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Patron - Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
19 April 2010
MEDIA RELEASE
Australia’s top apprentices showcased in national awards
Group training’s most outstanding apprentices
and trainees
were recognised
at the Group
Training National Awards Presentation Dinner in Adelaide on Friday night.
The awards were presented by South Australian Minister for Employment, Training and Further
Education, Jack Snelling, Federal Shadow Minister for Employment
Participation,
Apprenticeships and Training, Senator Mathias Cormann
and Ms Isabel Maurer from the
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, South Australia.
The evening followed Group Training Australia’s National Conference ‘Skill2Work’ which heard
from both Federal Government and Opposition representatives, and a host of skills and training
experts. The two-day Conference brought together group training organisations that are part of
the largest employer network of apprentices and trainees in Australia.
Group Training National Award category winners were:
Group Training Apprentice of the Year
Winner: Gavin Press
(Central West Group Apprentices, NSW)
–
a top-of-the-
class Bathurst-based electrical apprentice who has represented his trade and his country
at the International WorldSkills Competition in Canada, 2009.
“Undertaking and apprenticeship has allowed me to start a continuous learning
process with a broader skill base than first anticipated.
On-the-job training has
shown the day-to-day realism of the industry and given the practical skills needed to
be successful, including maintaining good working relationships.”
Group Training Australian Apprentice of the Year (Trainee)
Winner: Pierre Chedrauoi (370 degrees limited, Vic) – a passionate IT trainee,
who has
completed
his third traineeship and has earned the respect of both his
colleagues and peers by proposing and implementing a new sound studio during
his
employment at RMIT University.
“At the end of the day, I have a passion for the IT industry and love it. Undertaking
the traineeship was one of the best choices I have made.”
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Patron - Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Group Training Australian Apprentices of the Year (Indigenous)
Winner: Kyah Stewart
(Australian Training Company, NSW)
–
a Sydney-based
Trainee Aboriginal Development Officer who promotes the positive impact that sport can
have on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.
“My long term goal now is to run the Evonne Goolagong National Development
Camp and increase the number of Indigenous children playing tennis and being
healthy and involved in physical activity.”
Group Training Australian Apprentice of the Year (School-based)
Winner: Tyson Hawker
(WORKCO limited, Vic)
–
a mature and dedicated
agriculture student who successfully completed his VCE while completing a Certificate IV
-
usually undertaken as full-time study or within a full-time apprenticeship.
“I would encourage others to take on a school-based apprenticeship as it is an
excellent way to remain at school and also gain skills and qualifications in industry.”
Group Training Australia CEO, Jim Barron said the awards showcase the depth of talent that the
group training network provides to the employment market.
“This group of award winners and nominees represent our future leaders within industry. The
level of talent that we see each year continues to strengthen.
“I believe the awards reflect the quality of the group training network, its people and its proven
processes, in producing such high-calibre apprentices and trainees.”
Winners of the two major awards, ‘Apprentice of the Year’ and ‘Apprentice (Trainee) of the
Year’ received $3,000
towards their studies. Similarly, the winners of the Indigenous and
School-Based categories received a prize of $1,000.
Media contact: Foresight Communications 02 9241 2811
Bob Bowden – 0412 753 298, bbowden@bowmac.com.au
Renata Davis – 0438 525 413, rdavis@forecoms.com.au
NEWS 
