Presentation of WA Training Excellence Awards

2/10/96

A 22-year-old final year apprentice chef from the Burswood Resort Casino has taken out the WesTrac Equipment Apprentice of the Year Award at the prestigious Western Australian Training Excellence Awards.

Una Smith, who trained off the job at the South Metropolitan College of TAFE, beat strong competition from around the State. She won a travel fellowship worth $9000 and the right to represent WA at the National Training Awards in Brisbane next month.

The WA Training Excellence Awards were presented by Premier Richard Court and Employment and Training Minister Norman Moore before an audience of almost 400 industry leaders, training providers and finalists in all categories at Radisson Observation City tonight.

The awards are hosted jointly by the WA Department of Training and the State Training Board.

Mr Moore urged industry leaders to work with training providers in forging even closer links to ensure training was relevant and developed the skills WA needed to maintain its competitive edge.

"We are aiming at ensuring the apprentices, trainees and vocational students training now, and in the years ahead, have a secure future," he said.

"And we also need to ensure that - whatever the size of your business - you have the pool of skilled workers you need to compete with those aggressive Asian economies so close to our doorstep, as well as in the marketplaces further afield."

The Premier and the Minister applauded the night's winners, saying they set an example for other individuals, employers and training providers.

Other 1996 Western Australian Training Excellence Awards winners are:

STUDENT AWARDS

Dionne Blake - The Western Australian Department of Training Vocational Student of the Year.

Dionne (23) has just completed a Certificate in Hotel Operations with the Perth School of Hospitality and Tourism and wins a travel fellowship and air ticket worth $9,000.

Mark O'Malley - The McDonald's/Qantas Trainee of the Year Mark (18) is an Engineering Technician Trainee with Barclay Engineering and is studying off-the-job at the South Metropolitan College of TAFE. He wins a travel fellowship worth $4,500 and an air ticket to any Australian mainland capital city.

Michelle Simms - The Hamersley Iron Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Vocational Student of the Year Michelle (22) will complete a four-year Dental Technician apprenticeship with the Perth Dental Hospital and Central Metropolitan College of TAFE in February next year. She also wins a travel fellowship worth $4500 and an air ticket to any Australian mainland capital city.

EMPLOYER AWARDS

BHP Iron Ore - Employer of the Year (Large);

Dalwallinu Health Service - Employer of the Year (Medium); and -

Melville Panel and Paint - Employer of the Year (Small).

PROVIDER AWARDS South East Metropolitan College of TAFE - Training Provider of the Year (Category A: Creating partnerships between industry and VET providers).

The Lady Gowrie Centre Inc - Training Provider of the Year (Category B: Delivering training to small business).

Industry Reference Group, Childcare Bridging and Assessment Project - Outstanding Achievement in Access and Equity (Category A, recognising a major contribution by a group or organisation to improve equity and access for one or more equity target groups).

Learning Centre Link - Outstanding Achievement in Access and Equity (Category B for a product or program improving equity and access for a specific equity target group or groups).

Highly commended were:

The Midwest Training Group; Key to the Door - Fremantle Education Centre and Stara College (Outstanding Achievement in Access and Equity); and -

Total Corrosion Control and Radisson Observation City Hotel (Large Employers).

The winners of each category - and those highly commended - will represent WA and the National Training Awards to be held in Brisbane next month.

WA students, in particular, have performed exceptionally well at the national level.

The 1995 WesTrac Equipment Apprentice of the Year, Teresa Greer, went on to win the Australian Apprentice of the Year Award and the Trainee of the Year in 1995, Brad Hulm, was runner up to the national winner.

The WA Training Excellence Awards attract strong corporate sponsorship from WesTrac Equipment; Qantas; McDonald's; Hamersley Iron; Y Micro; the Australian Institute of Management; the Department of Productivity and Labour Relations and the WA Department of Training.

For the first time in 1996 the Training Excellence Awards evening included the Outstanding Teacher Awards hosted by the Industry Education Forum.

Winners in those awards were:

Carmen de Sousa - TAFE College (Metropolitan);

Barbara Salisbury - TAFE College (Country); and -

Bill Richards - Private Training Provider.

Highly commended were Helen de Wolf for her outstanding work with adult migrants; Irene Jimbidie for her work in adult education at Fitzroy Crossing and Daryl McIntyre for his work with the Australian Submarine Corporation at HMAS Stirling.

The Outstanding Teacher Awards are supported by Wesfarmers; the Education Faculty of Edith Cowan University and the WA Department of Training.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444 or 222 9595