Elise Archer,Minister for Building and Construction
I would like to congratulate Tasmanian young achiever, Jake Blokker who was yesterday named the winner of the 2020 HIA Jim Brookes’ Australian Apprentice of the Year.
This is a prestigious ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ award that is partnered by Stratco Australia and is tied into the HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards – the ultimate platform to showcase the talents of the nation’s top builders and designers.
Jake, a Tasmanian carpentry apprentice working for Adam Ritson of AJR Construct, has been recognised for his exceptional leadership skills which are well beyond his years.
Jake was nominated for being a motivated carpentry apprentice who always looks for new learning and experience opportunities.
Congratulations to Jake, along with his host, AJR Construct for supporting Jake and recognising his great potential.
I’d also like to congratulate all other entrants and host employers for supporting and recognising the importance of upcoming tradespeople within the building and construction industry.
While the current challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic present uncertainty it’s also an opportunity not to lose sight of the positive achievements and outlooks for Tasmania, with the State’s building and construction sector a vital part of our ongoing growth.
The ongoing operation of the building and construction industry is a high priority for the Tasmanian Liberal Government and we recognise the enormous amount of work that the industry has done in response to the emerging issues associated with COVID-19.
We are committed to supporting industry to connect with each other and to maintain employment levels to the extent possible during these challenging times.
