Announcing our 2020 Skillset Award Winners!

Each year, Skillset celebrates the talents, skills and extraordinary achievements of Skillset’s apprentices. trainees, students, host businesses and partners at an annual Skillset Awards ceremony.

Due to COVID-19, we were unable to hold our gala awards day as usual at Skillset Head Office in Bathurst, however we still took the opportunity to celebrate all of our Award Winners.

Skillset are proud to announce our 2020 Award Winners:

2020 Skillset Gordon Hawkes Apprentice of the Year: Peter Kaden hosted by Western NSW Local Health District – Parkes NSW 

2020 Skillset Joyce Hawkes Trainee of the Year: Heather Waters hosted by the Western Research Institute – Bathurst NSW

2020 Skillset Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Trainee of the Year: Winona Gray Levett hosted by Housing Plus – Orange NSW 

2020 Skillset Partnership Award: Central Tablelands Local Land Services

2020 Skillset Land Works Award: North Eastern Wiradjuri Company (NEWCO) and Yancoal Moolarben Coal Operations 

2020 Skillset Jim Todman Safety Award: NRW Contracting – Boggabri NSW

2020 Skillset GTO Host of the Year (SME): J & E M Kiss General and Precision Engineering – Condobolin NSW 

2020 Skillset GTO Host of the Year (Large): Dubbo Regional Council 

2020 Skillset Labour Hire Client of the Year: C & C Best trading as Bathurst Express Freight – Bathurst NSW

2020 Skillset Local Government Award: Orange City Council 

2020 Skillset Youth Connect Award: Peter Waru – Lithgow NSW

2020 Skillset School2Trade Award: Eli Cox hosted by Dubbo Regional Council – Wellington NSW 

2020 Skillset TradeUp Award: Central West Careers Advisers Association

Find out more about each winner below:

2020 Skillset Gordon Hawkes Apprentice of the Year

The Gordon Hawkes Apprentice of the Year Award is named after the late Gordon Hawkes, who was an original board member of Central West Group Apprentices.

Peter Kaden

Apprenticeship: Certificate III Plumbing
Host: Western NSW Local Health District
Location: Parkes NSW

Peter Kaden has been recognised for his initiative, enthusiasm and motivation throughout his Plumbing Apprenticeship with Western NSW Local Health District.

Whilst in his final year, Peter is also undertaking his Cert IV training through TAFE at night, to improve himself for when he completes his Certificate III Apprenticeship. He has also shown great aptitude, and is constantly workings at a tradesman skill level and is often asked to work in higher duties.

Peter hopes that him winning this award encourages more people to consider employing mature aged apprentices, and also said he hopes and encourages organisations like Skillset and other employers to consider employing Defence Force Veterans where he served for 13 years after finishing school.

Congratulations Peter!

2020 Skillset Joyce Hawkes Trainee of the Year

The Joyce Hawkes Trainee of the Year Award is named after the late Joyce Hawkes, wife of Gordon who was a driving force in the creation of Central West Group Apprentices.

Heather Waters

Traineeship: Certificate IV in Business
Host: Western Research Institute
Location: Bathurst

Heather Waters has been recognised for her high level of aptitude for her business traineeship and for receiving consistently positive feedback regarding her on-the-job performance. Heather is an ambassador for the value of ongoing development, and has undertaken further learning by enrolling in the Certificate IV in Business after completing the initial Certificate III.

Heather thanked Skillset and the Western Research Institute for giving her the opportunity to do what she wanted to do as well as their support and encouragement throughout her training. The Traineeship has taught Heather the value of continuously learning and one day has aspirations to complete her Diploma.

2020 Skillset Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Trainee of the Year

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year is awarded to Indigenous Apprentice or Trainee how has shown dedication and commitment to their traineeship, but is also an active member of their community.

Winona Gray Levett

Traineeship: Certificate III in Community Services
Host: Housing Plus
Location: Orange NSW

Congratulations to Winona Gray Levett, the recipient of the 2020 Skillset Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trainee of the Year Award.

Winona has been hosted by Housing Plus during her Community Services Traineeship, who can’t speak more highly of her performance in both on-the-job and off-the-job training. Winona has built a strong rapport with clients and has an amazing sense of compassion and ability to work with vulnerable people.

Well done Winona!

