2021 Victorian Training Awards
The Victorian Training Awards recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in the Victorian TAFE and training sector.
On Saturday 16 October, winners of the 2021 Victorian Training Awards were announced in a virtual gala, celebrating the Vocational Education and Training sector’s ongoing commitment, resilience and innovation in a year of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We congratulate all winners and finalists, and those going on to represent Victoria and compete in the Australian Training Awards.(opens in a new window)
Meet the 2021 winners and finalists
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### 2021 Victorian Training Awards winners
View ‘2021 Victorian Training Awards winners’ fullscreen
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### 2021 Lynne Kosky Award recipient - Catherine Scarth
View ‘2021 Lynne Kosky Award recipient - Catherine Scarth’ fullscreen
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### 2021 Apprentice of the Year - Andrew Jan Andrew Jan - 2021 Apprentice of the Year
View ‘2021 Apprentice of the Year - Andrew Jan ’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Trainee of the Year - Samantha Brown Samantha Brown - 2021 VTA Trainee of the Year
View ‘2021 Trainee of the Year - Samantha Brown’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Vocational Student of the Year - Samantha Daly Samantha Daly - 2021 VTA Vocational Student of the Year
View ‘2021 Vocational Student of the Year - Samantha Daly’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 School-based apprentice or trainee of the year - Laura Davidson Laura Davidson - 2021 VTA School-based apprentice or trainee of the year
View ‘2021 School-based apprentice or trainee of the year - Laura Davidson ’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Koorie Student of the Year - Lucas Price Lucas Price - 2021 VTA Koorie Student of the Year
View ‘2021 Koorie Student of the Year - Lucas Price ’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Teacher/Trainer of the Year - Julie Kramer Julie Kramer - 2021 VTA Teacher/Trainer of the Year
View ‘2021 Teacher/Trainer of the Year - Julie Kramer ’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Small Employer of the Year - Swell Constructions
Swell Constructions - 2021 VTA Small Employer of the Year
View ‘2021 Small Employer of the Year - Swell Constructions’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Medium Employer of the Year - CPE Construction CPE Construction - Medium Employer of the Year
View ‘2021 Medium Employer of the Year - CPE Construction’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Large Employer of the Year - Metro Trains Metro Trains - 2021 VTA Large Employer of the Year
View ‘2021 Large Employer of the Year - Metro Trains’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Employer Award for Apprenticeship Development - Terra Firma Laboratories Terra Firma Laboratories - Employer Award for Apprenticeship Development
View ‘2021 Employer Award for Apprenticeship Development - Terra Firma Laboratories’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Industry Collaboration Award - CYP Design & Construction / Holmesglen Institute Collaboration
CYP - 2021 VTA Industry Collaboration Award
View ‘2021 Industry Collaboration Award - CYP Design & Construction / Holmesglen Institute Collaboration’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Community Training Provider of the Year - Williamstown Community and Education Centre Williamstown Community and Education Centre - Community Training Provider of the Year
View ‘2021 Community Training Provider of the Year - Williamstown Community and Education Centre’ fullscreen
- ### 2021 Inclusive Training Provider of the Year - Box Hill Institute Box Hill Institute - 2021 VTA Inclusive Training Provider of the Year
View ‘2021 Inclusive Training Provider of the Year - Box Hill Institute’ fullscreen
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### 2021 Small Training Provider of the Year - Builders Academy of Australia View ‘2021 Small Training Provider of the Year - Builders Academy of Australia’ fullscreen
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### 2021 Large Training Provider of the Year - William Angliss Institute William Angliss - Large Training Provider of the Year
View ‘2021 Large Training Provider of the Year - William Angliss Institute ’ fullscreen
Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement
- 2021 inductee - Catherine Scarth
Catherine Scarth’s career has focussed on the design and implementation of innovative social, education, employment programs and enterprises in Australia and the United Kingdom. She has achieved this through the creation of partnerships with government, employers and the community sector to deliver programs designed to increase the economic and social participation for newly arrived migrants and refugees.
Ms Scarth is the Chief Executive Officer of AMES Australia, an organisation providing a wide range of interconnected settlement, education, vocational training and employment services in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Ms Scarth is a Board Member of Thrive Refugee Enterprises and Migration Council Australia.
