The winners are listed below according to category. A brief profile outlining the achievements of each winner is included.
Australian Capital Territory
Lucy Ann Washington has turned a passion for working with children into a rewarding Australian School-based Apprenticeship. While working to complete a Certificate III Children's Services, Lucy also found a rekindled interest in school and more confidence, maturity and organisational skills. This led to her being more involved at her school, St Clare's College in Canberra, where she participates in fund-raising activities that support community charities. She even helps to provide child care for staff during parent/teacher evenings. Her employer, Richardson Child Care and Education Centre, has high regard for Lucy's abilities, saying she has a knack for communicating with children 'on a level that is both meaningful and respectful. She never shows bias or favouritism and is aware of each child's individual needs, interests and routine requirements'.
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New South Wales
Joel Stenberg thrives on challenge. He wasn't satisfied doing just one vocational course. He did three—Certificate III Entertainment, Certificate II Hospitality Commercial Cookery and Certificate II Information Technology. Joel has also completed Senior First Aid and received a Bronze Star Life Saving Award. His school, Marist College in Eastwood, says Joel 'has wonderful personal skills and is very articulate'. They praise his strong work ethic and willingness to tackle work that goes way beyond course requirements. Some of his key involvement has been a work placement at the Easter Show, catering for a priest lunch and a parents' night, developing a way to analyse and display the college's sporting results, repairing computers, and helping to manage IT equipment for college events, masses and assemblies. Today Joel attends TAFE to add to his qualifications.
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Northern Territory
Ashlee Modra definitely knows her livestock. As part of completing her Certificate III Agriculture, she was involved in managing the Brahman cattle stud and goat herd for Taminmin High School in Humpty Doo. She has also won ribbons for showing and handling cattle at the Freds Pass, Darwin and Katherine Shows. Her employer at Beatrice Hill Farm is especially complimentary, saying Ashlee 'drove the farm 4WD vehicles and quad bikes very competently and her welding skills were some of the best I have seen'. But her interests extend way beyond livestock. She has completed Certificates I and II Rural Operations, and is working part-time on a Certificate III Commercial Cookery. She also has a part-time job—at the Humpty Doo Tavern—and is an enthusiastic spokesperson and highly competitive participant (along with her father) for mud racing in the Northern Territory. She came second in the Australian Titles in 2007.
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Queensland
Bridgette Simpson is destined for a career in business. She thrives in the environment and excels in her studies. In addition to completing a Certificate III Business Administration through a VET in Schools program, Bridgette has successfully attained Certificate II Retail, Certificate II Business and Certificate I Information Technology. Nambour State High School praises Bridgette's 'interpersonal skills, attention to detail and ability to roll her sleeves up and do what is needed' and says she is 'an excellent role model who is well liked and respected by other students'. She's also well rounded, serving as Senior Sports Captain in year 12, and winning numerous awards, including ones for academic excellence, leadership and sport. Bridgette's ambition is to develop a career in public relations. This year, she plans to work in a business environment that can help her to choose wisely for further study in 2011.
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South Australia
Makuach Dhal has come a long way from his war-torn homeland, Sudan, and a refugee camp in Kenya. Five years ago, Makuach arrived in Australia without his parents and with limited schooling. But none of this has stopped him from completing a Certificate III Health Service Assistance. In fact, the desire to assist is at the very core of Makuach's being. Blackfriars Priory School in Prospect describes him as 'a very valued member of the school community, providing much support, advice and leadership for his peers and the younger student body'. His dedication to his community was recognised on Australia Day 2009, when Makuach received the Minister for Education and Children's Services Award for Excellence in Languages and Cultures. The award highlighted his positive involvement in civic and social issues, and his sensitive awareness of others and their needs. Today Makuach is studying health care and nursing at TAFE.
