The Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) Australia celebrates the achievements of apprentices, trainees and group training organisations at annual gala dinner
Melbourne, Victoria: On Friday 6 December, the winners of the 2019 Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) Australia Awards were announced during a gala dinner at Parliament House. The 13 awards recognise the successes of apprentices, trainees and group training organisations across the state, with nominees hailing from Horsham to Bairnsdale, Warrnambool to Echuca.
This year 50 per cent of the individual award-winners were women, marking a shift in the composition of traineeships and apprenticeships in Victoria.
“On behalf of GAN Australia, I offer congratulations to all winners of this year’s apprenticeships awards, particularly the Apprentice of the Year, Jessica Scott-Smith. The resilience, initiative and talent of all the nominees is a testament to the strength of the vocational education and training system in Victoria,” said Gary Workman, Executive Director of GAN Australia.
Gary Workman said, “We are excited to announce the 2019 GAN International Apprenticeship Scholarship recipient, Joel Handcock. As part of his scholarship, Joel will travel to Idaho, USA to develop his skills and build global relationships that will benefit the automation technology industry. This award demonstrates just how far an apprenticeship can take young people and as part of a global network, GAN will continue to promote international learning for Australians.”
Jessica Scott-Smith, 2019 Apprentice of the Year and winner of the Inspiration Award: Women in Trades, has dedicated herself to a career in horticulture. She has taken every opportunity to learn, from TAFE to Swinburne’s Pathways and Vocational Education (PAVE) program, into on-the-job training. Jessica is now qualified in the use of small machinery, nursery management, workplace health and safety management and project administration. She has combined her skills to follow her passion, undertaking revegetation projects and important weed and pest management work. Jessica’s dedication and talent has been recognised through these awards and she provides a great example for all apprentices and women in trades.
“The future is bright for apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia, which continue to provide the necessary link between skills, business and employment,” said Gary Workman.
Individual award categories and winners are as follows:
ATOA Apprentice of the Year
Jessica Scott-Smith
Trainee of the Year
Ashleigh McCafferty
Inspiration Award: Indigenous Student of the Year
Kayleigh Gallagher
Inspiration Award: Overcoming Adversity
Sian Prangnell
Inspiration Award: Women in Trades
Jessica Scott-Smith
School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Heidi Rasmussen
STAR (OH&S) Award
Nicholas Wu
GAN International Apprentice Scholarship
Joel Handcock
GTO Industry Service Awards
10 Year
Grace Walsh – Gforce
Wendy Kohler– Gforce
David McFarland – MMTC Ltd
Richard Steendam – MMTC Ltd
Warren Tattersall – MMTC Ltd
James McWilliam – AGA Australia
Leah Crellin – AGA Australia
Anthony Smith – Westvic Staffing Solutions
15 Year
Belinda Hotchin – Gforce
Evan Henry – WPC Group
Connie Scardamaglia – Programmed Skilled Workforce Ltd
Mark D’Aversa – WPC Group
Maurie Thurston – AGA Australia
Brendan Hawkins – Westvic Staffing Solutions
Wayne Robertson – Westvic Staffing Solutions
20 Year
Jo Adams – CVGT
Julie Stephens – Skillinvest
Andrew Sezonov – WPC Group
Margaret Groves – MMTC Ltd
Natasha Robinson – MMTC Ltd
Veronica MacLean – Westvic Staffing Solutions
25 Year
Di Menz – MMTC Ltd
Darrell Fricker – AGA Australia
30 Year
William Maher – MMTC Ltd
Michael Bellamy – Westvic Staffing Solutions
Lifetime Achievement Award
Michael Bellamy
Michael Bellamy commenced his journey in the group training sector in July 1988, when he joined the then emerging Wimmera and Grampians Group Training Company (which later became WorkCo and is now known as Skillinvest).
Being only the 3rd member of the team, Mike quickly established himself as a networker, sharing his passion for the industry within the communities of the Wimmera region, and across the group training sector at a time where management systems and a uniform approach to service was scarce.
Mikes involvement in, and influence on, the group training sector now spans over 30 years, having spent the past 16 years with Westvic Staffing Solutions as the Human Resources and Occupational Health and Safety Manager.