Individual categories
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- Apprentice of the Year
Andrew Jan
- Bendigo TAFE
- Certificate III in Plumbing Andrew has had wide-ranging life experience prior to becoming a mature-aged apprentice in his 30s. He had an extensive career in the thoroughbred industry and, after 18 years as a volunteer firefighter, he has risen to the highest rank of Group Officer of the Coliban Group of the Country Fire Authority. In choosing to study a Certificate III in Plumbing at Bendigo TAFE, Andrew was motivated to find a career that provided both stability and an environment that challenged his innate curiosity and problem-solving skills.
Finalists
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People Choice Award Winner Stephanie Pemberton – Certificate III in Parks and Gardens, South West TAFE
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Felicity Barnett – Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, The Gordon TAFE
- Trainee of the Year
Samantha Brown
- Federation University TAFE
- Diploma of Nursing Always intrigued by nursing, Samantha realised when she finished high school that she wasn’t ready to make a career choice. She sought work experience, working for several years as a conveyancer and then in a fast-paced role managing a top hotel in Ballarat. With her interest in nursing never waning, she tested the waters through the Traineeship model, first enrolling in a Certificate III of Individual and Ageing Support. This course convinced Samantha that she wanted to pursue a vocational training pathway, and she then enrolled in a Diploma of Nursing.
Finalists
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People Choice Award Winner - Jake Seuren – Certificate IV in Agriculture, TAFE Gippsland (Warragul Campus)
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Emma Dreverman – Certificate III in Business, Squad
- Vocational Student of the Year
Samantha Daly
- Swinburne University of Technology
- Certificate IV in Mental Health Determined to find a silver lining after losing her job at the onset of the global pandemic, Samantha applied to study the dual Certificate IV in Mental Health and Mental Health Peer Work. Samantha spent the seven years prior rebuilding her life and recovering from a major brain injury. Inspired by her personal connections to mental health and using her unique lived experience of recovery, Samantha overcame initial fears and doubts about returning to study as a mature-aged student. She feels strongly about developing her theoretical knowledge and gaining practical expertise so that she can offer genuine help and meaningful support to others.
Finalists
- Josh Allison – Diploma of Sport Development, Box Hill Institute
- Maria Kelly – Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, Gordon Institute of TAFE
- School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
Laura Davidson
- Sunraysia Institute of TAFE / Mildura Senior College
- Certificate III in Hairdressing Laura Davidson has had a passion for hairdressing since she was nine years old, when she told the owner of her local salon that she wanted to work there one day. She taught herself braiding and other techniques by watching YouTube videos and practising on herself and her friends. In Year 9, she commenced a Certificate II in Salon Assistance, before beginning casual work at a boutique hair salon in Mildura. Laura lives in the south-west NSW town of Gol Gol and travels to Mildura for her schoolwork at Mildura Senior College, her training at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE Mildura and her practical work at the salon.
Finalists
- Massimo Zurzolo – Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology, Kangan Institute of TAFE – ACE/Montague Continuing Education Centre
- Steven Hull – Certificate III in Agriculture, Murray Mallee Group Training/Castlemaine Secondary College
- Koorie Student of the Year
Lucas Price
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited
- Certificate IV in Community Services A proud Gunditjmarra man from the Framlingham mission in Victoria’s Western Districts with a deep connection to his community. Lucas was motivated to be in a position where he could use his lived experience to provide direct support to those in the community who are overrepresented in the justice system and who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions and intergenerational trauma.
Finalists
- Stephen Cranage – Certificate IV in Cyber Security, GOTAFE
- Shaikhani Fewings – Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Crown College
- Teacher/Trainer of the Year
Julie Kramer
- Bendigo TAFE, Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Community Care) Julie tested the waters of teaching in 2011 by providing classroom support to students in a Certificate III for Aged Care qualification. After receiving brilliant feedback from the trainers in that course, Julie pursued a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and pursued an ongoing role as a teacher and trainer. Julie has a passion for learning styles and developing distinct teaching approaches for the different needs of the many students in her courses.
Finalists
- Scott Hopkins, SuniTAFE
- Michelle McNab, GOTAFE
Business categories
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- Small Employer of the Year
Swell Constructions
Swell Constructions is a Melbourne-based construction company, passionate about blending modern design carpentry works with environmental sustainability. Through investment in quality training of its staff, Swell Constructions have built a flourishing work culture of care and precision, as well as making custom-built sustainable building more affordable. The company is serious about its own environmental responsibility, partnering with a leading environmental not-for-profit organisation, Greenfleet, to explore carbon offsets and other ways to reduce the environmental impact of its work.
