Eduardo Carvallo Carrera - NSW Training Awards Program Manager

What is the NSW Training Awards?

The NSW Training Awards is a unique program that recognises excellence and outstanding achievements in the vocational education and training system. The program is run annually by Training Services NSW within the New South Wales Department of Education, identifying the state's extraordinary apprentices, trainees, vocational students, trainers and teachers, Registered Training Organisations and employers.

Regional and state winners act as role models, showcasing the potential of vocational education and training.

All applicants must demonstrate competence in a national training package or awarded skillset. It is important to understand the format of the awards program and what skills are required to be successful.

Eduardo Carvallo Carrera - NSW Training Awards Program Manager

What makes a good vocational education and training ambassador.

One of the aims of the New South Wales Training Awards program is to discover Vocational Education and Training Ambassadors. These are individuals who represent success that is possible through a Vocational Education and Training pathway.

Traits that a good ambassador has are passion, leadership in or out of the workplace, initiative, drive, transparency, humility, perseverance, kindness, teamwork, and even curiosity. Communication skills are also very important.

An ambassador will have many opportunities to speak to different groups of people and connect with students and inspire them to undertake their own vocational journey.

Michelle Heuving - NSW Training Awards Central and Northern Sydney

How can an individual apply for the New South Wales Training Awards.

For individuals, the New South Wales Training Awards provides an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and hard work, potentially becoming a stepping stone in their careers.

To participate in the Training awards, an individual must be nominated by their Employer, Registered Training Organisation or Teacher.

A nominator should be looking for an apprentice, trainee, vocational student, or trainer/teacher who is achieving and performing at a high level in their industry or vocation.

Individuals could also approach their Employer or Registered Training Organisation to express that they would make a great candidate for the New South Wales Training Awards.

Self-nominations for individuals is not accepted. However, the VET Trainer/Teacher can self-nominate with endorsement from their employer or training provider.

Rini Tuhou - NSW Training Awards State Team

How do you submit a nomination for the New South Wales Training Awards?

Nominations for the New South Wales Training Awards are submitted via an online portal. It's crucial that the nominee and nominator submit this together.

If you're not in the same location, you can always do this via Video Conference.

The Learner or Student Teacher/Trainer award category applications consist of six tabs.

Tab one

Selecting the nominee's region, award category, and enter their name.

Tab two

Entry details, including the nominee's trade or vacation, qualification, address, completion date, and more.

Tab three

A brief explanation by the nominator as to why the individual is being nominated.

Tab four

The nominee completes their responses to the selection criterion.

Tab five

Supporting attachments to the nomination. There is a maximum allowance of five pages worth of attachments.

Tab six

This is a checklist to confirm that all submission requirements have been met. Once all tabs are complete, click submit before the closing date.

Rini Tuhou - NSW Training Awards State Team

Why is it important to communicate with an applicant when you nominate them for the New South Wales Training Awards?

If you have identified a potential nominee for the New South Wales Training Awards, it is crucial that you communicate your intentions about wanting to nominate them.

It is counterproductive to prepare an application on a nominee's behalf without discussing it with them. The nominee should have as much input in their application as the nominator.

Ensure you are in a safe environment when you speak to your nominee. Be supportive and explain why you believe they are extraordinary and worthy of this award nomination.

Highlight the opportunities, including the possibility of becoming a New South Wales Training Awards ambassador and progressing their career.

Andrew Constable - NSW Training Awards - New England Region

Benefits of nominating an individual for the New South Wales Training Awards.

The benefits of nominating someone for the New South Wales Training Awards are well worth the time and effort that both the nominator and nominee dedicate to the application.

For a start, if the nominee becomes a regional finalist, the nominator will accompany them on their award journey, whilst elevating the profile of their employer or training provider.

If a nominee becomes a state finalist, they will proceed to the prestigious state event and gain invaluable exposure in the broader New South Wales community and so on, if they proceed to the national stage.

Andrew Constable - NSW Training Awards - New England Region

What supporting attachment should be included on your New South Wales Training Awards nomination.

When completing your New South Wales Training Awards nomination, you need to include attachments to support this.

There are mandatory attachments required for individual categories, including completion evidence or request for competency based completion.

Additional documents that could be included are: your qualification certificate, letter of endorsement, reference, or resume.

There is a limit of five attachments.

Organisation categories must include a CEO endorsement and can also include their logo, videos and photos. There is a limit of ten attachments.

Clint Giddings - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

When completing your application, it's important that you think about how VET has helped you in your everyday life.

For example, you can write about the skills you have taken from your VET pathway into your personal life.

Let's say you are currently doing a carpentry apprenticeship where you have learned various techniques and gained hands-on experience building structures and furniture.

You may have used these skills to assist family and friends, saving them money or hiring contractors, and you've gained a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from completing this project independently.

It's also important that in your application you showcase your ability to communicate clearly and relate strongly to students and learners about the benefits of a VET pathway.

For example, a person who completed an electrical apprenticeship then went on to become a supervisor on a big project.

This individual can not only explain the technical aspects of electrical work, but also share their own personal experiences and the benefits they gained from their VET training.

