'Women Level Up in 2019 Victorian Training Awards' - AEN
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
WPC Group trainee Kayleigh Gallagher, has won the ‘2019 Inspiration Award – Indigenous Student of the Year’ at the AEN Awards, held at Government House December 6, 2019.