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Tasmania
Claire Martin is thoroughly at home in the kitchen—so much so that twice she has been part of a victorious team in the Whirlpool Challenge Cooking Competition. Her team took first in 2008 and second in 2009. Claire has been a student at the Australian Technical College Northern Tasmania, working towards a Certificate III Hospitality Commercial Cookery. The college praises her mature approach to her studies and her ability to work well in a team as well as independently. Claire also works part-time as a school-based apprentice in the kitchen of Scotch Oakburn College. Her employer says 'we have been absolutely delighted with every aspect of her work, her level of commitment, responsibility and willingness to learn and also to continually strive for improvement'. Claire plans to enter the Army as a trained chef or work in catering or functions. She hopes to attend a hotel management school in the future.
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Victoria
Patrick McVeigh is on his way to realising his dream of becoming a primary school teacher, specialising in physical education. Passionate about many sports and inspired to achieve by his experiences during the Black Saturday bushfires, Patrick decided to pursue a Certificate III Sport and Recreation because it would provide him with a solid foundation for his long-term employment goals. As part of his studies, Patrick did an on-the-job component at South Morang Primary School, where he set up daily PE courses, took small groups for intensive training, running and warm-up activities, and helped coordinate the inter-school sports program. His employer says 'Patrick formed a great rapport with the students’. Patrick's school—Whittlesea Secondary College—says he is an inspiration and a natural role model.
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Western Australia
Brianna Kate Tyson knows how to fill up a day. In completing her Certificate IV Business, she participated in three work placements. For each one, she worked at least 50 per cent more hours than were required. One supervisor says, 'Brianna is an absolute pleasure to have, very capable, amenable with a very positive attitude in everything she undertakes'. The employer at Brianna's final workplace, State Swim, is so impressed that he is offering her a job. Her school, Santa Maria College in Attadale, has special respect for her because of her commitment to her studies. Her home is 280 kilometres from the college, and she has boarded since she was 13. Recently, she gave up mid-semester holidays to attend Sterling Business College daily to work on her units of competency. Brianna has received many awards including the Western Australia Curriculum Council Certificate of Excellence for achieving eight or more As in her final two years at school.
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Indigenous Category
Brett Shaw must be a magician. In two short weeks of a work-experience placement, he so impressed his employer—Coastal Building and Construction—that they 'decided we couldn't afford to lose him so we offered him a school-based apprenticeship which he gladly accepted'. Brett continues to impress at work and at school, the Australian Technical College–Gold Coast. In addition to excelling in his studies, he serves as an ambassador for the college, regularly representing it at community events such as information nights where he speaks to potential students and their parents. He was also named the college's 2009 Indigenous Apprentice of the Year. Brett often works during school holidays and weekends, so is completing his Certificate III Carpentry more quickly than expected. He is also working on a Certificate II Business and a Certificate II Information Technology. In his limited spare time, Brett enjoys being part of the Mudgeeraba Redbacks Football Club.
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Agri-Food Industry
Julie Clark's love of animals has her well on the way to realising her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She started on her Certificate II Companion Animal Services while she was in year 10. She continued on—completing a Certificate III Companion Animal Services halfway through year 12. Along the way, Julie had three Structured Workplace Learning placements, including one at Waterworks Road Veterinary Surgery. The boss there describes Julie as 'extremely motivated, dedicated and honest' and they 'think so highly of Julie that we have employed her'. Now she plans to learn as much as she can to prepare herself for applying to study veterinary science at the University of Queensland Gatton Campus. Julie received her school's VET DUX Award. It recognises the most outstanding achievement by a year 12 student for all VET subjects and sits alongside the Academic DUX Award at Aspley State High School. Julie also has a Certificate II Business.
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Community Services and Health Industry
Natalie O’Kane discovered her calling at the Fairholme Kindergarten while she was doing the service component for a Duke of Edinburgh Award. Before she knew it, she was working at the kindergarten and studying for a Certificate III and later a Certificate IV Children's Services. Her employer has the highest praise, saying Natalie 'has been the most exceptional student I have ever had in my teaching/training career (bettering many university students)'. She was also a deserving finalist in the 2009 Training Awards for Queensland's Department of Education, Training and the Arts. Natalie was selected to be part of a Discovery Tour to India and Malaysia, where she was able to work with underprivileged children. She has completed Certificate II Business, and Senior First Aid and Resuscitation. Natalie was also active in sports at her school, Fairholme College in Toowoomba, especially enjoying athletics, swimming and hockey.
