened her eyes on the different roles and needs in the sector. She says: “it was the push I needed to stay in school and it gave me a lot of life skills in general.”

Poppy is honoured to be a part of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy and appreciates their support. They offer opportunities for leadership development and Poppy participated in IAHA’s national conference where she represented her organisation at an exhibitor’s stall. She supports the other academy students in their learning and attended presentations and lectures and provided summaries of the key messages.

Poppy has taken on leadership roles within school from a young age. She was selected as a Year 6 leader in 2017 and as a Year 10 Indigenous Leader in 2021.

Poppy was nominated for her high level of dedication, professionalism, and eagerness to learn.

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“The VET Pathway was the push I needed to stay in school and it gave me a lot of life skills in general.”

ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the year

EMMA BROWN

Emma is a Ngemba woman. She joined the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program (IAP), studying a Diploma of Government with CIT. She is employed as a Customer Service Officer at Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Emma chose the IAP to set an example for her son and to give him the best possible life. She wanted a stable income, to expand her skillset and to be able to network with various people. And more importantly, Emma wants to give back to the community.

Emma has made connections with the CASA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employee Network. She is proud of her accomplishments and she is looking forward to learning more. She sees her future in the public service and she is already planning for the next opportunity.

This year, Emma hosted a NAIDOC event in her Canberra office. She used her training and her leadership to deliver an event that is close to her heart. Emma wants to be a role model for other single mothers. She demonstrates that they can achieve anything if they try, even with a learning disability.

Emma secured a permanent position within the Australian Public Service at the completion of her Diploma.

Emma says: “Vocational Education and Training is creating pathways and great opportunities for Indigenous people and I am so grateful.” She describes her training facilitators as amazing and supportive.

Emma was nominated for being inspiring, enthusiastic and mature. Emma’s dedication to her studies and work is considered admirable by her IAP coordinator.

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“Vocational Education and Training is creating pathways and great opportunities for Indigenous people and I am so grateful.”

ACT Trainee of the year

CYRUS WREN

Cyrus is currently enrolled in a Diploma of Project Management. He is a full-time trainee employed by Australian Training Company and hosted at the ACT Education Directorate. Cyrus joined the Directorate in 2021 as an Australian School-based Apprentice (ASbA).

Cyrus is a Career and Transitions Project Support Officer. He manages administrative processes, develops internal and external publications, attends school career events and manages staff. Previously, Cyrus was employed as the ASbA Liaison and Project Support Officer within the VET in Schools team of the ACT Education Directorate.

Cyrus believes that he can impact the lives of every ACT public school student through his job. He developed a true passion for vocational education and training while working in the sector and simultaneously undertaking a VET pathway.

Cyrus says: “I have a powerful, impactful story I would like to share with people all across the country to help them understand how VET can change their life.”

During his traineeship, Cyrus had the opportunity to deliver informative presentations to over 1500 students across 10 ACT public high schools and colleges. He explained what an ASbA is, how an ASbA works and how students can use an ASbA during their career journey. In August 2022, Cyrus was also interviewed by the Australian Apprenticeship and Traineeship Information Service (AATIS) for International Youth Week.

Cyrus was nominated for the 2021 ACT Training Awards - ASbA of the Year category and was a highly commended runner up. In 2022, Cyrus was nominated for the Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards and was a highly commended runner up in the Personal Achievement category.

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“I have a powerful, impactful story I would like to share with people all across the country to help them understand how VET can change their life.”

ACT Vocational Student of the year

MARIJA RATHOUSKI

Marija enrolled in a Certificate IV in Mental Health with The Australian Academy of Media through the JobTrainer initiative. She works as a Case Manager at YWCA Canberra.

Marija’s disadvantaged background inspired her to pursue education to support individuals in similar situations. She chose the VET pathway for the flexibility it offers. Marija believes that her training was valuable and had an important impact on her, both personally and professionally.

Marija learnt practical strategies to support clients with compassion, empathy and understanding. Her goal is to continue to develop these skills and to make a difference in the lives of others. The vocational training enabled Marija to take on new responsibilities in the workplace which opened opportunities for career advancement and the possibility of a pay rise.