Finalists
- Mansfield Armchair Cinema
- Bellarine Bakehouse
- Medium Employer of the Year
CPE Construction
CPE Construction has used training as a central pillar of its growth from a company that built farm-style sheds to one that works on multi-million-dollar construction projects across Victoria. The company recognised the COVID-19 pandemic as an obstacle to some work but relished the opportunity to train staff, with 20 per cent of its staff currently enrolled in accredited training. This includes seven apprentices who are studying a Certificate III in either Plumbing or Steel Fabrication, and one HR Manager who is completing the double Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management and HR.
- Large Employer of the Year
Metro Trains
Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) is the franchise operator that runs and maintains Melbourne’s world-class metropolitan rail network. It has over 6,400 employees and partners with the state government to deliver some of the key infrastructure projects currently being built in Melbourne, including the Metro Tunnel project. MTM works closely with Victoria’s TAFE and training sector to recruit and train people in these skills shortage areas, ensuring that trainees are ready for specific roles at the completion of their training.
Finalists
- McDonalds Australia
- Swan Plumbing Supplies
- Employer Award for Apprenticeship Development
Terra Firma Laboratories
Terra Firma Laboratories conducts both field and laboratory analysis of geosynthetics, soil and rock materials for civil engineering and construction projects. It invests in training as a way of ensuring that staff can build a sustainable career in the construction materials testing industry, including being equipped with transferable skills in a rapidly changing sector. Terra Firma combines a theoretical training program with practical, on-the-job training, and facilitates its new trainees to gain a nationally recognised MSL40118 Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques.
Finalists
- Mercury Marine
- Gforce and Barwon Water
- Industry Collaboration Award
CYP Design & Construction / Holmesglen Institute Collaboration
Recognising that Victoria is experiencing one of the greatest infrastructure booms in the nation’s history, three construction companies (Lendlease, John Holland and Bouygues) have partnered with Holmesglen to upskill Victorians to meet the needs of one of the major infrastructure projects in Victoria’s Big Build program, the Metro Tunnel Project. Its twin strategies are MetroHub, a project-specific jobs and training centre, and the Victorian Tunnelling Centre, a national-first tunnelling training centre that combines real-life machine training and simulated tunnelling training environments. Both strategies aim to make training more accessible to all people, including priority job seekers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Finalists
- Wodonga TAFE, Transport Women Australia and Volvo Australia
- Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program
Training Providers category
Open all
- Community Training Provider of the Year
Williamstown Community and Education Centre
Williamstown Community and Education Centre run community education and employment programs across five sites in Melbourne’s western suburbs. The organisation prides itself on having increased the number and range of services on offer to the diverse community within the area in recent years. It provides traditional services such as digital literacy training and English Language programs for culturally and linguistically diverse learners, while also recently introducing innovative classes in yoga, meditation, acting and music.
Finalists
- Wellsprings for Women
- Cire Services Inc
- Inclusive Training Provider of the Year
Box Hill Institute
Box Hill Institute has focused on three main areas in seeking to become an inclusive training provider: partnerships with Disability Service Providers; applied research into universal design in vocational education; and ensuring that supports are in place for all students whether or not they disclose a disability.
Finalists
- Victoria University
- Bendigo Kangan Institute
- Small Training Provider of the Year
Builders Academy Australia
Builders Academy Australia delivers accredited training for the building and construction industry, from vocational and educational training in high schools through to the Advanced Diploma level. Its training model places industry experience at the forefront of teaching, with a belief that builders make the best building teachers – much like the master and apprentice model. But it is committed to incorporating modern and varied styles of learning, including innovative virtual simulation of worksites, which became important when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented in-person learning.
Finalists
- NECA Education and Careers
- Master Builders Association of Victoria
- Large Training Provider of the Year
William Angliss Institute
William Angliss Institute is Australia’s largest specialist centre for foods, tourism, hospitality and events education and training. The Institute operates locally and internationally, delivering short courses and vocational training in schools through to certificate, diploma, degree and master’s programs across its campuses and workplaces in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and offshore. Recognising the impacts of COVID-19 in Asia early on during the global pandemic, the Institute was well prepared with its experience in Singapore and China to transition quickly in Australia to remote learning. Maintaining excellence for students included having its cookery teachers running practical demonstrations from their own home kitchens and welcoming over 100 guest lecturers from the industry.
Finalists
- Chisholm Institute
- Box Hill Institute
Download the 2021 VTA Program
2021 VTA Gala Program PDF 10.54 MB (opens in a new window)
2021 VTA Gala Program (Accessible) Word 443.39 KB (opens in a new window)
Updated 31 October 2024
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