2020 Group Training Awards

The 2020 Winners

2020 NSW & ACT Group Training Awards - Recorded Event

The Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT (AEN NSW & ACT) conducts the 2020 NSW & ACT Group Training Awards to recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector. The awards reward and honour the achievements of apprentices, trainees, host employers and group training organisations.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we have made the decision to move the awards to a pre-recorded online event this year. We regret we will not be holding a face to face awards night however plan to move back to this in 2021.

Award Partners 2020 & 2021

We would like to acknowledge our partners for the 2020 & 2021 awards events.

TAFE NSW Enterprise

Training Services NSW

AustralianSuper

AAPathways

Closing Date

Nominations and required supporting documentation/information must be lodged online by 5 pm Monday 17th AUGUST 2020 (NEW DATE). AEN NSW & ACT reserves the right to extend the nomination closing date if necessary.

Selection Process

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.

Variation of Awards

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.

Privacy Notice

The information provided by the applicant/nominee on this entry form will be used by the Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT for the purpose of administration, judging and general communication in regard to the 2020 NSW & ACT Group Training Awards. Provision of this information is essential to determine your eligibility for considerations of an Award. Information will be stored securely. Information and images may also be used in the promotion of the awards post the event in the media and through our event 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 2020 NSW & ACT Group Training Awards.

How to apply

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.

General Eligibility Criteria

Up to 2 nominations per category allowed

Apprentice of the year
Trainee of the year

  1. 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.

  2. Candidates must have training agreements registered with the NSW Department of Industry or Skills Canberra; and

  3. Have completed, or due to complete their training between 1 October 2019 and 30 September 2020 in a training course that leads to a nationally recognised outcome or qualification relevant to this award.

Trainee / Apprentice of the Year – Disability

The nominee must meet the full criteria from the Apprentice or Trainee of the year category. In addition:

  1. The Group Training Organisation must be in receipt of Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS) for the nominee; and

  2. 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.

Trainee / Apprentice of the Year – Indigenous

The nominee must meet the full criteria from the Apprentice or Trainee of the year category. In addition:

  1. The candidate must be of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as such and be accepted as such in the community in which they live; and

  2. 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.

Trainee / Apprentice of the Year – School Based

The nominee must be attending a registered school in NSW or ACT and completing a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship in 2020.

Trainee / Apprentice of the Year – Woman in Non-Traditional Trade

The nominee must meet the full criteria from the Apprentice or Trainee of the year category. In addition:

  1. The candidate must be a female Apprentice or Trainee in a trade recognised as male-dominated.

One nomination per GTO only allowed.

Excellence in Group Training

  1. Must be employed within a AEN NSW ACT Member Group Training Organisation.

  2. May be an individual, a team or the organisation.

  3. Can focus on a project, WHS or other strategy implemented in the organisation.

One nomination per GTO only allowed.

Excellence in WHS

1. The WHS submission must be related to the GTO and not ancillary businesses associated within the GTO.

2. The submission must be related to outcomes within the last 24 months.

One nomination per GTO only allowed for Small host category.
One nomination per GTO only allowed for Large Host category.

Host Employer – Small (Less than 20 Employees)
Host Employer – Large (20 or more Employees)

  1. Must have had one apprentice or trainee with host within 2020.

Submit a nomination

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. 

For all enquiries and questions about the awards, please contact:

Jason Sultana
Executive Officer
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT

P: 0419 466 584
E: jason@aennswact.com.au

Assessment Criteria for each Award

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, 

Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – Disability, 

Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – Indigenous, 

Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – Woman in Non-Traditional Trade, 

Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – School Based

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 about 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)
Submit a nomination

Host Employer of the Year – Small and Large

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 provision of on the job training to meet training requirements (e.g.rotation, flexible delivery)
  • Take up or retention of apprentices/trainees in 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 Occupational Health & Safety systems
  • Interaction with TAFE/RTO
  • Availability and quality of supervision and supervisors; and
  • Additional support and/or development 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 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
Submit a nomination

Excellence in Group Training

This award is aimed to recognise a GTO/Team/ Individual for demonstrating outstanding contribution to the success of their GTO and the wider industry.

Excellence and Innovation

  • Examples of how the GTO/Team/Individual makes a significant contribution to excellence in the field.
  • How the GTO/Team/Individual addresses the needs of internal and external clients
  • What is unique or innovative about the GTO/Team/Individual has provided.

Client focus

  • Systems and processes for collecting information on client needs and satisfaction
  • Demonstrated recognition and/or acknowledgement from clients, students and colleagues
  • Any specialist support provided for students with special needs, such as Indigenous students, students with disabilities, students from a non-English speaking background, students in remote areas, gifted and talented students.

Professionalism & commitment to support services for VET and GTOs

  • Demonstrated efficiency, accuracy and timeliness in dealing with customer enquiries
  • Contribution to performance enhancement efforts such as professional development of other staff, acting as mentors, guides or models for others.
  • Contribution to achieving GTO and VET goals
  • How the individual or team engaged with other professionals to improve the GTO standard of services provided to clients.

Excellence in WHS

This award is aimed to recognise a GTO who has made a significant impact to WHS within the Group Training Industry

Excellence and Innovation

  • Examples of how your GTO made a significant contribution towards WHS in the workplace.
  • How the GTO addresses the WHS needs of internal and external clients
  • What is unique or innovative about your GTO WHS strategy
  • What outcomes were achieved as a result
Submit a nomination