Marija spoke at the Youth Homelessness Matters Day in March 2023. Later in the year, she will become an ambassador for Homelessness Connect. She participated in industry panels, networking meetings and roundtables where she shared her perspectives and insight.

Marija encouraged her younger sister to undertake and Australian School-Based Apprenticeship. She feels fortunate to have had this opportunity and she found it to be a great avenue to gain experience whilst at school.

Marija’s dream job is to become a Police Officer in the Australian Federal Police.

Marija was nominated for her hard work, passion and commitment to excellence. She is described by her trainer as an exemplary student who embodies the qualities of an outstanding professional in the mental health sector.

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“As an advocate for vocational training, I strongly believe in the value of practical learning and the opportunities it offers for both personal and professional growth.”

ACT VET Teacher/Trainer of the year

PETER REDFERN-ELLIOT

Peter teaches Hospitality, Hotel, Travel, Tourism and Events Management programs, from Certificate III to Advanced Diploma level. He joined CIT 15 years ago.

Prior to teaching, Peter worked in the hospitality industry for over 15 years. Peter offers his students the opportunity to benefit from his real-life experience and insights. He wants his students to reach their full potential and he provides the knowledge and skills they need for their career.

Peter has been a Pastoral Care Officer (PCO) for nine years in the Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism Department. He provides wellbeing and academic support to international students. He approaches his role as PCO with care, concern, empathy, and diligence.

Peter has worked in partnership with the Ginninderry SPARK Training & Employment Initiative on several programs since January 2017. He successfully increased and maintained a high completion rate among participants from low social economic backgrounds and participants facing multiple barriers.

His talents in explaining training content is identified as the main reason of this success.

Through his strong connections with the industry, Peter helped secure work experience placements for 85% of the SPARK participants in which 65% gained employment.

Peter received Awards in recognition of his teaching abilities including a 2020 CIT Staff Appreciation Award, a 2015 Public Vocational Education and Training Teacher Award Finalist and a 2015 CITSA Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Peter was nominated for his passion for vocational education and training, exceptional teaching skills and understanding of individual learning needs.

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“As a VET Teacher, I thrive on encouraging students to reach their full potential by providing them with the knowledge and skills that they need to prepare for their career.”

ACT Apprentice of the year

TESSA VALTER

Tessa completed a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician with Global Energy Training Solutions. She is employed by Evoenergy and has worked for them for over 10 years.

Tessa has been interested in the electrical industry since Year 12. As she grown up around people in trade, it is an environment that she is comfortable in and that she understands. Although she did enjoy school, Tessa wanted a mentally and physically challenging job. Electrical was the perfect option for her.

After school, Tessa secured a non-trade position at Evoenergy as an Electrical Network Inspector. Over the next six years, Tessa learnt about the distribution network and when the opportunity arose, she started an apprenticeship.

Tessa is thankful for the passionate trainers she had during her training. She felt respected and valued from day one.

Her favourite part of the work includes problem solving and working with very small and complicated wiring, such as control circuits.

Tessa says: “During my apprenticeship my self-confidence and my work has grown exponentially and I am very proud of that.” She is curious about the possibilities available in the sector.

Tessa is a mentor to newer apprentices within the business. She has participated in advertising campaigns encouraging safety, and females to apply for apprenticeships. This included TV adds, radio adds, radio interviews for international women’s day, interviews and photos for social media and magazines to promote Evo and women in trades. Tessa enjoys the opportunity to share her experience.

Tessa’s employer describes her as hard working, talented and an inspirational spokesperson for the industry.

Tessa is considering undertaking an Electrical Diploma in the future.

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“During my apprenticeship my self-confidence and my work has grown exponentially and I am very proud of that.”

Norm Fisher Award

EDWARD NATHAN

Edward’s history of dedicated service to VET in the ACT started from his philosophy of making a difference in the lives of people. For almost 40 years, he focused being an excellent trainer, mentor for trainers, manager, and entrepreneur.

As the CEO of JCE Positive Outcomes for the last 23 years, he always maintained from 50 to 150 students over this time. His goals are to assist students discover and develop their skills and to provide pathways for personal development and career advancement.

