2013 winners

Sponsored by the Gil Court Memorial Fund.

Winner: Michael Treloar - Certificate III in Plumbing

Employer: Fred NT
Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Michael Treloar says he never gets bored working as a plumber as he’s always in different spaces and places. In his four years in the trade, Michael has worked on major projects in remote communities and major urban centres, doing everything from standard plumbing tasks to operating road trains and fabricating equipment.

Winning Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) ‘most outstanding third year plumbing apprentice’ award motivated Michael to enter the Northern Territory (NT) Training Awards. As he says, being an award winning apprentice can set you above the rest.

Michael enjoys mentoring new apprentices and trainees and has often taken a lead role in training on the job. He is committed to ensuring a safe workplace and work practices, as plumbing is a high risk industry, and leads by example in demonstrating and teaching correct procedures.

Remote work holds a particular appeal for this second generation Territorian, who is often found fishing during his down time. The skills, knowledge and networks Michael gained during his apprenticeship helped him build his own home in Darwin.

Runner up: Grant Walker - Certificate III in in Plumbing

Employer: GTNT
Host employer: Power Water Corporation
Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Sponsored by Apprenticeships Australia.

Winner: Louise Maxwell - Certificate IV in Population Health

Employer: GTNT
Host employer: Health Promotion Strategy Unit, Department of Health
Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Louise Maxwell was living in Tasmania when she noticed an online ad for an NT Government traineeship in Population Health. She successfully applied and did the big move to Darwin and is now the first person to undertake the Certificate IV in Population Health as a trainee in the NT.

Relocating to the other end of the country was not without its challenges, but Louise overcame these issues and completed her course ahead of time. Her work contributed to a nomination for a Chief Minister’s Award in 2011 and she has also delivered training courses and developed protocols relevant to her field.

Louise’s interest in health promotions was sparked when she witnessed her stepfather’s struggle to give up smoking. She says undergoing a traineeship was ideal for her circumstances as it provided her with a recognised qualification while learning skills at first hand from people with years of experience in the field.

Runner up: Sarah Rodwell - Certificate IV in Civil Construction (Supervision)

Employer: GTNT
Host employer: Department of Infrastructure
Registered training provider: TAFE NSW - Riverina Institute

Sponsored by East Arnhem Shire Council.

Winner: Sandra Allwright - Certificate IV in Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice)

Employer: Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service
Registered training provider: Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

Sandra came to Aboriginal health practitioner training as an adult student, with a background working in many different environments.

She decided on a new career and training path because she is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Territorians. With her qualifications from the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE), she now works at Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service in Katherine and enjoys the opportunities for integrating on the job and off the job training.

Sandra encourages other Aboriginal people who are interested in a career path as a health professional. Her message is that whatever your age, you are still able to achieve in your chosen career if you believe in yourself

Sandra will now go on to represent the NT at the 2013 Australian Training Awards.

Runner up: Roslyn Malngumba - Certificate IV in Education Support

Employer: GTNT
Host employer: NT Christian Schools at Mapuru Christian School
Registered training provider: Transforming Training

Sponsored by McArthur River Mine.

Winner: Calista Hudson - Certificate III and IV in Fitness

Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Calista Hudson had never dreamed of studying at university, let alone working alongside a group of defence force leaders in a fitness program. But she has achieved these goals and many more since undertaking her Certificate IV in Fitness at CDU.

Her enthusiasm and dedication to her training helped gain employment in the fitness industry within the first month of starting her studies. The opportunity to learn and train on and off the job was an enormous benefit, though a challenge in terms of time management. Calista also started her own personal training business while still studying, and then was offered the position of manager at the CDU gym, a job she embraced.

As Calista puts it, in less than 12 months she had taken up a brand new study challenge, was working in a new industry and had become a respected leader and mentor for others.

She has also undertaken her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, to better assist her staff in training and deliver classes to new learners. She has also discovered through her vocational education and training (VET) that she has skills and experience that can be turned into formal qualifications, so she is currently enrolled in recognition for prior learning for Certificate IV in Human Resources.

