North Coast and Mid North Coast Region

The NSW Training Awards are celebrated throughout the state by 9 regional programs.

2025 North Coast & Mid North Coast Training Awards digital program available here.

North Coast Regional Training Services spans from Taree in the south to Tweed Heads in the north. The Regional Training Services team supports local finalists, training providers, government representatives, and departmental staff, and creates opportunities for networking.

Regional award winners may have the chance to represent the North Coast at the NSW State Awards, with the potential to progress to the National Training Awards.

2025 North Coast and Mid North Coast Winners

Name Industry RTO Employer School
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Joshua Maguire Leadership and Management VERTO Carers NSW -
Apprentice of the Year Jake Barlow ESI - Distribution Overhead Essential Energy Essential Energy -
School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Hailee Frost Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Axial Training and International College Oxley Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Newman Senior Technical College
Trainee of the Year Nicole Shedden Allied Health Assistance TAFE NSW Sensational Minds Therapy -
VET in Schools Student of the Year Bodhi Perandis Sport Coaching NSW Department of Education - Tweed River High School
VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year Neil O’Donnell Music - NSW Department of Education -
Vocational Student of the Year
Numoil Smith Early Childhood Education and Care TAFE NSW Goodstart Early Learning -


2025 North Coast Training Awards sponsors 2025 North Coast Training Awards sponsors


Key objectives for 2025

  • Supporting excellence in Vocational Education and Training (VET) through the Training Awards

  • Managing regional nominations, interviews, shortlisting, and feedback

  • Supporting businesses and training organisations to showcase individuals who have excelled in their fields and industries

  • Supporting and guiding Regional Winners who are progressing to the State Awards

  • Providing day-to-day support for all VET learners, trainers, teachers, and training organisations across the region 


2025 Finalists

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year

Name Industry Employer RTO Host Employer School
Lamah Coe Conservation and Ecosystem Management Zeal Futures Zeal Futures Learning Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water St John Paul College
Summer Loadsman Sport and Recreation Australian Training Company Australian Training Company National Rugby League Ltd Grafton High School
Joshua Maguire Leadership and Management Carers NSW VERTO - -

Apprentice of the Year

Name Industry Employer RTO
Jake Barlow ESI - Distribution Overhead Essential Energy Essential Energy
Matthew Baxter Electrotechnology Electrician Light Touch Electrical TAFE NSW
Hannah Wells Painting and Decorating Essential Maintenance Industries Gimbal Training

School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year

Name Industry Employer RTO School
Hailee Frost Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Oxley Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Axial Training and International College Newman Senior Technical College
Felix Quaresmini Commercial Cookery Kempsey Macleay RSL Club TAFE NSW Newman Senior Technical College
Jorja Willis Individual Support Dougherty Villa KARBEN Training Solutions Grafton High School

Trainee of the Year

Name Industry Employer Host Employer RTO
Teleisha Dudgeon Business Programmed Skilled Workforce Tweed Shire Council Programmed Skilled Workforce
Soul Nicholson Health Services Assistance Hunter New England Local Health District - TAFE NSW
Nicole Shedden Allied Health Assistance Sensational Minds Therapy - TAFE NSW

VET in Schools Student of the Year

Name Industry RTO School
Caprice Bailey Health Services Assistance TAFE NSW The Rivers Secondary College - Kadina High Campus
Kayla Maher Dunn Hospitality NSW Department of Education Tweed River High School
Bodhi Perandis Sport Coaching NSW Department of Education Tweed River High School

VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year

Name Industry Employer
Karen McCann Sports Coaching Catholic Schools Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
Neil O’Donnell Music NSW Department of Education
Kristen Perkins Business Services NSW Department of Education

Vocational Student of the Year

Name Industry Employer RTO
Zachary Butler Timber Systems Design TimberFast NTHA Training
John Ray Health Services Assistance Northern NSW Local Health District TAFE NSW
Numoil Smith Early Childhood Education and Care Goodstart Early Learning TAFE NSW


Key Industries in the Region

Popular apprenticeships include:

  • Certificate III in Carpentry

  • Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

  • Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology

  • Certificate III in Plumbing

  • Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Overhead

Popular traineeships include:

  • Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

  • Certificate III in Individual Support

  • Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice

  • Certificate III in Travel


Notable Alumni

2024 State Finalists

  • VET in Schools Student of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Katie Johnson

2023

  • VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year Winner (NSW) - Colin Taranto

  • Vocational Student of the Year Winner (NSW) - Tracie Wood

  • Trainee of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Ciara Smith

2022

  • Trainee of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Charlie Grimshaw

  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Deleila Roberts

  • Apprentice of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Jonathon O’Connor

  • Vocational Student of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Sara Morgan

2021

  • School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Winner (NSW) – Chelsea McInnes

  • VET in Schools Student of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Bejay Dennis

  • Trainee of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Laura Walker

  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Tamazyn Ledden

2020

  • Vocational Student of the Year Winner (NSW) - Jon Frost

  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Gary Wimbus

  • Apprentice of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Jordon Peterson

  • Trainee of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Monique Burns

  • School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Finalist (NSW) - Theodore Scholl


Postcodes Covered by this Region

Check your region by postcode.


Contact details

For more information about the North Coast & Mid North Coast Regional Training Awards, please contact:

Tina Foster
E: Tina.Foster@det.nsw.edu.au
M: 0477 350 183

Category:

  • Skills
  • VET

Topics:

  • VET

Business Unit:

  • Training Services
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