AEN Awards

Read through the General Eligibility and Assessment Criteria on this page for the nominating category. All award nominations must be submitted online via this website. No email or paper based nominations will be accepted. At the bottom of this tab is a button to click on to start the submission process.

You must complete the online submission form for the category when submitting. For each category there is a nomination document that can be used. To access the document, click on the relevant category below. This can be used to address the criteria. If used it will need to be uploaded with the submission.

• • Apprentice of the Year – click here
  • Trainee of the Year – click here
  • Inclusion Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – click here
  • First Nations Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – click here
  • Women in Trades Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – click here
  • School-Based Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – click here
  • Small Host Employer of the Year – click here
  • Large Host Employer of the Year – click here
  • Excellence in Group Training – click here
  • Pooley Downing Award -This annual award is provided by the Cooperative Housing Societies Association of NSW. The award is named after WALLACE G. POOLEY and KEITH E. DOWNING and commemorates their exceptional services provided over a period of 43 years to the Cooperative Housing Societies Association of NSW. This award recognises two apprentices/trainees inside the building industry. Nominations for this award will be incorporated in the nominations form.
• An image of the nominee or host logo for host employers. The image must be of quality and will be used on the awards night if a finalist. We would like a portrait shot (head and shoulders) of the nominee.
• An additional supporting document to lodge with the nomination. This must include a 100-word biography of the nominee. This information will be used on the awards night if the nominee is a finalist. 

Size limits are applicable with each upload so please be aware of this when nominating.

Access the AEN Awards Nomination Guide – Individual Categories.

Each submission should address the following assessment criteria on a Word or PDF document that will be required to be attached to the nomination online:

Apprentice of the Year, 

Trainee of the Year, 

Inclusion Trainee/Apprentice of the Year,

First Nations Trainee/Apprentice of the Year, 

Women in Trades Trainee/Apprentice of the Year, 

School-Based Trainee/Apprentice of the Year

On the Job Performance
Points for guidance:

1. Skill development (e.g. the rapid development of competencies, the height of skill attained, any additional skills developed and translation of skills attained off the job into the workplace, Awards or recognition received).
2. Knowledge of Host Employer’s business.
3. Awareness and understanding of new developments and trends in apprentice/trainee’s workplace or industry.
4. Overall work performance and commitment to the apprenticeship/traineeship.
5. Demonstrated commitment to safe work practices.

Off the Job Training (Including evidence of TAFE/RTO results)
Points for guidance:

1. TAFE/RTO Results (e.g. consistent high grades, awards received and/ or additional studies undertaken).
2. Demonstration of the integration of skills learnt off the job with on the job performance.
3. Understanding of the vocational education and training system and the value of learning; (eg understanding why they are doing training both on and off the job training; what is great about the pathway/career they have chosen).

Personal Skills
Points for guidance:

1. Communication skills and personal presentation, (e.g. effective written and oral communication, level and quality of communication with GTO, host and/or TAFE/RTO).
2. Team Work and Leadership (e.g. self started projects and team participation).
3. Goal setting and planning (e.g. work involving goal setting and attainment).
4. Self reliance (e.g. demonstrated ability to manage own skill and personal development).
5. Community involvement relevant to their apprenticeship/traineeship (eg an apprentice cook who volunteers in a nursing home).

Small Host Employer of the Year (less than 20 employees)
Large Host Employer of the Year (20 or more employees)

Commitment to the Apprenticeship & Traineeship system
Examples might include:

• Numbers of apprentices and trainees in training (currently and over time).
• Responsiveness to requirements of the Contract of Training/Training Plan.
• Flexibility in the provision of on-the-job training to meet training requirements (e.g.rotation, flexible delivery).
• Take up or retention of apprentices/trainees in the difficult business environment.
• Willingness to take on out-of-trade apprentices/trainees.

Quality of Training provided to apprentices and trainees

Examples might include:

• Integration of on-the-job and off-the-job training.
• Integration of training into business operations.
• Quality of Work Health & Safety systems.
• Interaction with TAFE/RTO.
• Availability and quality of supervision and supervisors; and
• Additional support and/or development are offered to apprentices and trainees to meet their skill and personal development needs.

Support for the Group Training system and overall relationship with the Group Training Company

Examples might include:

• Length of time of relationship with Group Training Organisation.
• Nature of relationship with GTO (e.g. has the GTO been involved in specific projects, business planning or other activities that show the strength of relationship).
• Communication – timeliness and quality of interactions on all issues to do with apprentices and trainees.
• Support for on-the-job assessment processes.

GTOs must be aware that no free tickets will be issued to finalists to attend the event. We would ask GTOs to cover any costs associated with finalists attending on the night.