Runner up: Jess Hempsall - Certificate III and IV in Fitness

Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Sponsored by GTNT.

Winner: Teague Masterson - Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade)

School: Good Shepherd Lutheran College
Employer: Hastings Deering
Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

As a youngster, Teague Masterson could often be found out the back in the shed, helping his step dad fix his trucks. He says securing his school-based apprenticeship at Hastings Deering in 2010 over a very competitive field has given him the chance to create a career out of something he loves.

Teague attends extra maths classes before and after school to assist him in his apprenticeship. He describes himself as a hands-on person who learns best in an on-the-job environment, but he is willing to undertake more formal learning to help him achieve his goal of becoming a qualified diesel fitter.

He sets high standards and is aware of the importance of setting a good example to new trainees and apprentices. He advises other students looking at pursuing a similar path to look at something you know you are going to enjoy doing for a length of time, then get advice from parents, teachers and employers.

Teague also plays league for the Litchfield Bears and enjoys working out at the gym.

Runner up: Lachlan Johnstone - Certificate III in Electrotechnology

School: Good Shepherd Lutheran College
Employer: ISAS
Registered training provider: Advanced Training International

Sponsored by ConocoPhillips.

Winner: Tré Manning-Watson - Certificate III in Fitness

School: Darwin High School
Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Tré Manning-Watson’s ambition to become a Federal fire fighter led him to enrol in a Certificate III in Fitness through Darwin High in 2012.

Tré’s work placements describe him as dedicated and committed. He attended extra sessions outside the VET timetable to achieve his group fitness specialisation and is working towards his Certificate IV in Fitness while completing year 12.

In 2012 Tré won the NTCE VET in Schools Award and Outstanding VET in Schools Student Award - Certificate II Fitness. He is rightly proud of his achievement in being one of the first students from Darwin High to complete his NTCET by the end of year 11.

He is also a talented musician and earns extra money busking.

Tré’s motto is ‘train insane or remain the same’ - with this commitment and drive he continues to work towards his goals of increasing his own and other’s physical fitness and becoming a fire fighter.

Runner up: Nakita Pollock - Certificate III in Hospitality

School: The Essington International Senior College, Charles Darwin University
Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Sponsored by Territory Technology Solutions.

Winner: David Barker - Charles Darwin University

Baking has been David Barker’s lifelong passion. He has worked in the industry for 25 years, as a baker and business owner and as a lecturer in the Commercial Cookery and Bakery team at CDU.

Becoming involved in teaching seemed like a natural progression for David, motivated to share his passion for baking and new trends in the industry. He has a diverse student base, including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal school students (VET in Schools), apprentices and trainees, international students and mature aged students. He provides students with additional educational and learning support, uses innovative and flexible teaching methods and provides plenty of personal encouragement to achieve good learning outcomes.

David has been recognised with many training and baking industry awards. He constantly searches out new methods of delivering training and developing innovative resources. He enjoys the challenges of delivering baking skills to students in remote communities in particular. David uses Facebook to link remote students with the baking industry and experts on a national and international level. He uses platforms such as YouTube to encourage and generate his student’s interest in different baking approaches and techniques.

David has also negotiated with the industry to donate equipment towards a portable bakery platform that can be transported to remote communities. This enables training that focuses on utilising traditional skills and ingredients and promotes development of cultural baking skills.

Runner up: Debbie Atkinson - Alana Kaye Training

Sponsored by INPEX.

Winner: Department of Education and Children’s Services in collaboration with Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

Building the Remote Early Childhood Workforce is a training initiative project that has been developed by the NT Department of Education and Children’s Services in partnership the BIITE.

This training project has been developed as an initiative under the NT Early Childhood Workforce Plan 2011-2021. The plan’s aim is to develop a high quality, sustainable workforce. The purpose of the Building the Remote Early Childhood Workforce project is to increase the number and quality of the local Aboriginal early childhood workforce in the participating remote communities. The initiative commenced as a pilot project in 2011 in four remote locations and contributes to a longer-term national objective to improve outcomes in Aboriginal early childhood development indicators.