2020 Skillset Partnership Award

The Skillset Partnership Award recognises an organisation which Skillset has collaborated with over the last 12 months to form a meaningful partnership which best services its stakeholders and the wider community.

Central Tablelands Local Land Services

We are awarding LLS this award as Skillset Land Works worked in close partnership with Local Land Services to develop and deliver a Land Works Indigenous Program in Bathurst. The program aimed to engage, train and employ young people from Bathurst’s Aboriginal community in the environment sector. The program acted as a pathway to employment for 4 individuals who were recruited as casual crew members to deliver projects for LLS that saw 4,500 trees planted as part of conservation efforts in the region.

In addition to this, Central Tablelands Local Land Services have been long term partners with Skillset in regards to providing traineeships opportunities to young people including Indigenous identified positions. Skillset are extremely proud of the partnership we have forged to provide skills development to the benefit of our regional communities.

2020 Skillset Land Works Award

The Land Works Award recognises an organisation that has worked with Land Works to provide regional communities with the capacity to hire and train local people for the improvement and maintenance of their natural environment.

North Eastern Wiradjuri Company (NEWCO) and Yancoal Moolarben Coal Operations 

The Skillset Land Works award recognises a partnership that helps Skillset realise its aim of creating life changing opportunities for people in regional areas, specifically through careers development in the environment sector.

The partnership between Moolarben and NEWCO has seen a very successful program developed that has provided an incredible opportunity for the three trainees working as part of the Mudgee Land Works crew.

Skillset would like to acknowledge this partnership and the great work completed by the team, by awarding Moolarben and NEWCO this year’s Land Works award.

2020 Skillset Jim Todman Safety Award

This special Award recognises Hosts who demonstrate high standards of safety, ensuring their staff, including apprentices and trainees, return home safely each day. This award was named after the late Jim Todman, who was Skillset’s Safety Officer in 2008 and 2009. Jim’s commitment to safety and ensuring the health and wellbeing of apprentices and trainees lives on through this award.

NRW Contracting

Skillset has partnered with NRW (formerly BGC) since April 2019, and in that time has commenced seven apprentices across three trades; metal fabrication, electrical and mobile plant mechanical.

Currently all apprentices when they commence undertake a 2 part induction for the mine site, an online induction and then face-to-face when they commence. This is after they undertake an Order 43 medical to ensure they are able to commence work.

NRW have a strong organisational approach to safety, and as part of that have provided Skillset with relevant company policies for us to be able to re-inforce with our apprentices working on site.

In 18 months of partnering with NRW, they have been very proactive with communicating with Skillset regarding any incidents. During this time, in a high risk injury, there have been zero lost time injuries. We are proud to partner with NRW Contracting and they certainly live by Skillset’s Mantra of aiming to have workers return home safely from work each day.

2020 Skillset GTO Host of the Year (SME)

This award recognises a SME GTO Host who provides the highest level of support and the best possible learning experience for the apprentices and trainees they host.

J & E M Kiss General and Precision Engineering

Congratulations to J & E M KISS General & Precision Engineering for being awarded the 2020 Skillset Small to Medium Host of the Year Award!

A small engineering workshop in Condobolin, KISS currently host 2 apprentices with Skillset and are looking at commencing a new apprentice in 2021. The business accommodates for school visits and work experience in the local community, and provides effective training with no issues getting their apprentices to travel to Orange for off-the-training at TAFE.

An incredibly proactive business which understands the importance of skills development for young people in regional communities.

Also, congratulations to Damien Hocking for being named a finalist for 2020 Skillset Apprentice of the Year Award.

2020 Skillset GTO Host of the Year (Large)

This award recognises a Large GTO host for their role in keeping skills local, and ongoing support in helping develop skills that will be needed now and into the future to keep our regional economies growing.

Dubbo Regional Council

Skillset has partnered with Dubbo Regional Council for over 10 years. Dubbo Regional Council currently host 19 apprentices and trainees.

DRC offer a wide variety of vocations including:

• Horticulture – Parks & Gardens
• Horticulture – Sports Turf Management
• Child Care
• Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
• Civil Construction

DRC are an equal opportunity employer. DRC currently offer 3 female apprentices/trainees (2 x childcare and 1 Parks and Gardens – a male dominated trade). They also host 10 of the 19 apprentices and trainees who have identify as Indigenous.

