Apprentice of the year award

A mechanical engineering apprentice from Dubbo has won top honours at the 2003 NSW Group Training Awards.

Apprentice of the Year was named as Tim Driver from Dubbo Agricultural and General Engineering, and Trainee of the Year went to Jonathon Hewett of Innovation Associates.

Sponsored by the Department of Education and Training - New Apprenticeships Centres (DETNAC), the Group Training Association (GTA) of NSW's two highest-level winners were selected from eight and 11 categories respectively. New Apprentice of the Year awards were also given out in Disability, Indigenous and School-Based Part-Time categories. Other areas of recognition included Host Employer of the Year and Group Training Initiative.

Of the 33 individual finalists, approximately 60% were from country NSW covering vocations ranging from bricklaying to horticulture to business services. The formal event, hosted by Steve Liebmann and featuring guest-of-honour, Commonwealth Minister for Education, Science and Training, Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, celebrated the learning and achievements of people and organisations from locations far and wide across the state.

Phillip Moore, director, DETNAC - awards' major sponsor - said in his keynote address, "As a result of the work of Group Training Companies, or GTCs, many young - and not-as-young - Australians are being given the opportunity to embark on fulfilling career paths with nationally recognised qualifications - without going to university."

Moore continued, "In addition to the admirable efforts put in by our apprentices and trainees, their host employers should be loudly applauded for giving them a go and contributing that all-important on-the-job training necessary to do any job well."