Since Edward began training professionally in 1990, employers repeatedly choose him to train their employees and recommend his services to others. Edward is proud of the high completion rate of his students (approximately 75%). His reputation thrives on word-of-mouth referrals rather than advertising.

Edward displayed leadership and provided inspiration to others in the VET on numerous occasions, including but not limited to:

• The help with validation of qualifications in collaboration with Unity College where they promoted commercial cookery to international students coming to Canberra.
• The collaboration with Australian Academy of Media (RTO) to assist with the delivery of their studentships in mental health in the ACT.
• The representation of the ACT internationally with the delivery of training at the Hilton in Papua New Guinea with a view of becoming their RTO for the Pacific Region.
• The mentoring of the training department at Calvary Hospital.

Working with indigenous groups is also a cornerstone of Edward’s life. He delivered governance training to the Aboriginal Land Councils across New South Wales, supports the ACT’s Aboriginal Healing Farm, is presently the director of Under the Shade and is a training consultant with Yeddung Mura (Good Pathways)  based in Canberra.

ACT Industry Collaboration Award

THE SPARK, ATC AND LENDLEASE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION JOBTRAINER PROGRAM

The SPARK, JobTrainer, ATC and Lendlease Women in Construction Program is a collaboration between Lendlease, Ginninderry, Australian Training Company, Creative Safety Initiatives and CIT. Lendlease is the lead organisation with support from Ginninderry’s SPARK Training and Employment Initiative (SPARK). JobTrainer is a jointly funded initiative of the ACT and Australian Governments.

The purpose of this collaboration is to address the low levels of women and gender-diverse people in the Canberra construction sector. It delivers a pre-employment VET program to people from 17 years old that are from the ACT.

Lendlease approached ATC and SPARK in 2022. The company was shortlisted as one of two proponents for the CIT Woden project and they thought that the project was suitable to include an innovative training and employment program.

A governance group was established for the program. Each stakeholder was represented and provided the opportunity to contribute to build the program framework.  The group was chaired by Lendlease and SPARK.

A key innovation of this program is the creation of a full-time traineeship rotation model allowing the students to experience different facets of the construction industry. This allowed the trainees to develop an understanding of each facet, along with identifying their future career pathways and their preferred areas of interest.

15 women and gender-diverse people commenced the program in October 2022, with all 15 completing the program in December 2022 – 100% completion rate. The age range for participants was 17-56. 11 of the 15 participants achieved an employment outcome on completion of program, with 4 of 15 participants enrolled in further study.

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“This collaboration and the actors of the vocational training sector ensure participants feel safe and supported in their personal journey from training to employment.”

ACT Small Employer of the year

PUPS4FUN

Pups4Fun was established in 2008 and is now the largest dog day care provider in Canberra. The business employs over 55 people, including two ASbAs that recently completed their qualification and secured a full-time position. The business also employs 13 trainees under the Certificate III in Animal Care Services.

Pups4Fun caters for over 1,000 dogs per week through a range of services including grooming, walking activities, playgroups, and training. Their grooming salon was the first membership-based grooming salon in Australia. They also have unique services such as their Out n’ About Dog Day Care.

The Out n’ About Dog Day Care program includes excursions with regular visits to well-known places around Canberra including Parliament House. This provides dogs with opportunities to practice their social skills and manners while in public, building confidence through walking as part of a group.

The vision for the business is to help both dogs and people, including dog owners and those pursuing a career in the dog industry.

Pups4Fun has a strong focus on the training of their employees and trainees. They developed an extensive in-house training program to support people into employment and utilise external training providers for certification processes. The staff completing formal qualifications represent 25% of their workforce and this does not include their junior staff who are still in high school.

As the industry suffers from a critical skills shortage, the vocational education and training pathway and developing programs that allow unskilled people into jobs is key to their success. As the business owners state, ‘we don’t just love dogs, we love people!’

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“As the pet industry suffers from a critical skills shortage, the vocational education and training pathway and developing programs that allow unskilled people into jobs is key to our success.”