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Construction and Property Services Industry
Daniel Donlic’s enthusiasm for the construction industry helped him to score a cherished VET in Schools placement at Melbourne's RMIT University, where he is pursuing a Certificate IV Building and Construction. His school says Daniel 'demonstrates an innate ability' and, in addition to acting as a mentor to his class, 'he is famous for his hand skills and building abilities'. This year he won the principal's excellence award for design technology as well as a leadership award for outstanding performance at a school camp. Daniel is also a volunteer student ambassador, helping to promote the VET in Schools 2010 Certificate IV Building Pathways to Construction program. Because he never tires of learning, he often seeks building experiences beyond the requirements of his studies. In future, Daniel hopes to complete a Diploma of Building and Construction and ultimately a Bachelor of Construction Management.
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Electro Communications and Energy Utilities Industry
Timothy Flemming was inspired to pursue a school-based apprenticeship after doing electrical work with his father and loving it. Now he is an apprentice in his father's company, and his school says 'the very fact that Timothy can separate home life from work, not asking for nor receiving special treatment, is indicative of his maturity and ability to adapt to different situations'. That's good because Timothy's interests are diverse. In addition to working on a Certificate III Electrotechnology, he plays the trumpet and is studying to complete Grade 6 of the Australian Music Examinations Board. He was music captain at Redlands College in Wellington Point, and a member of the wind orchestra and choral group. Timothy has also completed a Certificate III Business, Certificate II Workplace Practices and Certificate II Information Technology. He plans to stay on in the family business, or attend university to study electrical engineering.
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Innovation and Business Industry
Mitchell Honey is a dynamo, which is just as well because he wants to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He has already tallied more than 100 formal workplace hours and many more informal hours. His school, St Andrews College in Marayong, describes Mitchell as 'one in a billion' and having 'outstanding knowledge of audio, lighting and staging'. They especially appreciate the fact that, before graduating, he taught several younger students to operate and look after the college's assembly equipment. Mitchell's list of formal accomplishments is long. They include his Certificate III Live Production, Theatre and Events, the college's major trophy for Outstanding School Service, the Australian Defence Force 2009 Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award, a certificate for Outstanding Efforts in All Subjects, and subject trophies for coming first in VET Entertainment and Mathematics.
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Manufacturing Industry
Angus Brown has never let distance get in the way of completing a Certificate III Mechanical Engineering. While a student at Trinity Catholic College in Goulburn, Angus also attended the Canberra Institute of Technology for two days every two weeks. Angus has also managed to weave work into the mix, and is a valued apprentice at Ainsworth Engineering in Goulburn. His boss says 'he has impressed us from his very first day' and 'we will be employing Angus at the end of his school-based traineeship'. While at Trinity, Angus acted as a mentor to the year 10 apprentices, and was always willing to help others acquire skills in welding and machining. He was named School-based Trainee of the Year in the 2008 Illawarra Region Group Training Awards. Angus hopes to branch out into hydraulic and pneumatic maintenance and repairs.
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Services Industry
Chloe Dupont does a great juggling act. In two years, she has completed Certificate III Sport and Recreation, Certificate III and IV Fitness, and Certificate II Business Administration, while at the same time being involved in sporting activities, volunteering and paid work. Her school, Presentation College in Windsor, says Chloe is 'highly motivating' and demonstrates 'outstanding leadership qualities'. One of her big projects was to organise the college's year 12 formal. As part of this, she liaised with an external business and oversaw the collection of a substantial sum of money. Chloe is also community-minded. The City of Port Phillip gave her their Young People Award to recognise the 300 hours of volunteer work she put in at the St Kilda Police and Citizen Youth Club. Chloe, who is originally from Mauritius, hopes to study business and sport at university. Her ultimate goal is to own a gym and become a successful sports coach.
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