The ACT Training Awards, held at the National Museum of Australia on Thursday night, celebrated the outstanding achievements of the territory’s vocational education and training (VET) sector: apprentices, trainees, students, teachers, employers, and training providers.
The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) won five categories: the ACT Large Training Provider of the Year, while CIT teachers, students and industry partners also took out individual and collaborative awards.
The vocational education provider says this recognises CIT’s excellence across teaching, student experience and industry collaboration.
The award recipients are:
2023 ACT Training Award winners – Individual winners
1. ACT Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year – Poppy Chalmers (CIT: Allied Health Assistance)
2. ACT Apprentice of the Year – Tessa Valter
3. ACT Trainee of the Year – Cyrus Wren
4. ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year – Emma Brown (CIT: Indigenous Apprenticeship Program with CIT Solutions)
5. ACT Vocational Student of the Year – Marija Rathouski
6. ACT VET Teacher of the Year – Peter Redfern-Elliot (CIT: Hospitality, Culinary, Tourism)
7. Norm Fisher Award – Edward Nathan
2023 ACT Training Award winners – Organisation winners
1. ACT Industry Collaboration Award – The Spark, Australian Training Company, and Lendlease Women in Construction JobTrainer Program (collaboration with CIT)
2. ACT Small Employer of the Year – Pups4Fun
3. ACT Large Employer of the Year – Communities at Work
4. ACT Small Training Provider of the Year – McMillan Staff Development
5. ACT Large Training Provider of the Year – Canberra Institute of Technology
The winners will represent the ACT at the Australian Training Awards in Hobart in November.
CIT interim CEO Christine Robertson said the awards were strong endorsement for the institution’s progress.
“It is a symbol of the passion, dedication, drive and vision of the teachers, staff, and students of this proud institution,” Ms Robertson said. “These awards reflect our excellence and relevance in teaching and training. They show our dedication to student services and career pathways, our strong connections with government, industry and local business, and our commitment to the upskilling and diversification of the ACT workforce.”
Peter Redfern-Elliot, ACT VET Teacher of the Year, has taught at CIT for 15 years, and credited his peers and students for his award.
“My students, that’s what makes me wake up in the morning and want to come to work every day, seeing them thrive and grow in confidence,” Mr Redfern-Elliot said. “It’s about inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals to be the best they can be.
“CIT is the best place I’ve ever worked, the community of people I work with, and the environment I work in, is so positive … we all support each other.”
Poppy Chalmers, ACT Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year, would accompany her older sister Sky, who has cystic fibrosis, to hospital throughout their childhood. It inspired her to study Allied Health Assistance and Community Services with CIT and Dickson College as part of an Australian School-Based Apprenticeship.
“For the first 18 years of Sky’s life, we spent probably all up a month in hospital each year, and I was always there,” Ms Chalmers said. “I saw the impact different health practitioners had on patients and their families, and how vital that is for their wellbeing and care. It’s something I really want to be part of.
“Studying at CIT really opened my eyes to what’s out there, what’s needed, and what different health professions do. My teachers were incredible.”
Emma Brown, ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year, says she was daunted to begin the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program (IAP) with CIT Solutions as a single mother, but that it had been life-changing for her and her 11-year-old son, Zachary.
“I wanted to show him good work ethic and that anything’s possible if you put your mind to it,” Ms Brown said. “The IAP was about creating a better future for me and my son.
“I’m dyslexic, so I was always told I can’t do things and people tried to limit me. So, this study has built my confidence, to show I really am capable. When people say you can’t, well you can, you’ve just got to believe in yourself.”
Tony Cowlishaw, Head of Department for CIT’s Building and Construction Management, Engineering and Design team, joined industry partners in accepting the ACT Industry Collaboration Award.
The Women in Construction program was initiated last year as a collaboration between industry, Government, and education to address the under-representation of women in building and construction. Every single one of the 15 initial students from the inaugural program have graduated to paid traineeships or further study, and a second program is set to commence later this year.
“Collaboration with industry is what makes our training worthwhile,” Mr Cowlishaw said. “We, in Canberra, have one of the best, most innovative construction industries in the country who are so supportive to our students. Without them, we couldn’t do what we do.”
Chris Steel MLA, ACT Minister for Skills, acknowledged the commitment, innovation, and outstanding accomplishments of all those involved in vocational education and training (VET) in the ACT.
“Congratulations to the winners and all finalists this year who have shown excellence in vocational education and training across a wide variety of skills and trades,” Mr Steel said.
“These awards show the extraordinary opportunities offered by VET for Canberrans to acquire the skills to obtain well paid, secure jobs and build their careers.
“As Canberra’s grows rapidly, it is also crucial we provide our workforce and students with the right skills for in-demand jobs for industry and our economy.
“We know that VET will play a central role in the upskilling of our workforce to meet future skills needs and challenges in the new economy including energy and technology as well as traditional trades and the growing caring industry.
“The stories of our finalists show the benefits of vocational education and training, and we hope that they inspire others to consider taking up training or an apprenticeship.”
“They also show the benefits of successful businesses in investing in people and their future of their industries by taking on more apprentices or trainees.”
