Western Australian women have dominated the 30th WA Training Awards, taking home seven out of the eight individual awards, highlighting the modern face of the State's vocational training sector.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary, the WA Training Awards were held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre last night and recognised the outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees, employers and training organisations in the vocational training sector.
Women's participation in WA's vocational training system has increased by 6.5 per cent in the year to 30 August 2024, with more women choosing to take up training opportunities in the sector so they can take up rewarding and in-demand jobs in the State's workforce.
Ellie Wotherspoon is one of many young Western Australian women who have chosen an apprenticeship pathway to pursue a trades career in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Ellie was recognised as the WA Apprentice of the Year for her incredible achievement of concurrently completing an electrical apprenticeship (March 2024), while also completing a Bachelor of Education (due for completion in October 2024).
Ellie is passionate about inspiring the next generation of students - particularly women - to pursue trades-based career pathways. With a trade and a teaching qualification, Ellie is a stand-out in the workforce and a fantastic role model for other young women.
WA's School-based Apprentice of the Year, Ffion Henderson will soon graduate year 12, with four nationally-recognised certificate qualifications and a full-time job, thanks to her pursuit of a vocational, employed-based training pathway as part of her secondary education.
Ffion credits her vocational pathway for giving her a head start to explore her career options and get job-ready for the workforce while still at school. Her training with employer Rottnest Express allowed Ffion to develop an array of skills both on and off the boats and extensive experience in different operating environments.
Ffion is ready to pursue a career on the ocean and plans to continue training in the maritime industry and working on boats with Rottnest Express.
Ellie and Ffion will be among six individual WA Training Award recipients who will represent the State at the Australian Training Awards in Canberra in December 2024.
In the organisation award categories, the MTA WA Training was awarded WA Large Training Provider of the Year 2024 for its contributions to skilling the next generation of light vehicle automotive technicians.
The 2024 WA Training Awards are made possible thanks to continuing support from awards partner the State Training Board, principal sponsor MEGT, and sponsors Training Accreditation Council WA, Apprenticeship Support Australia powered by Chamber of Commerce of Industry WA, Construction Training Fund, Maxima, and ReadyTech.
Comments attributed to Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk:
"This year's WA Training Awards individual finalists and winners reflect the changing face of our State's vocational training system. TAFE is no longer a 'plan B' to university - and it's no longer just a training pathway for young men to pursue trade qualifications - it's an inclusive place where everyone can benefit from the world-class training opportunities available. More Western Australian women are now choosing TAFE, enabling them to develop the skills needed to break barriers and take up high-paying jobs in traditionally male-dominated industries, such as building and construction, engineering and electrical, and mining and resources.".
"The individual training award winners exemplify what's possible through our State's training system and they're excellent ambassadors for WA's vocational training sector. Congratulations to the 2024 WA training Award winners."
Individual winners
WA Trainer of the Year: Lisa Piller — Subiaco
Lecturer - South Metropolitan TAFE in Fashion and Fashion Business
Lisa Piller is a researcher, academic and advocate for systemic change to the fashion supply chain. As a lecturer in fashion design and fashion business, she draws on her extensive experience working in fashion product design and development, with a focus on sustainable supply chain management. Lisa is a published academic and is involved in several committees and working groups.
An advocate for VET teaching and learning and the positive impact it can have for young people, Lisa has also been involved with WorldSkills Australia for many years. This experience, combined with her research and advocacy in sustainability and the circular economy has connected her to a broad VET and tertiary community throughout Australia, enabling her to benchmark training and delivery at TAFEs across the country.
WA International Student of the Year: Thais Carrascoza — Beeliar
Diploma of Community Services, trained at: Acknowledge Education
Fuelled by a desire to help women who are victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives, Thais enrolled in the Diploma of Community Services with the aim of making a positive impact in her community. Originally from Brazil, she wanted to offer support and assistance to empower marginalised people, in particular, women from diverse backgrounds.
By undertaking her training, Thais hopes to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively address the needs of those women affected by domestic violence. Learning counselling techniques, case management strategies and cultural sensitivity has been invaluable. She says she applies her newfound expertise in real-world settings, while working directly with multicultural women to offer them the assistance and guidance they deserve. Thais' goal is to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.
WA Cultural Diversity Training Award: Tingting Cai — Willetton
Certificate IV in Business. Employed by: Crown Resorts Perth, trained at North Metropolitan TAFE
Whether through advocacy, education or direct community engagement, Tingting is committed to making a positive impact by encouraging women and new immigrants in Australia to further their education and skills, resulting in a boost to their confidence and wellbeing.
Originally from China, Tingting has completed a Certificate III in Spoken and Written English, Certificate III in Hospitality, and a Certificate IV in Business. Juggling study, work and family commitments, Tingting has worked hard to gain a valuable range of business skills, empowering her with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in her career. She is excited about the future and the opportunity to progress in her field.
WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year: Albert Bevan — Broome
Certificate IV in Mental Health. Employed by: Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Services. Trained at Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services.
Having completed his Certificate IV in Mental Health with Kimberley Aboriginal Services, Albert is now employed at the Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Services as a Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officer. He says completing his qualification has given him a greater understanding of mental health within his professional role and as an individual. It has given him insight into the importance of education and skills to be able to identify, address, manage and provide support for mental health.
He uses his lived experience to naturally talk to people of all walks of life about the importance of good mental health. Albert has become an advocate for training, citing his training experience as a truly remarkable and significant journey for him.
WA Vocational Student of the Year: Thanh Thuy (Miley) Nguyen — Wattle Grove
Diploma of Community Services - Mental Health. Trained at Insight Training.