His passion for the industry, and in particular the quality and safety of the industry, has provided an unparalleled collaboration of resources and shared intelligence which will be Mike’s legacy to the sector into the future. Without doubt, the industry is safer in 2019 than it was 30 years ago due to the tireless efforts of Mike Bellamy.
GTO Service Excellence Award
Metro Tunnel Project – Pathway Program
AGA Apprenticeships Plus
The Major Projects team at AGA are currently the employment provider for a Pathway Program on the Metro Tunnel project with Cross Yarra Partnership (CYP). The program focuses on disadvantaged youth between the ages of 16 and 25 with extreme barriers to employment and provides a platform for them to undertake a Certificate III or IV in Business which are placed alongside a mentor within various teams on the project.
The program gives them a pathway into a project which they otherwise probably would not have had. There have been 33 employment opportunities through the program so far, and seven participants have completed their qualification.
Indigenous Advancement Strategy
Programmed Skilled Workforce Ltd
As Training Services Manager – Connie is responsible for the Operational Service Delivery and Management of both Programmed’s GTO and RTO.
Programmed is a recognised service provider for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy – Jobs, Land and Economy Program, and a signatory to Generation One. They provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the training and employment opportunities necessary to gain relevant skills and experience, equipping them for a lifetime of employment.
In recognising the importance of providing Indigenous people with employment pathways – Connie works closely alongside a dedicated manager, who works with their clients to increase Indigenous participation across the workforce. This encompasses support in developing Indigenous Participation Plans and completing Cultural Heritage Management Plans.
Shaping Futures Pilot Program
Westvic Staffing Solutions
The Shaping Futures Pilot Program adopted a targeted approach for creating employment outcomes for secondary students with a disability, giving them an increased chance of entering mainstream employment post-secondary school. The program has created and supported in excess of 40 school-based employment outcomes for secondary students with a disability across all Westvic locations. The program has worked closely with local secondary schools and TAFE Institutes to design and develop training packages that will integrate into their secondary study timetable.
The program has enabled a mix of school-based employment opportunities, with support tailored to the individual needs of the students. This support provided has included pre-employment preparation, enhanced tailored mentoring to suit the individual, and support and mentoring for the engaged host employers, some of which will not have had experience employing individuals with a disability.
GTO Outstanding OHS Initiative Award
AGA Australia / MAS National
The OHS Essentials Program is a WorkSafe funded initiative that provides eligible Victorian employers with assistance with health and safety. Dr Paul Scofield has been on the panel of WorkSafe approved consultants since mid-2013 and delivers the Program under the contract held by MAS National. Over 150 employers participating in the Program have benefited from Paul’s expertise, with almost one in three assisted with compliance with WorkSafe issued Improvement Notices.
Paul has achieved a reputation as an outstanding health and safety professional over his 27 years in Group Training. He commenced as a Field Officer with Inner Northern Group Training, now trading as IntoWork Australia. Paul is the IntoWork Risk Manager and OHS Consultant for MAS National. He has had several roles that currently include providing health and safety services to five Group Training Companies within the IntoWork Group.
GAN National Youth Initiative of the Year
The Adecco Group – CEO for One Month Initiative
The Adecco Group’s “CEO for One Month” initiative was created to empower young people with the skills and experience necessary for them to thrive in the business world.
‘CEO for One Month’ participants shadow their country CEO for the month, attending conferences, business meetings, client visits and experiencing everything that the CEO does during their business day. They are also given weekly projects to complete, allowing them to engage with the local staff as well as to engage with fellow ‘CEO for One Month’ representatives across the globe.
It is a great opportunity for young people to develop and showcase their leadership potential, to learn what it takes to succeed as a business leader and to acquire the skills and the experience needed to get a foot on the career leader. Out of the 48 ‘CEO for One Month’ global participants, 10 outstanding national participants are selected to attend a Global Bootcamp, where one finalist is selected as the ‘Global CEO for One Month’ and is given the opportunity to shadow the Global CEO of the Adecco Group for an additional month.