It is a great honour and well deserved recognition of your achievements, investment into skills development and your immense support for all apprentices and trainees hosted at Dubbo Regional Council.

2020 Skillset Labour Hire Client of the Year

This award recognises the great commitment that organisation shows for ongoing employment skills development for individuals in our regional communities.

C & C Best trading as Bathurst Express Freight

The team at C & C Best are a leading employer within the region and have been a labour hire client of Skillset since 2017, during which time they have engaged more than 15 employees.

Long term supporters of our SkillForce and Pledge250 campaigns. In 2017, Craig pledged our 100^th job during Pledge250.

Upon accepting the award, Craig said he is proud to partner with Skillset due to the flexibility and the ability to find another set of hands to help. Throughout the COVID period, Craig’s business has increased its delivery service and identified new industries to assist.

Thank you team, for your commitment to the skills development of young people in regional NSW.

2020 Skillset Local Government Award

This award recognises a local government council that Skillset has worked with extensively over the past 12 months with a focus on skills development.

Orange City Council

Orange City Council have been awarded this year’s Local Government Award as recognition of their ongoing commitment to skills development and employment of young apprentices and trainees from the community and wider region. OCC provide mentoring and support throughout the entire training period and provide apprentices and trainees with a wealth of knowledge and experience. OCC most recently have invested in Skillset’s School2Trade School based apprentice and trainee program where in 2020 they commenced 5 trainees from schools across Orange.

Since 2002, 39 Apprentices have been hosted at OCC. Orange City Council currently host 5 apprentices and 5 SBATs.

A notable achievement has been Skillset Trainee – Jay French be named a finalist for the 2020 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award, as well as a finalist for the 2020 AEN NSW & ACT Group Training Awards Trainee of the Year.

Congratulations to Orange City Council, we are truly proud to partner with an organisation as committed to skills development as you are and we continue to see this partnership grow into the future.

2020 Skillset Youth Connect Award

This award recognises an individual who has gone above and beyond to achieve their career goals.

Peter Waru

During the completion of his Certificate II in Automotive Servicing course at TAFE NSW, Peter left quite the impression on his TAFE teachers and Youth Connect Consultants with his passion, knowledge and outstanding can-do attitude. While TAFE was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, Peter engaged with every Microsoft teams meeting and always arrived having completed the work that needed to be done before hand.

Peter has now completed the Cert 2 Automotive course. He was the only person in the class that has managed to finish on time. This is a huge achievement given the major disruption of COVID 19 to TAFE courses this year.

Peter is working with his Youth Connect Consultant on resume and cover letter skills in order to secure a mechanical apprenticeship.

2020 Skillset School2Trade Award

This award recognises a school based apprentice or trainee who successfully balances the commitment required to complete a school based apprenticeship or traineeship and high school studies.

Eli Cox

School Based Apprenticeship: Certificate III in Heavy Vehicle Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
Host: Dubbo Regional Council
Location: Wellington NSW

Congratulations to School Based Apprentice, Eli Cox, our School2Trade Award recipient for 2020.

Eli has been completing a Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology while hosted by Dubbo Regional Council and working one day a week, and full time throughout school holidays. He completes this training in addition to his school studies and part time work at a local hospitality establishment.

He has been so committed to his RTO studies, that Eli completed all requirements last year and is now dedicated to receiving as much hands-on service and repair experience as possible. Eli’s supervisors have reported on his excellent work ethic and willingness to learn the trade. “Eli is very reliable, has great customer service skills and is a great asset to the team.”

2020 Skillset TradeUp Award

This award recognises an organisation who has been proactive in partnership with Skillset for our TradeUp and School2Trade program.

Central West Careers Advisers Association

Central West Careers Advisers Association is a champion in promoting that Vocational Education and Training is a valuable career pathway for school leavers.

Congratulations to Central West Careers Advisers Association, our 2020 TradeUp Award recipient.

Central West Careers Advisers Association, led by President Glen Pearson have supported and advocated for our TradeUp program to their extensive network. They also facilitated the opportunity to deliver our first Future Careers session and has also assisted with individual support sessions.

The association has been proactive in sharing program information to their network members, while always providing valuable feedback and insight into how Skillset can continue to develop an effective SBAT program.

Thank you Central West Careers Advisers Association for your ongoing support and knowledge. Your partnership is most valued.

Congratulations to all finalists and award winners for 2020!