21 October 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
Group training achievements honoured at national awards
Group training’s peak apprentices, trainees, organisations and host employers were awarded at the
Group Training National Awards Presentation Dinner in Cairns last Friday night.
The awards were presented by the Hon Jim Turnour, Federal Member for Leichhardt, along with Shadow
Minister for Employment Participation, Training and Sport, Dr Andrew Southcott and Group Training
Australia CEO, Jim Barron.
The evening was a culmination of two days of discussion of training and skills by the group training
organisations that employ some 40,000 apprentices Australia-wide.
Group Training National Award category winners were:
Group Training Apprentice of the Year
Anna Moran
(Central West Group Apprentices)
– a printing and graphic design student from
Bathurst who is on her way to achieving her goals through hard work and dedication to her
studies.
Group Training Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year
Florence Wren (MEGT) – a hospitality student from Tasmania whose passion for the hospitality
industry drives her outstanding commitment to her training.
Group Training Australian Apprentices of the Year (Indigenous)
Paul Taylor
(Kimberley Group Training)
- a Kimberley-based refrigeration mechanic who
recently completed his apprenticeship ahead of time and is a role model for other apprentices in
remote areas as well as his community.
Group Training Australian Apprentice of the Year (School-based)
Nathan Clarke (Central West Group Apprentices) – a 18 year-old automotive mechanic from
Blayney who has shown outstanding dedication to his apprenticeship and his employer whilst
completing his HSC.
Group Training Australian Apprentice of the Year (Disability)
Natasha Harris (Hunter Valley Training Company)
– a positive role model for overcoming
adversity. Natasha is a trainee at The Herald, Newcastle and is completing a Certificate IV in
Business.
Group Training Field Officer of the Year
Emma Szynal (MG-My Gateway) – a dedicated field officer from Sydney who has shown a high
level of support and professionalism to her apprentice and host-employer clients.
Group Training Host of the Year
AJS Electrical (host employer for Central West Group Apprentices) – a loyal supporter of group
training and an outstanding advocate for apprenticeships based in Bathurst.
Group Training Innovation Award
MG-My Gateway
– awarded for innovation in Indigenous training employment. Over 40
Indigenous apprentices and trainees have been placed with major employers over the life of the
project based in inner-Sydney.
Group Training Australia CEO, Jim Barron said the awards were the perfect avenue to reward the
exceptional people who train, and work, within the group training network.
“It takes a team effort to produce the calibre of people who will become the next generation of skilled
tradespeople.
“It’s more important than ever that we recognise our best and brightest at a time when the nation is
putting great effort into rebuilding out skills labour force.
“We congratulate all the nominees and, in particular, the winners of this year’s awards.
“They are all testimony to the strength and quality of group training and we were proud to be able to
recognise them for their efforts and dedication”.
Winners of the two major awards, ‘Apprentice of the Year’ and ‘Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year’
received a cash prize of $3,000 each to continue their training.
The Group Training National Awards were sponsored by ‘Tools for your Trade’. Individual category
sponsors include Australian Industry Group, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace
Relations, Queensland Apprenticeship Services and Rydges Hotels and Resorts.
Mr Barron said, “I thank all award sponsors for their generous support. Events such as the National
Group Training Awards could not be held without their continued backing.”
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 
