GTO Award Categories


The Group Training Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in Group Training across various categories. These prestigious awards recognise the remarkable contributions of organisations and individuals who have significantly enhanced the quality and impact of Group Training. Awards honour organisations for outstanding success in specific programs and recognise exceptional dedication and innovation by individuals.

They celebrate organisations that have excelled in partnering with industry to improve training and workforce development. Additionally, the awards acknowledge significant contributions to Occupational Health and Safety in Group Training and recognise long-term commitment and service to the industry, celebrating milestones of continuous dedication.

GTO Service Excellence – Program or Initiative

The Group Training Service Excellence Award honours a Group Training Organisation that has made an exceptional contribution to the success of Group Training through a specific program or initiative. This award recognises the organisation’s excellence, innovation, and significant impact on enhancing training outcomes.

Past GTO Service Excellence Recipients

GTO Service Excellence Award – Individual (New Category)

The Group Training Service Excellence Award – Individual Category is presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and contribution to the success of Group Training. This award recognises a person who has exhibited outstanding service, innovation, and commitment in their role, significantly enhancing the effectiveness and impact of Group Training initiatives.

GTO Industry Collaboration Award (New Category)

Introduced in 2024, the GTO Industry Collaboration Award recognises a host employer that has demonstrated outstanding collaboration with a Group Training Organisation in Victoria. This award celebrates the organisation’s efforts in forging strong partnerships that enhance training opportunities, align with industry needs, and drive workforce development. The award honours initiatives that foster innovative solutions, improve training outcomes, and contribute to the mutual success of the organisation, its industry collaborators and the GTO.

Outstanding OHS Initiative Award

The Outstanding OH&S Initiative Award is presented to an individual, team/group or organisation for a demonstrated outstanding contribution to OH&S in Group Training. Nominations can be made by Group Training Organisations, client organisations, colleagues, and professional bodies.

Past Outstanding OHS Initiative Award Recipients

GTO Industry Service Awards

AEN and its members have a proud history of supporting apprentices, trainees and host employers. This support is provided by hundreds of dedicated staff. Every year AEN is proud to recognise the achievements of its members/staff through industry service awards. These awards are presented at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30+ years of continuous service to the Group Training industry.

Past GTO Industry Service Award Recipients


Nomination Process

Nominations for the 2024 Apprentice Training Awards have now opened. The nomination and award process is as follows:

  1. Download the Nominations Guide and familiarise yourself with award categories, selection criteria, key dates and conditions of entry.
  2. Submit your nomination on the AEN Award Force Website ensuring you have addressed the selection criteria.
  3. Each nomination will be assessed individually by an Independent Judging Panel.
  4. Finalists will be interviewed in the second stage of their nomination.
  5. Finalists will be invited to attend the Apprentice Training Awards Gala Dinner.
  6. The winner will be announced and presented with the award at the Gala Dinner.