The Building the Remote Early Childhood Workforce project aims to achieve an integrated local Aboriginal early childhood workforce, establish pathways for students transitioning from school to work, enable strong local services for young children and their families and provide consistency in early childhood training to remote communities.

Runner up: italklibrary in collaboration with Carpentaria Disability Services and ICAE Training

Winner: Hastings Deering (Aust) Ltd

As a recognised leader in the earthmoving field, Hastings Deering (Aust) Ltd provide staff and training for mining, roads infrastructure, land development, construction, electrical and plumbing, power generation, transport and marine machinery.

In this diverse and ever-growing industry, Hastings Deering employs 171 people in the NT including 33 full-time apprentices and four school-based apprentices. With a genuine commitment and passion to the on-going development of their employees, Hastings Deering boast more than 80% retention rate of its trainees and apprentices over the last 10 years.

Due to the many potential dangers associated with its industry, Hastings Deering focus first and foremost on specific training known as SQM (safety, sustainability and quality management) training. Ensuring their staff go home to their families in the same condition as they arrived, Hastings Deering carry out SQM training on a weekly basis and describe it as the cornerstone of their training program.

Technical training, supervisory training, sales and parts training, administration staff training, up skills training and contamination control coaching are all integral components and achievements of Hastings Deering’s successful staff training and support programs.

Provided with excellent training along with hands-on experience, Hastings Deering staff can work safely to achieve at the highest level in an environment that offers the latest technology available.

Runner up: New Future Alliance

Winner: Glamazon

Salon directors Alec and David Ross-Fuller describe hairdressing as glamorous, fabulous, creative and inspiring. It is this energetic and passionate approach that has made their combined 30 years of experience so fulfilling - and Glamazon such a successful and highly regarded small business.

They pass this energy onto their staff and even share their expertise with former staff who have moved on to other salons with a ‘pay-it-forward’ attitude. Alec and David believe that if they continue to provide quality, highly skilled, client focused hairdressing training into the overall employment pool; then chances are they will have regular access to qualified hairdressers with the skills and dedication to meet their own salon’s high standards.

Currently, Glamazon employs four senior stylists and three apprentices in their vibrant, trendy Darwin salon. Having employed, trained and supported more than 30 staff in the last ten years, Glamazon boast high staff retention through their innovative and dynamic work and training environment. Performance appraisals are conducted with staff four times a year to ensure standards remain high and staff remain challenged, inspired and well supported. Glamazon staff are rewarded and recognised for their achievements, additional training is supported financially and loyalty bonuses include workshops or conferences. To keep up with the fast paced changes in the hairdressing industry, new information and knowledge is shared at every opportunity and regular Glamazon team meetings are more like inspiring sporting huddles.

Glamazon is a small employer with a big passion for exceptional hairdressing service and total satisfaction - for their staff and customers alike.

Winner: Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

BIITE has a long proud record of providing training and education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

As a registered training organisation (RTO), the institute delivers VET training with a strong focus on remote delivery, vocational areas aligned to remote community employment opportunities, foundation skills including work readiness and pathways to higher education. The majority of training is undertaken in collaboration with other organisations to maximise the resources available to support delivery, develop more effective engagement and learning models, improve student completion rates and ensure that there are genuine employment, further education or training pathways for participants.

The institute’s six key areas of focus are community services, conservation and land management, construction and mining, creative industries, health and wellbeing and foundation skills with a focus on work readiness.

The institute has two main campuses at the Batchelor Township and the Desert Peoples’ Centre in Alice Springs and annexes at Katherine and Tenant Creek. In addition, an increased amount of training is being delivered remotely in response to community demand and to enable students to access the support services available from other service providers such as Job Services Australia and CDEP.

The institute continues to access a substantially increased amount of external funding, has established improved pathways to higher education through the Education Support Worker and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker programs and is putting in place a vibrant remote VET in Schools program that will assist with increasing the future engagement of Aboriginal youth.

BIITE will now go on to represent the NT at the 2013 Australian Training Awards.

Runner up: Charles Darwin University

Highly commended: Alana Kaye Training