The winners are listed below according to category. A brief profile outlining the achievements of each winner is included.
Australian Capital Territory
Natalie Clowry has done a real juggling act during her education. While studying at St Clare’s College in Canberra, she decided to augment her year 12 certificate with three vocational certificates so she would have plenty of career options in the future. She has completed a Certificate III Children’s Services and Certificate I Information Technology. But her emphasis has been on business. As part of completing a Certificate II in Business, Natalie has been a school-based apprentice at Government House. She has been in the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor General, and has worked in a variety of jobs in Human Resources, the Honours and Awards Secretariat, and the Property and Services Section. Natalie’s other passion is sport. She has been her college’s tennis captain and been involved in many other school and community sports including playing netball for Division 2 of the Canberra State League.
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New South Wales
Beau Robinson loves the challenges of the entertainment industry and has played an important role in bringing productions and events to reality in his school—Brisbane Water Secondary College—and his community of Woy Woy. As part of completing his Certificate III Live Production Theatre and Events, Beau has spent almost 600 hours in work placements and school projects. His employer, CoastQuest Championships, has high regard for Beau’s ability as an audio, video and lighting technician. They also praise his commitment to being knowledgeable about all aspects of stage production, such as front of house, back stage and stage management duties. Beau was named his school’s 2010 Vocational Education Student of the Year. Beau is especially interested in camera work, including directing. He hopes to attend TAFE at North Sydney and pursue a Certificate IV in Screen and Media.
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Northern Territory
Aaron Craufurd is certainly a self-starter. After he completed his Certificate I Engineering, he set out to find a business that would put him to work as a school-based apprentice. Although AKS Welding and Fabrication had never had a school-based apprentice, they were so impressed with Aaron and how he presented himself that they took him on. It’s been a wonderful decision. Since then Aaron has completed a Certificate III Engineering (Fabrication) and is now working full-time at AKS. His boss is very pleased, saying ‘Aaron has a keen eye for detail which is very important in an industry where accuracy and a professional finish of a product is expected.’ Aaron was nominated as Darwin High School’s School-based Apprentice of the Year for 2010. He is a valued player for Southern Districts Football Club, and has received a best backman award. He is also a member of Territory Thunder, the Northern Territory’s AFL Development Squad.
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Queensland
Alissa Young is making her mark in the manufacturing industry. At the age of 15, she signed on as a school-based apprentice with Stoddarts Manufacturing. Since then she has displayed determination, commitment and exceptional skills in the workplace and at school - Rochedale State High School. As a result, Alissa was awarded the Manufacturing Skills Queensland and the Queensland Training Awards (Metropolitan) School-based Apprentice of the Year. She went on to be a finalist in the Queensland Training Awards. She has completed her Certificate III Engineering (Fabrication - Sheet Metal), as well as a Certificate I Furnishing and a Certificate I Manufacturing Pathways. Alissa has also earned a Queensland Certificate of Education. She now works for Stoddarts, and serves as a mentor for other school-based apprentices. She hopes to one day teach in the manufacturing industry. At present, Alissa is training for the WorldSkills competition.
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South Australia
Keziah Carter is a natural as a child care worker. She loves children and especially enjoys seeing them learn, grow and play. Gawler Community Child Care Centre, where Keziah worked while she completed her Certificate III Children’s Services has high praise. ‘She gained trust from all the children who love having her in the room and staff can rely on her to get jobs done to a high standard’. Keziah’s interests go well beyond child care. As a capable musician, she has played in several orchestras. She’s earned a distinction in the Australian Geography Competition and a silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. She has had leadership roles at her school, Faith Lutheran School, and received four Principal’s Awards. She has completed her South Australian Certificate of Education and also has a Certificate I Hospitality (Kitchen Operations). Keziah hopes to work as a nanny, and is thinking of future career opportunities in child care, teaching or pediatric nursing.
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Tasmania
Karpaagam Shanmugam is thoroughly at home in a food outlet—so much so that she is already a Training Supervisor and Customer Service Leader at Hobart’s KFC in the city. She gained these positions on merit, and while she has been working on a Certificate III in Retail. Karpaagam’s employer at KFC says that she ‘readily shares her knowledge with her co-workers and is a great motivator’. In a nutshell, she ‘is our best employee and a joy to train and work with’. Her workplace is so pleased with her contributions that they nominated her for the Hazell Brothers School-based Trainee of the Year. She won in her category and went on to represent Tasmania at the national awards. Karppagam has also been very busy at school—St Michael's Collegiate. While completing her Tasmanian Certificate of Education, she also served on her school’s leadership committee, participated in fundraising for charities, played sport, and enjoyed piano and photography. Karpaagam hopes to study business at university.