A longing to make a difference, and soul searching to find a career pathway that would align with her values and aspirations, Miley made the decision to leave a career in civil engineering to embark on a training journey that would allow her to discover "profound happiness and inner peace."
Driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the lives around her, and to serve the community and assist people in need, she enrolled in a Certificate IV of Community Services at South Metropolitan TAFE, and recently completed a Diploma of Community Services — Mental Health at Insight Training. Here Miley has gained invaluable insight and says her training has profoundly impacted her personally and professionally, as her lecturers were industry professionals who provided practical approaches that helped her bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
WA Trainee of the Year: Almira Dall — Cowaramup
Certificate IV in Agriculture. Employed by: Kerridge Farm Pty Ltd. Trained at Western Dairy/South Regional TAFE.
After completing year 12, Almira was ready to commence a university pathway when she decided to take a gap year. Within weeks she was working on a dairy farm, quickly discovering a love for the practical, hands-on work. She enrolled in a traineeship and completed a Certificate III and Certificate IV in the agricultural industry.
Working on a farm has provided unique and challenging situations for Almira, from opening her front door to discover a herd of cattle in her garden, to helping sick and injured animals. Almira is now a champion for the sector, highlighting the benefits of doing a traineeship and pursuing a career in the dynamic agricultural industry.
WA School-based Apprentice of the Year: Ffion Henderson — Bicton
Certificate II in Workplace Skills. Employed by: Rottnest Express. Trained at Vocational Training Services.
When Ffion was in primary school, she volunteered at a turtle sanctuary in the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia working alongside marine biologists. This experience forever influenced her decision to pursue a marine-based career pathway. Her school VET co-ordinator encouraged her to undertake a school-based traineeship in Workplace Skills and complete a Certificate II in Aquaculture, and then a Certificate IV in Marine Biology in Year 12.
She landed the first ever traineeship position with Rottnest Express and is the youngest person to work on the boats. Her dyslexia diagnosis made some academic achievements challenging but since starting her traineeship, gaining hands-on experience has helped her confidence grow in learning new skills in marine biology and boating, further fuelling her passion to pursue a career in marine tourism and marine engineering.
WA Apprentice of the Year: Ellie Wotherspoon — Wembley Downs
Certificate III in Engineering (Industrial Electrician). Employed by Woodside Energy. Trained at South Metropolitan TAFE.
Despite her grandfather, father and brother all being electricians, Ellie was always aware there were few female tradespeople in the country town she grew up in. Undeterred, Ellie stepped headfirst into the male-dominated energy industry through her apprenticeship and has since become an advocate for women in non-traditional trades.
And if that is not enough, she also undertook a Bachelor of Secondary Education simultaneously, due for completion later this year. Through sheer dedication and determination, Ellie is on track to inspire the next generation of tradeswomen by taking her message straight to the source - secondary students planning their future career paths.
Organisation winners
Industry Collaboration Award: Fast Tracking a Skilled Workforce Initiative
Fast Tracking a Skilled Workforce is a collaboration comprising not for profit disability service providers Crosslinks (as the Lead Agency), Goldfields Individual and Family Support Association, Midwest Community Living Association, 4lifeskills, Essential Personnel, Diversity South, iinduct, and the DaV'ange Group.
The collaboration aims to provide existing disability support workers in regional and remote Western Australia the opportunity to quickly advance their skills and qualifications through blended learning, including face-to-face training, video-enabled learning, mapping of induction and in-service training, and Recognised Prior Learning. This provides solutions to workforce challenges faced by the disability sector, by enabling workers to gain formal qualifications, which leads to a skilled workforce, enhanced compliance and higher retention of staff.
Large Employer of the Year: WesTrac
As one of the world's leading Caterpillar dealers and part of the Seven Group Holdings, WesTrac has been in operation for 34 years, providing equipment solutions to the mining, construction, forestry, agriculture, and transport industries. With 28 branches nationally and over 3,000 employees across Western Australia, WesTrac provides customers with a wide range of machinery and construction equipment as well as comprehensive whole-of-life management solutions to make owning and operating equipment easy, safe, and profitable.
WesTrac ensures its people have the right skills, tools, and operating environment to achieve success. Through its purpose-built WesTrac Institute operating for over 30 years and a Technology Training Centre in Collie, its Learning and Development team provide an exceptional setting to foster and facilitate the organisation's learning culture.
Small Training Provider of the Year: Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Ltd
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) is a member-based, regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO), providing support and representing the interests of eight independent ACCHOs from towns and remote communities across the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and Kimberley Renal Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Governed by a board made up of highly respected and experienced Aboriginal representatives, KAMS delivers holistic and culturally-appropriate healthcare services through remote health centres in the Kimberley region and is recognised locally and nationally as an advocate for the Kimberley Aboriginal health sector. KAMS Registered Training Organisation is committed to providing high quality VET training, creating a sustainable, enduring Aboriginal health workforce to ensure culturally safe services are delivered across the region.
Large Training Provider of the Year: MTA WA Training
Driven by innovation, industry partnership and excellence, MTA WA Training has become the premier trainer of light vehicle technicians in Western Australia. Based in Balcatta, its membership comprises nearly 1,600 businesses, ranging from major automotive corporations to small and family-owned enterprises across the State.
Representing the full automotive supply chain, its members span the retail, service, repairs, and maintenance sectors, providing a broad and diverse representation of the automotive industry. Its mission is to protect member interests while supporting, growing, and developing the automotive industry in WA. This extends to providing industry-leading training, with a particular focus on training the next generation of light vehicle automotive technicians.