ACT Large Employer of the year

COMMUNITIES AT WORK

With a 45-year history, Communities at Work is the largest provider of children’s services in the ACT and the largest not-for-profit organisation in the Canberra region. The organisation provides a range of early education and community services in the ACT.

They deliver educational outcomes for children and enhance the lives of vulnerable people including, people experiencing hardship, seniors and people living with a disability.

Communities at Work views the training and development of their employees as essential to achieving the organisation’s goals and retaining team members. They invest 3.4% of their payroll on training, including courses through their RTO, in partnership with other organisations, external courses, and internal online courses.

The Ascend Program provides a unique pathway for skills development by providing participants with bespoke learning experiences. The program blends the theoretical knowledge gained through the completion of the Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care with practical paid work experience. Learners work across Communities at Work’s children’s service centres and are mentored by experienced educators and teachers.

In 2023, Communities at Work began working with the ACT Government Head Start Program to support students enrolled in Year 11 or 12 in school-based apprenticeships. The students are employed in their early education services while completing their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care with their RTO, CPLE.

Communities at Work pair students with a trainer/assessor for the duration of their studies to guarantee consistent support.

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‘Vocational education and training is vital to our strategic goals to attract, develop and retain people who contribute to the organisation's exceptional culture.”

ACT Large RTO of the year

CIT

Since its establishment in 1928, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) has been providing technical and further education in the ACT and surrounding area. With around 20,000 students each year, CIT plays a leading role in the development of the ACT’s future workforce and in building the skills base of the economy.

CIT delivers courses ranging from apprenticeships and certificate-level training through to diplomas, degrees and graduate certificates.

The Institute delivers 37 Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) fields of education, 168 qualifications, 1,666 units of competency, 16 skill sets, and 8 accredited courses listed under their scope of registration.

CIT courses are strongly aligned with the priorities of the ACT and the nation. Courses include emerging skills areas such as renewable energy and cyber security, to create modern workforces that meet industry need.

CIT employs 680 full-time, 146 part-time and 152 casual staff. Three percent identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, 19.1% as culturally and linguistically diverse and 3.5% identify as persons with a disability.

CIT’s student support extends beyond the learning environment. Through CIT Student Support and the CIT Student Association, CIT provides access to mental health support, financial assistance, counselling and a range of other services.

In 2022, CIT progressed a modern, future focussed agenda aligned to their Strategic Compass which underpins their commitment to excellence in the development of contemporary VET. The completion rate for qualifications was 59.4%, 83.1% for units of competency, 86.8% for skill sets, and 92.7% for accredited courses.

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“CIT plays a leading role in the development of the ACT’s future workforce and in building the skills base of the economy.”

ACT Small RTO of the year

MCMILLAN

McMillan Staff Development (McMillan) is a family-owned registered training organisation in the ACT. They have provided qualifications and career support services since 1989.

McMillan work with government, enterprises and businesses. They deliver results-based training that is underpinned by national standards informed by industry. They provide coaching and support services to develop the knowledge, skills and performance of individual employees.

McMillan delivers customised training materials and assessment activities for both accredited and non-accredited courses. Their flexible and interactive training approach, delivered both face-to-face and virtually, makes learning engaging and accessible for everyone, regardless of their learning style or experience level.

In addition, McMillan offers a range of customised short courses and workshops. These are delivered by experienced, qualified and professional trainers on topics comprising interpersonal skills, change management, and career development.

With a focus on exceptional training solutions and outstanding customer service, McMillan is dedicated to make an impact on Australian workplaces. Their attention to customer service has built long-lasting relationships with their clients and made them a trusted partner.

The great advantage of being a small business is their ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions.

From an environmental perspective, McMillan are committed to sustainability and recognise the importance of minimising their environmental impact. They regularly review their practices to identify opportunities for improvement.

McMillan are proud of their employees, especially their long-standing staff who are testament to their commitment to provide a supportive, inclusive and flexible work environment that fosters professional growth and development.

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“As a primarily business-to-business provider of vocational education and training services, McMillan understands the importance of staying up to date with industry and market needs. We actively monitor industry trends and changes to ensure our training programs remain relevant and effective.”