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Victoria
Anthony De Blasio has been an outstanding school-based apprentice in a pilot program at the Bendigo Bank. His employer says Anthony has ‘earned the respect of our customers and his co-workers, and developed into a great asset to our team’. The bank even asked him to stay on, but he decided to tackle another challenge. While Anthony greatly values his time at the bank and is proud to have gained a Certificate III Financial Services, he now knows he wants to be an electrician and has enthusiastically taken up another apprenticeship opportunity. Anthony took part in the ‘Out and Back’ College music tour which involved performing for rural school students in Victoria and New South Wales and has participated in musical productions at his school–Sandringham College. Anthony is also interested in basketball and leads youth activities at his church.
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Western Australia
Paul Jimenez has a passion and aptitude for diagnosing faults and fixing mechanical equipment and engines, which he discovered when he took up a school-based apprenticeship in automotive mechanics. The fact he lives in a remote area 500 kilometres from the Geraldton TAFE, hasn’t kept Paul from delivering excellent results. In addition to TAFE, he has studied through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education. In completing a Certificate III Automotive Mechanical Technology, he has managed to clock up 1000 hours of on-the-job training at Troys Resources Gold Mine, in conjunction with Piston-Broke Mechanical Repairs in Sandstone. Paul is especially skilled at servicing engines, and repairing transmissions, cooling systems and hydraulic braking systems. He prospects with his father on remote desert excursions, and keeps the family’s 6-tonne vehicle in top order. Paul hopes to gain a degree in mechanical engineering at university.
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Indigenous
Kiah Stanley has shown that it is possible to balance family responsibilities and succeed at school and beyond. She doesn’t let anything prevent her from meeting her potential and facing challenges head-on. Kiah completed her Queensland Certificate of Education and achieved a Certificate II Business at CQ TAFE–Visions Virtual Enterprise and a Certificate I Work Education. Her outstanding commitment and drive has been recognised with the Dharumbal Vocational Education Training Award and the Glenmore State High School Indigenous Vocational Award. Kiah is a wonderful role model to her younger siblings and her own daughter, as she shows what can be achieved with determination and hard work. Kiah plans to complete a Diploma of Business, as well as a Diploma of Child Care. She then hopes to attend university and become a primary school teacher.
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Agri-Food
Thomas O’Kane is a real go-getter. In just two years, he has completed three vocational qualifications and beat almost 400 applicants to earn a top apprenticeship at the Toowoomba branch of Hastings Deering (Catepillar equipment). His qualifications are Certificate III Agriculture, Certificate III Information Technology and Certificate II Engineering. In order to fit everything in, Tom often gave up having school holidays on his family’s cattle station near Normanton in far north Queensland and did work experience instead. In the end, he did 265 hours of extra work with employers such as Extrata Coal near Townsville. In his last year as a boarder at Toowoomba Grammar School, Tom was a Prefect and also active in many sports, representing the Darling Downs region and his school in athletics, cross country, volleyball and rugby. At his school’s annual speech day, Tom received the Armstrong Auto Group Vocational Training Award for outstanding accomplishments.
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Community Services and Health
Rahima Haidary has a passion for working with and helping people. When Rahima arrived in Australia from Afghanistan five years ago she had limited English and worked hard to catch up to her peers at Young High School. Within 18 months she had part-time work at a fast food outlet and later in a dental surgery. She also worked in Mount St Joseph’s Nursing Home helping the residents with daily routines such as showering and meals. Along the way, Rahima also attended extra literacy courses at TAFE and had tutoring in English. She has completed a Certificate III Aged Care as well as Statements of Attainment in Allied Health Assistance, Information Technology and Hairdressing. Rahima now has a permanent position as a dental assistant at Just Dentistry in Canberra City. She hopes to become a dental nurse or perhaps even a dentist.
