Award Winners
2007 NT Training Awards
On Saturday 8 September the winners of the 2007 NT Training Awards were announced at a function at Skycity Casino, Darwin.
Student Awards
VET in Schools Student of the Year
Sponsored by McArthur River Mining
Samantha Ziegler, Certificate I in Business and Certificate I in Hospitality (Operations)
School: Nhulunbuy High School
Samantha believes her training program has played a major part in her senior school years at Nhulunbuy High School, enabling her to achieve nationally recognised qualifications which will give her more options in the workplace once she completes Year 12.
Runner-up: Amanda Swain
School Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
Sponsored by Group Training NT
Mitchell Wooding, Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology (Light Vehicle)
School: Centralian College
RTO: Charles Darwin University
Employer: Group Training NT
Host Employer: Alice Off Road Mechanical Repairs
Mitchell has a passion for cars and feels having the opportunity to further his education and gain a trade qualification will help open doors for his future. He believes his mathematics and communication skills have improved during his training and says this will benefit him in future employment.
Runner-up: Hayleigh Ciesiolka
Vocational Student of the Year
Sponsored by Conoco Philips
Kelly Adams, Diploma in Children’s Services
RTO: Charles Darwin University
For as long as Kelly can remember, she has enjoyed the company of children and will never regret gaining her formal training in this chosen field.
Runner up: Lynette Grevsmuhl
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Sponsored by Australian Apprenticeships NT
Mark Williams, Certificate II in Automotive (Heavy Vehicle Plant)
RTO: Charles Darwin University
Mark began employment with Group Training NT in Nhulunbuy and was hosted by GEMCO. He then moved to Western Australia where he continues gainful employment. Mark values the training he received in the Territory and appreciates his colleagues place their trust in his ability to get the job done well.
Trainee of the Year
Sponsored by Australia Post
Rachael Ayers, Certificate III in Business Administration
RTO and Employer: Group Training NT
Host Employer: Power Water Corporation
Rachael believes once she sets herself goals she plans to keep working until she achieves them and says that taking small steps at a time is the key. Rachael has improved her ability to organise and prioritise her training and feels is has helped in her work and personal life.
Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by Department of Education, Science and Training
George Brown, Certificate III in Automotive (Mechanical – Heavy
Vehicle/Plant/Earthmoving/Agriculture)
RTO: Charles Darwin University
Employer: Hastings Deering
In this demanding and dynamic industry, George’s training has taught him the technical skills and the need for attention to detail. He understands commitment to customers is important and has enough confidence in his abilities to be able to see a job to completion.
Organisation Awards
Training Initiative Award
Sponsored by Department of Education, Science and Training.
Awarded to Marrara Christian College – Construction Training Metal Fabrication for developing a leading edge initiative for the purpose of providing high quality vocational education and training. Marrara Christian College developed a training facility within the college that provides post school trade training and responds to apprenticeship needs of young people. It is a self-supporting business that seeks to grow and is set up specifically for the purpose of training young people in the construction industry. Marrara Christian College currently trains 25 students from four Darwin high schools. Twelve of these students come from coastal indigenous communities of the top end down to Elliot in the centre of the NT. The program began in 2006 and has been successful in completing six fully framed houses and portal building projects. Students who participate work towards their Certificate II in General Construction over two years.
Runner-up: Power Water Training Services – Consortium partners Connell Wagner, Power Water Corporation, Charles Darwin University and Group Training NT.
VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award
Sponsored by: Mr Richard Ryan.
Awarded to Robert Schwerdt from Charles Darwin University for demonstrating outstanding achievements in all aspects of the delivery of vocational education and training. Robert has been the Retail Baking Coordinator at Charles Darwin University for the past three years. Robert has implemented many on-job focused programs along with initiating a range of industry learning partnerships. Robert developed the first ever Artisan Bread unit in the Territory for baking apprentices, which has reinvigorated the baker’s curiosity in the world of baking through product expansion in the industry.
Runner-up: Judith Tresize – Charles Darwin University
Bill McLaren VET in Schools Excellence Award
Sponsored by Energy Resources Australia
Awarded to Casuarina Senior College for outstanding achievements in the delivery of recognised vocational education and training to school students. Casuarina Senior College (CSC) meets the needs of secondary school students by working strategically with partners such as Youthworx NT to ensure students undertake structured work placement. It enhances student’s knowledge of industry; it provides valuable industry links and frequently leads to offers of part-time and full-time employment for the students. CSC is continually creating creating partnership arrangements with other schools, employers, and RTOs to offer a vast range of VET programs and real life opportunities to both external and internal students.
Small Business of the Year
Sponsored by Department of Employment, Education and Training
Awarded to Gold Medal Services achieving excellence in the provision of training to its employees. Gold Medal Services is a small family plumbing business that has been in operation for over ten years. Built on first-rate customer service and quality workmanship, Gold Medal Services employs twelve staff of which 50% are undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships, and five staff identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The company has offered eleven new plumbing apprenticeships since the business inception.
Employer of the Year
Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce NT
Awarded to GEMCO for achieving excellence in the provision of training employees. GEMCOs vision is to be the best Manganese Ore operation and GEMCO believe the business drivers behind this is the people, Zero Harm, Community, business excellence and growth.
GEMCO have graduate/scholarships, bursary programs, a focus on employing 24% local Indigenous people, on and off the job development opportunities, performance rating in the systems which link to rewards and incentives for staff, training programs for supervisors in recruitment and selection techniques, pilot leadership coaching and a mentoring framework which cascades to other levels of management and supervisors.
Runner-up: Hastings Deering (Australia) Ltd
Training Provider of the Year
Sponsored by Royal Australian Navy in the North
Awarded to Charles Darwin University for demonstrating outstanding achievements in all aspects of the delivery of vocational education and training. Charles Darwin University (CDU) has delivered training in 150 locations across the Territory, includes 4 campuses, staff presence in Nhulunbuy, Jabiru, Tennant Creek and Yulara and services regional and remote communities. CDU offers 172 full-time or part-time courses/qualifications across 26 industry areas.
