Apprentices named best in Australia
24 November 2010
Apprentices named best in Australia
The best of Australia’s talented and committed young workers in the electrotechnology industry were recognised at the annual Apprentice of the Year Awards hosted by peak electrical industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) on Wednesday night 24 November 2010.
Stephen Mullins from Woronora Heights in New South Wales was named the NECA Apprentice of the Year in the Communications category.
Kane Osborne from Aspendale Gardens in Victoria was named the NECA Apprentice of the Year in the Commercial and Domestic category.
Liam Casey from South Plympton was named the NECA Apprentice of the Year in the Industrial category
The winning apprentices were named in front of over 200 industry representatives including electrical contractors, educators and government representatives at Doltone House at Jones Wharf in Sydney.
The 2010 NECA Apprentice of the Year Awards is an opportunity for the industry to officially recognise the talent and contribution of apprentices to the electrotechnology industry in Australia.
NECA chief executive officer, Mr James Tinslay, said that the judges were impressed with the development of all three winning apprentices and found them to be the best performing apprentice in Australia.
“Stephen, Kane and Liam should be very proud of the fact they have been judged the best electrical apprentice in Australia. The competition was very strong this year and it is very encouraging to see such high calibre apprentices entering the industry,” Mr Tinslay said.
The apprentice awards are also held to recognise the role employers play in training apprentices.
“It is important to remember that it is not only the apprentices and training organisations working to build skills in our industry.
“Many businesses like Mr Casey’s employer, PEER VEET and host TENIX Australia, Mr Osborne’s employer, Apps Electrics and Mr Mullins’ employer NECA Group Training, and host Stowe Australia engage apprentices giving them the guidance and opportunities required to complete their trade. Without the assistance of businesses in our industry, apprentices would not get the on-the-job training that is so important,” Mr Tinslay said.
NECA has a long standing commitment to training and currently owns or co-owns group training companies that employ of 2000 apprentices nation-wide.
The winners and finalists were:
Industrial Category
First Place: Liam Casey from South Australia
Employer: PEER VEET
Host: TENIX Australia
Second Place: James Pitts from Victoria
Employer: O’Donnell Griffin
Third Place: Matthew Bamborough from Western Australia
Employer: Electrical Group Training
Host: Power Solutions
Communications Category
First Place: Stephen Mullins from New South Wales
Employer: NECA Group Training
Host: Stowe Australia
Second Place: Vasilaki Georgiou from South Australia
Employer: PEER VEET
Host: Airservices Australia
Commercial / Domestic Category
First Place: Kane Osborne from Victoria
Employer: Apps Electrical
Second Place: Paul Solarz from Western Australia
Employer: Electrical Group Training
Host: Vision Cabling Systems
Third Place: Matthew Gioffre from South Australia
Employer: Deadshot Electrical
-ENDS-
NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide. For further information go to http://www.neca.asn.au.
Media Enquiries: Dominic Feenan Media and Communications Manager on 02 9439 8523 / 0457 767 328