NOTE: This statement was originally posted on Saturday September 17, 2022
Queensland’s top apprentice, trainee and training achievers have been named at the 2022 Queensland Training Awards held in Brisbane tonight.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the awards put the spotlight on the exceptional people, projects and organisations developing the skilled workers Queensland needs.
“With the current workforce shortages in every industry and I every region, it’s so important to make sure we keep investing in the right skills and training opportunities in Queensland and provide role models, like everyone here tonight,” Minister Farmer said.
“Role models like Jennah Halley who returned to the workforce after eight years as a single mum and is now the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year after completing her Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration with TAFE Queensland and Messina Air Conditioning, while raising her four children.
“This is a wonderful story and Jennah is hoping for more women and girls, including First Nations women, will follow her example to pursue the trade careers they are passionate about, including becoming refrigeration technicians.
“From the South East corner, Tony Karamatic, from Heritage Park who has worked for Albem Constructions for more than 17 years, took on the Diploma of Project Management with the Civil Contractors Federation to further his professional development and is now the Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year.
“Jennah and Tony are further proof of the vital role training will play in delivering our Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 which includes skilling Queenslanders now and in the future.
“The Queensland Training Awards are an important celebration for the training sector, as it is an opportunity to highlight the many organisations that contribute to producing skilled workers right across the state.
Recognised for their commitment to training their workforce is Clarke Diesel from Bungalow who has taken out Small Employer of the Year, the renowned Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, which won the Medium Employer of the Year category and Large Employer of the Year the CaPTA Group which operates tourist attractions and activities around Cairns.
From the Gold Coast, Courtney Evans has taken out the Vocational Student of the Year after deciding on a change of career from hospitality to earning a Diploma of Nursing.
TAFE Queensland was a big winner from this year’s awards, taking home the Large Training Provider of the Year award, sharing the Premier’s Industry Collaboration Award for its work on BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) Queensland Future Skills Partnership with CQUniversity, and employing VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year Ronelle Sheehan, based in Townsville.
“As TAFE Queensland celebrates 140 years it is wonderful to see our public provider continuing to deliver fantastic services for more than 120,000 students, employers and local communities right across the state,” Minister Farmer said.
“The Small Training Provider of the Year winner is Harness Energy which has a great presence throughout the South West region with offices in Toowoomba and Chinchilla, along with Brisbane and overseas, delivering a range of resources, transport, logistics, warehousing, construction and infrastructure training.”
Minister Farmer said the Queensland Training Awards also celebrate those people and organisations doing their bit to ensure all Queenslanders can participate in the workforce.
“Vocational training pathways are important for young people like Matthew Siver from St Columban’s College in Caboolture who is now the School-Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year,” Minister Farmer said.
“Matthew’s Certificate III in Health Services Assistance traineeship with Metro North Health and SWC Training has sparked his ambition to become a paramedic.
“The Equity VET Student of the Year, Shona Laverty from the Sunshine Coast, is a mature age student who has overcome significant barriers to find her calling.
“Making the most of an opportunity to join a Skilling Queenslanders for Work project to study a Certificate III in Business with Look Now Training, Shona was able to secure a part-time traineeship with Five Bridges to complete her qualification and now has ongoing work with the organisation.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Atahnee Simpson is a young mum who found a supportive pathway back into the workforce through vocational education and training.
“It is also great to recognise Dalby Welcoming Community for winning Community Training Initiative of the Year for their work connecting people from diverse backgrounds with training opportunities that support community events, including organising Dalby’s Delicious and DeLIGHTful Festival, which celebrates multicultural food and entertainment.
“Each of these winners has a fantastic story to share about how training in Queensland leads to new opportunities and it is wonderful to recognise the commitment each of them has shown to do their best and of course they will go onto to represent Queensland at the Australian Training Awards in November.
The full list of winners is available from
