Illawarra & South East NSW Region
The NSW Training Awards are celebrated throughout the state by 9 regional programs. View other regions.
2021 Illawarra & South East NSW Training Awards Winners
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Maddison Peisley
VET Course: Certificate III in Business Administration
Trained by: TAFE NSW
Employed by: Southern Youth & Family Services Ltd
Apprentice of the Year
Althea Kruizinga
VET Course: Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
Trained by: TAFE NSW
Employed by: HVTC Pty Ltd
Hosted by: BlueScope Steel Limited
School Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Kade King
VET Course: Certificate II in Animal Studies
Trained by: TAFE NSW
School: Vincentia High School
Employed by: Australian Training Company
Hosted by: Burraga Foundation
Trainee of the Year
Alexia Lara
VET Course: Certificate III in Business Administrationt
Trained by: WEA Illawarra
Employed by: Smart Financial Pty Ltd
VET in Schools Student of the Year
Claire Pettit
VET Course: Certificate II in Agriculture
Trained by: Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn
School: Trinity Catholic College
VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year
Robyn Edwards
VET Course: Hospitality & Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
School: Public Schools NSW – Wagga Wagga
Vocational Student of the Year
William Gasciogne
VET Course: Diploma of Engineering – Technical
Trained by: TAFE NSW
Employed by: Highland Pine Products Pty Ltd
About the committee
The role of the Illawarra & South East NSW Regional Vocational Training Committee (IVTC) is to recognise and promote vocational education and training excellence in our region, particularly through apprenticeships and traineeships. Regional Training Awards are held each year to recognise local achievements.
With the growing importance of vocational training in enhancing the region’s prosperity, the awards play a critical role in our economic landscape by encouraging and celebrating excellence in a broad range of work, community and life skills. Organisations that participate as sponsors in the regional awards are recognised as leading contributors in building a skilled region which, in turn, assists with addressing the national skills shortage.
The Regional Training Awards are organised by the IVTC, which has been active in the region now for more than 50 years. This region covers a large area from Helensburgh in the north, to Eden in the south, and out to Cooma/Monaro, Queanbeyan, Yass, Goulburn and the Southern Highlands.
The IVTC comprises key stakeholders from within the vocational education and training and business arenas.
Each year award winners represent the region at the annual NSW Training Awards in Sydney and may progress to the National Awards.
In 2020 Illawarra and South East Regional NSW were successful in having 3 finalists at the State awards:
- Apprentice-Joshua Nickl - Retail Baking
- Trainee -Shayd Flegg - Early Childhood Education & Care
- SBAT- Cassandra O’Carroll- Conservation & Land Management
Joshua and Cassandra went on to represent the Region at the Australian National Training Awards with Cassandra selected as Runner-up in her category.
Postcodes covered by this region include:
- 2500-2551
- 2575-2584
- 2600-2633
- 2900-2914
Ambassadors
- Troy Everett
- Billy Fox
- Jem Joyce
- Chloe Herbert
Committee members
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
Darryl Leslie - Chair |
Endeavour Energy |
Kirsty Shee - Treasurer |
IMB Bank |
Dannelle Robson - Secretary |
WEA Illawarra |
Graham Frost - Public Officer |
Department of Education – Training Services NSW |
Kelsey Stevenson - TSNSW Representative |
Department of Education – Training Services NSW |
Tony Keir - Vice Chair |
Apprenticeship Support Australia |
Meri Angelkoski - Assistant Secretary |
Department of Education – Training Services NSW |
Dot Hennessy - Media Officer |
Rotary Club of Wollongong |
Meagan Thorpe - Marketing Officer |
1300Apprentice |
Elizabeth Thomas |
UOW College |
Stuart Wilkinson |
TAFE NSW |
Corey DeBruin |
2015 Vocational Student of the Year |
Amanda Whittall |
Apprenticeship Support Australia |
Cathy James |
Disability Trust |
Natalie Fernades |
ECTARC |
Fiona Crane |
R2Go Transition to Work Program |
Rose Grozdanic |
Wollongong City Council |
Rebecca Radic |
Illawarra ITeC |
Adam Knight |
NSW Department of Education |
Teressa O’Brien |
Warrigal Employment |
Pauline Hogg |
MEGT |
Marty Burgess |
Workplace Learning Illawarra |
Jill Heaton |
The Unleashed Collective |
Allannah Clarke |
VERTO |
Karen Ruppert |
Catholic Education Office |
Kirsty Shee |
Industry |
Tania Holmes |
ACCM |
Troy Everett |
TAFE NSW |
Our sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
- ACCM College
- WGE Group
Gold Sponsors
- Endeavour Energy
- Apprenticeship Support Australia
- HVTC
- Australian College of Higher Studies
- VERTO
- 1300apprentice
- Southern IML Pathology
- MEGT
- IMB Bank
- Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy- AusIMM Illawarra Branch
- ECTARC
Silver Sponsors
- Wollongong City Council
- UOW College
- Illawarra ITeC
- Sarina Russo Apprenticeships
- BlueScope WIN Community Partners
Bronze Sponsors
- Warrigal Employment
- Kiama & Shoalhaven Community Colleges
- Fusion Training Services
- Workplace Learning
- Gumnut Pattisserie
- WEA Illawarra
- Walan Miya
Community Sponsors
- Rotary Clubs of Illawarra
- Flagstaff Group
Contact details
For more information about the Illawarra & South East NSW Regional Training Awards, please contact:
Dannelle Robson
Secretary
Illawarra Vocational Training Committee
E: ivtctrainingawards@gmail.com
P: 0401 681 225 or 4240 3700
P.O. Box 469
Wollongong, NSW 2520