The Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT Awards (AEN Awards) recognise outstanding vocational education and training achievements. The awards reward and honour the achievements of apprentices, trainees, host employers and group training organisations.
The AEN Awards will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney on Friday, 11th October 2024.
Apprentice of the Year
Trainee of the Year
Excellence in Group Training
First Nations Trainee/Apprentice of the Year
Inclusion Trainee/Apprentice of the Year
Women in Trades Trainee/Apprentice of the Year
School Based Trainee/Apprentice of the Year
Large Host of the Year
Small Host of the Year
Pooley Downing Award (Recognising two apprentices/trainees within the building industry and provided by the Co-operative Housing Societies Association of NSW)
Award Partners for 2024
We would like to acknowledge our partners for the 2024 awards event.
Category Partners
Award Partners
. 
Opportunities are still available for sponsorship. Please click here to view the current sponsorship prospectus. For more information, please call Jason Sultana on 0419 466 584 or email jason@aennswact.com.au
To bring us into line with calendar-year eligibility, individual nominations for 2024 must have completed or are due to complete their apprenticeship/traineeship between 1 October 2023 and 31 December 2024.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED**Nominations and required supporting documentation/information must be lodged online by 11.59 pm SUNDAY 11TH AUGUST 2024 (NEW DATE). AEN NSW & ACT reserves the right to extend the nomination closing date if necessary.
A panel of judges will be appointed by AEN NSW & ACT to assess the applications based on the criteria submitted on the application form. It is expected that the decisions of the panel will be made based on the written application. No interviews will be held.
Depending on the volume and quality of nominations received AEN NSW & ACT may vary the number and title of categories from those published on this online nomination form.
The information provided by the applicant/nominee on this entry form will be used by the Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT for administration, judging and general communication regarding the 2024 AEN Awards. The provision of this information is essential to determine your eligibility for consideration for an Award. Information will be stored securely. Information and images may also be used to promote the awards post the event in the media and through our partners.
If all or any of the required information is not provided then AEN NSW & ACT may deem the application incomplete and may consider the nominee ineligible for entry in the 2024 AEN Awards.
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.
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 the Assessment Criteria information for each category is a button to click on to start the submission process.
You must complete the online submission form for the category when submitting. In order to complete a nomination successfully, you will also be required to upload:
Size limits are applicable with each upload so please be aware of this when nominating.
Up to 2 nominations per category allowed
Apprentice of the year
Trainee of the year
Candidates may only be nominated by their Group Training Organisation and the Group Training Organisation must be a financial member of AEN NSW ACT at the time of the nomination being received.
Candidates must have training agreements registered with Training Services NSW or Skills Canberra; and
Have completed, or are due to complete their training between 1 October 2023 and 31 December 2024 in a training course that leads to a nationally recognised outcome or qualification relevant to this award.
Inclusion Trainee / Apprentice of the Year
The nominee must meet the full criteria for the Apprentice or Trainee of the Year category. The aim of this inclusion award is to embrace all people irrespective of race, gender, disability, medical or other needs. In addition:
The individual should identify in their application what has impacted them to complete their apprenticeship or traineeship; and
At the discretion of the Group Training Organisation and the apprentice/trainee, the candidate may also be nominated for the Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards.
First Nations Trainee / Apprentice of the Year
The nominee must meet the full criteria for the Apprentice or Trainee of the Year category. In addition:
At the discretion of the Group Training Organisation and the apprentice/trainees, the candidate may also be nominated for the apprentice or trainee of the year awards.
School-Based Trainee / Apprentice of the Year
The nominee must be attending a registered school in NSW or ACT and completing a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship in 2024
Women in Trades Trainee / Apprentice of the Year
The candidate must be a female Apprentice or Trainee in a trade recognised as male-dominated.
One nomination per GTO is only allowed.
Excellence in Group Training
1. This is to recognise an AEN NSW ACT Member Group Training Organisation.
2. Must have provided an exceptional program, initiative or item that has made a difference in the last 12 months.
One nomination per GTO only allowed.
AEN Employee of the Year
1. Must be employed within an AEN NSW ACT Member Group Training Organisation.
2. Must be able to demonstrate exceptional performance in the last 12 months.
3. GTO CEOs and General Managers are not eligible to be nominated.
One nomination per GTO is only allowed for the Small host category.
One nomination per GTO is only allowed for the Large Host category.
Small Host Employer – (Less than 20 Employees)
Large Host Employer – (20 or more Employees)
Must have had one apprentice or trainee with the host within 2024.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL GTOS – Do not leave it to the apprentice or trainee to complete the nomination online. I strongly urge field staff to assist in the nomination process to ensure all the criteria is met and that judges best understand why this individual should be nominated. Judges can only assess on what they are provided in the nomination process.
Jason Sultana
Executive Officer
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT
P: 0419 466 584
E: jason@aennswact.com.au
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:
Off the Job Training (Including evidence of TAFE/RTO results)
Points for guidance:
Personal Skills
Points for guidance:
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:
Quality of Training provided to apprentices and trainees
Examples might include:
Support for the Group Training system and overall relationship with the Group Training Company
Examples might include:
Excellence in Group Training
This award is aimed to recognise a GTO for demonstrating outstanding contributions to the success our industry.
Excellence and Innovation
Client focus
Professionalism & commitment to support services for VET and GTOs
AEN Employee of the Year
This award is aimed to recognise an individual inside a GTO who has made a significant impact on the Group Training Industry in the last 12 months. GTO CEO’s & General Managers are not eligible to be nominated.
Excellence and Innovation
