Three electrical apprentices that demonstrated consistent levels of excellence throughout their training were recognised as the best in Australia at the annual Apprentice of the Year Awards held at Sumac at Docklands in Melbourne on 23 November 2011.

The 2011 NECA Apprentice of the Year Awards is an opportunity for the industry to officially recognise the talent of the top apprentices across the three industry sectors of industrial, commercial/domestic and communications.

Chief executive officer of NECA, Mr James Tinslay, said that the judges were impressed with the development of all three winning apprentices.

“To be named Apprentice of the Year in their individual categories is something Natalie, Richard and Kurt should be very proud of,” Mr Tinslay said.

“The judges compared the academic achievements and on-the-job accomplishments from all of the submissions and decided that these three are the best performing apprentices in Australia. It is very pleasing to see a mature age and female apprentice excelling in the industry because it is possible for anyone who is committed to make a great career from the opportunities being an electrician can offer.”

The apprentice awards are also held to recognise the important role employers play in training apprentices.

“It is important to remember that it is not only the apprentices and training institutions working to build skills in our industry.

“Many businesses like DESA Australia, Degree C and Downer EDI Engineering Power engage apprentices and provide them with the support and opportunities they need to develop the practical component of their trade.

“Without the assistance of the business community apprentices would not get the on-the-job training that is so important to the electrical and communications industry,” Mr Tinslay said.

The 2011 NECA Apprentice of the Year Results

Industrial Category

First Place: Kurt Donovan from New South Wales Employer: Downer EDI Engineering Power

Second Place: Graeme Mitchell from Victoria Employer: NECA Apprenticeships Host: Thiess Degremont

Third Place: Timothy Langdale from Tasmania Employer: Tastec Group Training Host: Nyrstar

Commercial and Domestic Category

First Place: Richard Styles from Tasmania Employer: Degree C

Second Place: Michael Bruns from Victoria Employer: Stowe Australia

Third Place: Rosemary Ampt from South Australia Employer: PEER VEET Host: Elec-Air

Communications

First Place: Natalie Plain from Victoria Employer: DESA Australia

Second Place: Patrick Murphy from the ACT Employer: Ross Communications and Construction Services

Third Place: Trent Hill from New South Wales Employer: NECA Group Training Host: Heyday Group

Apprentice Awards

Apprentice Awards are open to all members to nominate their best and brightest apprentices.

These awards are available to fourth year apprentices, or those who have recently graduated, who have demonstrated a commitment to developing a highly successful career in electrotechnology through excellence in personal development, academic study and workplace competency.

Previous Winners

View the 2010 NECA Apprentice of the Year Winners

View the 2009 NECA Apprentice of the Year Winners

View the 2008 NECA Apprentice of the Year Winners

About the Apprentice Awards

The NECA awards are designed to recognise and reward apprentices and their employers for outstanding performance and commitment to the electrotechnology industry.

These awards present an excellent opportunity for employers who have dedicated time, effort and resources to the future of our industry by nurturing and supporting their workers to gain recognition from their peers and the community.

It is also an opportunity for those nominated and winning apprentices to stand out from the crowd and be recognised for their dedication, hard work and commitment in this challenging industry and to be able to demonstrate that commitment as their careers progress.

NECA has long had a commitment to the training and development of apprentices, recognising that apprentices are the future of the industry in terms of both today's trades people and tomorrow's managers and business owners.

NECA owns Group Training Companies that employ over 2,000 apprentices and part own companies that employ a further 2,000. Through this experience we have recognised the need to increase awareness of the vast range of opportunities within the electrotechnology industry, both for talented young people who are determining which path they will take as they leave school, and for older workers who may be considering a career change.

NECA has been involved with these Apprentice Awards for three decades and will continue to work to ensure a high level of awareness and respect for electrical and communications apprentices in the future.

Categories

Entrants are assessed in the following categories:

• Commercial/Domestic
• Communications
• Industrial

Applicants are initially assessed at a state level, with finalists being invited to an interview with a judging panel. The first, second and third place getters at state level receive a monetary prize and are invited to collect their awards at a state awards event, along with their employers, who also receive a certificate of achievement.

Each state winner is then required to submit a project to be judged nationally by judges from the industry, which includes manufacturers, contractors and trade teachers. Overall winners and first and second runners-up for each category are selected at this final stage, with the winners and place-getters and their employers/hosts being invited to receive their award at the NECA National Apprentice awards function on 23 November 2011 in Melbourne.

Further information

For further information contact your NECA State Chapter.

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