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Construction and Property Services
Patrick Nicol is a bit of a pioneer. When he took up a school-based apprenticeship in plumbing, it was a first for his school, his family and his employer. St Augustine’s College was just beginning to offer such placements. Now with his ongoing success, many fellow students are contemplating similar apprenticeships. Patrick has completed his Higher School Certificate and has also earned a Certificate III Plumbing. Patrick now works at Andrew Cross Plumbing and attends North Sydney TAFE, and he has had plenty of ‘victories’. He was named Central and Northern Sydney Region School-based Apprentice of the Year and was a finalist in his category in the NSW Training Awards. He’s also a champ in the water. He’s a volunteer and member at the Collaroy Surf Life Saving Club. He has won gold medals in team events in the Australian Titles in Perth and the Gold Coast.
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Electro Communications and Energy Utilities
Billy McNeil has no trouble keeping busy. In the last two years, he’s completed a Certificate III Electrotechnology (Electrician) and a school-based apprenticeship through the Western District Health Service in Victoria. The apprenticeship had him attending South West TAFE in Warrnambool and working with the maintenance team at the Hamilton Base Hospital. During that time, Billy also volunteered at the local primary school, helping children with their reading and PE. At his own school—Monivae College—Billy was on the first XVIII football and first XI cricket teams, and involved in many other sports. His sporting activities extend to the community where he plays A grade cricket and Under 18 football. He’s helped the Richmond Football Club run local clinics for primary school students, and coached his school’s junior football team. School holidays are just as busy, with Billy taking on a range of jobs, including work on farms and in supermarkets.
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Innovation and Business
Dylan Czeladka has set himself on a rewarding career path in workplace safety. He was inspired to study occupational health and safety (OHS) after seeing how the proper controls and procedures in a workplace can prevent workplace injury which can have a major impact on people’s lives. While a student at Mandurah Catholic College in Western Australia, Dylan completed a Certificate IV Occupational Health and Safety, as well as a Certificate I Sport and Recreation. In addition to schooling, Dylan gained work experience with UGL Resources. He worked on a mine site, where his employer applauded Dylan for his ‘personal approach and commitment to developing the diverse skill set required for a role in safety’. Dylan has also been nominated for the WA Curriculum Council’s VET Award. He hopes to start a diploma soon and later go on to university.
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Manufacturing
Andrew Eames put his ambition into action when he convinced Bonny Weld Aluminium and Stainless Steel that having him as a school-based apprentice would be a benefit to the business. His boss agrees and says Andrew is goal-oriented and ‘a pleasure to have in the workshop’. Twice he has been named School-based Apprentice of the Year at Newman Senior Technical College. He was also a school-based apprentice regional finalist in New South Wales Training Awards. Andrew is active in his school and community. He’s a member of the Student Representative Council and the Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club. The club is an important part of his life. He’s attained 30 certificates including trainer qualifications, so he can pass his surf life savings skills on to others. As a volunteer, he’s also built frames and shelves for the club. Andrew has completed a Certificate III Engineering (Fabrication), as well as his Higher School Certificate.
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Services
Geoffrey Lewis has always had a passion for cooking, so he was thrilled to be offered a position as a school-based apprentice at Mansfield Regional Produce Store. This busy café and gourmet food store provides fresh lunches, cakes and preserves. It also caters functions and the boss has encouraged Geoff to ‘moonlight’ for other catering opportunities. During his apprenticeship, Geoff completed a Victorian Certificate of Education, a Certificate II Hospitality and Certificate II Business, the latter so he is prepared if he decides to open his own business in the future. While at school, Geoff was selected to represent Mansfield Secondary College at the Snowy River School—a nine-week residential leadership and team-building course in Victoria’s high country. He’s participated in four Great Victorian Bike Rides and coaches soccer to juniors. Geoff’s culinary skills and personal attributes are so well regarded that he has been offered a full-time apprenticeship at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt Hotel.
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Transport and Logistics
Brent Barbeler has a keen interest in mechanics and heavy diesel machinery. He also has his eye on completing his school-based apprenticeship in Heavy Vehicle Road Transport and then starting his own business to do contract work for the mines. He’s already finished a Certificate III Heavy Vehicle Road Transport and Certificate III Agriculture and Horticulture while attending TAFE and Kingaroy State High School in Queensland. He’s also been working for the MRAEL Group. His boss describes him as ‘an exceptional employee’. He says he is especially impressed by Brent’s attention to detail, intuition, initiative and organisational skills. The boss is now pleased that Brent has joined the company full-time since completing his senior schooling. Brent’s teachers also have high praise, particularly for his excellent academic results. In his spare time, Brent helps his dad to restore old tractors.
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