Locals set to shine at Australian Training Awards

NOVEMBER 13, 2018: Australia’s finest apprentices and trainees, including representatives from Mackay and Townsville, will celebrate the sector’s night of nights at the 25th annual Australian Training Awards this week.The event recognises those with outstanding skills, professional characteristics and practices and I congratulate Telstra trainee Kathleen Jones of Mackay who is  a finalist in the Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year category.Congratulations also go to Townsville’s Meagan Beaumont who works at Northern Australia Primary Health Limited. Meagan is a finalist in the ATSI Student of the Year category.Skilled workers are the backbone of Australia’s workforce and for most an apprenticeship or traineeship is the pathway they take to get there.Our region has produced trainees with the right stuff to make the finals in this year’s Australian Training Awards, and I wish them the best at Thursday night's event.Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator The Hon. Michaelia Cash, said it’s incredibly important to recognise how important the VET sector is to Australia.“This is the 25th anniversary of the Australian Training Awards and in that time a generation of skilled workers has come through the VET system and collectively made a remarkable contribution to the nation,” Minister Cash said.“While VET is a pathway to real skills for real careers, these awards recognise those whose personal drive and commitment puts them head and shoulders above the rest.”