It was a proud night for the group training network at the Australian Training Awards in Darwin on Friday, with GTO apprentices, trainees and employers securing some of the top honours.

We are delighted that the Apprentice of the Year Award went to Evangelene Rushforth, employed by GTNT in the Northern Territory and hosted by Groote Eylandt Mining Company.

A qualified mechanical fitter, and a graduate of NAEN’s Today’s Skills- Tomorrow’s Leaders program, Evangelene is a proud role model for women entering non-traditional trades.

Congratulations to the other GTO finalists in the Apprentice of the Year category – Kathryn Beale (NECA Electrical Apprenticeships), Jessica Bichsel (MEGT) and Bethany Jones (Adelaide Training and Employment Centre).

In the Trainee of the Year category, we are immensely proud of finalist Jiwon Kwack from 1300apprentice.

There was also celebration for group training in the Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year category – taken out by Tasmanian, Joshu Fielding, a carpenter, trained at TasBGAS and employed by Top Deck Building.

The Runner-up was Mikayla Dawson-Sincock from South Australia, who earned a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery with Career Employment Group, employed at Feathers Hotel.

GTOs had two representatives among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year finalists – Jaharn Mundy-Drazevich from IAHA and Callan McKenzie from TAPS. Congratulations to both Jahran and Callan on making it to the finals!

There was Silver for group training in the Australian Apprenticeships Employer category, taken by HYDAC and AI Group Training. Their partnership has helped HYDAC to cement its reputation for innovation and quality in the engineering, manufacturing, and testing of hydraulic systems.

It was a marvellous night in Darwin that celebrated the very best of Australia’s VET sector and showcased the capability, expertise and breadth of the group training network.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists – you should be very proud of your success!