02/09/05
The sky's the limit for Michael Sonneman, who has been named Western Australian Apprentice of the Year at the State's most prestigious training awards.
After finishing an apprenticeship as an aircraft maintenance engineer, the 22-year-old Greenwood resident is now training to be a commercial pilot so he can achieve his cherished ambition to both maintain and fly aircraft for his employer Maroomba Airlines.
Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich congratulated Michael on being named the WA Apprentice of the Year this evening at the Training Excellence Awards 2005.
Michael was one of 12 winners who received awards at a gala presentation dinner attended by more than 600 people at the Intercontinental Burswood Resort.
Ms Ravlich said completing an apprenticeship meant Michael was well on the way to achieving his dream and showed the value of obtaining a trade qualification.
"The awards, now in their 11th year, showcase WA's best apprentices, trainees, trainers, vocational students and businesses who invest in training," the Minister said.
"The City of Albany received the WA Large Employer of the Year award and a partnership between Tom Price Senior High School, Pilbara TAFE, Pilbara Iron and Apprenticeships WA took out the VET for School Students Award.
"Among the student winners is a young woman, Virginia Gay, who was named WA Vocational Student of the Year. The 23-year-old wants to write a comedy series for television and represent Australia on the international stage.
"All of this year's 43 finalists were of a very high standard and they deserve our congratulations."
Ms Ravlich also announced the winner of the State Training Board Medal, which recognises outstanding achievement and contribution by an individual or an organisation to vocational education and training in WA.
"This year's winner is Fremantle's Wooden Boat Works, established 12 years ago by the late Graham Lahiff, who developed training programs to help young men who were considered to be at risk," she said.
"These awards highlight the excellent work taking place in training in WA and show the high standards being reached by so many people and organisations."
The Minister said the Gallop Government was committed to resolving the current skills shortage in some of WA's key industries.
"This Government recently put in place a wide ranging action-plan to help overcome the current skills shortages in WA's key industries," she said.
"This includes the creation of a Skills Formation Taskforce, which will report to me as a matter of urgency on ways of increasing the take-up of apprenticeships and traineeships."
2005 Winners:
2005 John Hughes Apprentice of the Year - Michael Sonneman
Michael Sonneman, from Greenwood, achieved his Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and Mechanical) earlier this year at Swan TAFE and has been invited to stay on at Maroomba Airlines as a qualified aircraft maintenance engineer. He has also obtained his private pilot's licence and is now training for his commercial pilot's licence. His aim is to become a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer so he is able to both fly and maintain planes for an airline company.
2005 McDonald's Trainee of the Year - Richard Stocker
Richard Stocker, from Warnbro, completed his Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology at the Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training (Challenger TAFE) in half the usual time. Employed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA at host employer CSBP, Richard was also one of 20 trainees and apprentices invited by Group Training Australia to attend a leadership and development program in Canberra last year. Richard aspires to a management position and hopes to study chemical engineering at university.
2005 Alcoa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year - Mitchell Sellen
A desire by Mitchell Sellen, from Mandurah, to learn more about his Aboriginal heritage has led to him promoting Noongar culture to the wider community. He is currently studying a Certificate IV in Tourism (Natural and Cultural Heritage) at Challenger TAFE and wants to establish a business to showcase the artistic talents of Noongar youth. An accomplished artist himself, Mitchell also represents Noongar youth on several committees and is a role model and mentor through his work as a tour guide at the Winjan Aboriginal Corporation Centre. He was awarded the Challenger TAFE Aboriginal Student of the Year in 2004.
2005 Coles Myer Institute Vocational Student of the Year - Virginia Gay
Virginia Gay, from North Perth, has wanted to be an actor ever since she was a child. Virginia believes acting is something that needs to be practised, not theorised, which led her to study for an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (Acting) at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. She also works as a singer, master of ceremonies and stand-up comic, and hopes to write a sketch comedy series for television and represent Australia on the international stage.
2005 Arrix Trainer of the Year - Sarah Hardie
Sarah Hardie does not just work at Central Area Region Training Services - she helped build the Northam-based registered training organisation from the ground up. As a foundation employee she was involved in the development, introduction and co-ordination of CARTS' training programs. These include distance learning programs for business trainees, programs for people with disabilities and the Reality Website Program to deliver IT training to youth at risk in the Wheatbelt. A passionate trainer, Sarah receives great satisfaction from seeing students achieve and helping them to create career pathways.
2005 Market Equity Small Training Provider of the Year - Hospitality Group Training
Hospitality Group Training (HGT) offers a unique and innovative approach to delivering customised, flexible, nationally accredited training services through the workplace, online and in secondary schools. A registered training organisation, HGT aims to improve the overall quality of service and skills in the hospitality industry through hands-on training and experience.
West Australian Newspapers Large Training Provider of the Year - Challenger TAFE
Over the past six years, Challenger TAFE has completed a dramatic transformation, overcoming low staff morale and financial difficulties to establish itself as leader in vocational education and training. Challenger TAFE is now moving ahead as an industry-led organisation with specialist training centres each governed by an industry board.
CDM Australia VET School Students Award - Pilbara Pathways Partnership
This partnership between Tom Price Senior High School, Pilbara TAFE, Pilbara Iron and Apprenticeships WA is working to provide guidance and support to young people as they undertake education and training at Tom Price Senior High School, Pilbara TAFE and in the workplace.
Pretzel Logic Access and Equity Award - Central West TAFE
Central West TAFE is working to address the training needs of indigenous clients by providing vocational education and training programs throughout the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Murchison regions of WA. Programs offer a range of innovative and flexible learning methods, including local training to assist participants in developing and applying skills in their local communities
Australian Institute of Management Small Business of the Year - Geraldton Resource Centre
Geraldton Resource Centre (GRC) is a small, not-for-profit organisation providing legal assistance, counselling and advice to people in the Mid-West and Gascoyne regions. In the past seven years, GRC has developed a unique training culture based on a coaching and mentoring approach, allowing employees to discuss performance concerns informally on a weekly basis. An ongoing appraisal system allows staff to be directly involved in training identification, delivery and effectiveness.
Australian Institute of Management Medium Employer of the Year - Therapy Focus, Belmont
Therapy Focus is a dynamic community organisation that provides services to children in educational, home and community settings. Employees are provided with a positive, flexible and family-friendly working environment with a strong commitment to training and development.
Australian Institute of Management Large Employer of the Year - City of Albany
Since developing a focus on training and development in 1999, the City of Albany has encouraged staff to acquire and enhance their skills, qualifications and knowledge. Staff are encouraged to upgrade and refresh their job skills through conferences, workshops, e-learning, best practice tours, tertiary study and postgraduate training. The city has demonstrated its commitment to becoming a learning organisation by establishing cadetships to help fill the skills shortages in technical areas such as engineering, building, planning and environmental health.
Minister's office: 9213 6800