They can share with current apprentices the real world applications of what they are learning on the job and how the skills they acquire can be applied to meaningful and rewarding careers.

The individual can relate to fellow junior apprentices on a personal level and show them the value of pursuing and completing a qualification which can only help to inspire and motivate them to thrive in their own careers.

Clint Giddings - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

How to apply for the Vet Trainer/Teacher Award category.

Vocational Education and Training programs are dependent on fantastic trainers and teachers who demonstrate excellence in innovation, and focus on the needs of the learners and the industry.

You can apply for the VET Trainer/Teacher Award category with the endorsement from your employer or an RTO you are partnering with to deliver nationally-recognised training in New South Wales.

When completing your application, you should think about your innovative teaching practices and how you connect your students to industry.

Casey Fox - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

Can you apply twice for the New South Wales Training Awards?

You may only be nominated once for a training contract. This means you cannot be nominated twice for the same apprenticeship, traineeship, or vocational course.

However, if you have progressed to the next level in your training, you can be nominated again.

For example, you were previously nominated for the New South Wales Trainee of the Year for Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and you have since completed this and progressed to the diploma.

You can be nominated again for the New South Wales Trainee of the Year, undertaking the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, as it is a different contract.

Casey Fox - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

How can you demonstrate leadership skills in your application?

When completing your Training Awards application, think about your industry and how you benefit your industry by undertaking your vocation or trade.

Where have you positively inspired change? Have you identified the need for additional professional development for you and your fellow apprentices or trainees to ensure they have all the tools they need to succeed in their vocation or trade.

Examples like this one will be the things that separate you from the rest.

We also invite you to consider how you would grow awareness of your industry.

In your application, speak about the benefits of undertaking a trade or vocation, like starting your career straight out of school, or how you found hands-on training that is nationally recognised and can take you anywhere in Australia.

Erin Lynch - NSW Training Awards State Team

What is the process for the individuals who are shortlisted for an interview?

Your nomination will be assessed by your designated Training Awards region.

If you're invited for an interview, you'll be given the chance to answer questions against your application and to share your story and accomplishments.

If you're selected as a regional finalist for your award category, you will be invited to the regional event in June, where the winner will be announced.

If you're the winner of your region, you'll progress to a state interview in mid-July in Sydney.

If you become a state finalist, you'll attend the prestigious New South Wales Training Awards state event in September.

If you're a state winner, you'll be invited to a week of professional development that will prepare you for the Australian Training Awards that are held in November and in your role as a New South Wales Training Awards Ambassador.

One interview can lead to many opportunities.

Ethan Zammit - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

When talking about your career and study achievements under Criterion one.

Think about your entire vocational education and training journey and how VET has helped you become the person you are today.

Why did you choose your VET course? What inspired you to undertake this? Was it a teacher that inspired you? A family member? Or did you want to work for yourself one day, and this was the path to take?

How has it changed or impacted you? What have been the positive and the negative effects of this pathway? What have you gained from undertaking VET?

Think about the opportunities you would have missed out on if you did not undertake your apprenticeship or traineeship.

Speak about the challenges you faced in your training. Identify what may have been difficult throughout your training. Transitioning into a new job or industry. Working in a new team or even the study component.

Tell us your story.

Stella Cox - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

Criterion two team and communication skills.

When examining your eligibility for the New South Wales Training Awards and you are looking at how to respond to Criterion two, think about, what have you been able to tell others about your VET training?

Think about some things that you have told your teammates, family and friends about your apprenticeship or traineeship.

Consider examples when working in a team setting. How did you gain from it? You could provide some examples, such as, I like working in a team setting because it allows me to collaborate with colleagues and learn from their skills and expertise.

Additionally, it can be more fun than working alone and help achieve better results.

When responding to what traits do you think are important to influence others positively, and what traits do you have that could inspire and influence?

You can provide some examples where you've demonstrated commitment and passion in your workplace or your personal life, such as sport activities. Or a time when you have consistently shown respect for others, from dealing with people, regardless of their background or social status, being polite and welcoming.

This is a great example of how you can influence others positively.

Janaya Milgate - NSW Training Awards ambassador

Criterion three Ability to be an ambassador.

When examining your eligibility for the New South Wales Training Awards and responding to criteria three, think about leadership examples either inside or outside work, and think about the outcome and what you gain from it.

Here is a hypothetical example of mine. During my traineeship I decided to take on a leadership role with our newest trainee.

It was important for me to lead by example. After spending months providing guidance and support to my mentee and offering advice on how to manage the work-study balance in the traineeship, based on my own experience, they managed to complete all their units with high distinction.

Seeing this gave me immense satisfaction both professionally and emotionally. This showed me that taking a leadership role can make a huge difference in someone's life.

Also think about real examples of what other activities you have been involved in. It could be sports, entertainment, or extracurricular activities where you have gained skills that could be related to your VET training.

Stella Cox - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

Criterion four Other qualities and pursuits.

When examining your eligibility for the New South Wales Training Awards and Criterion four, we're looking at other qualities or pursuits.

Think of examples of how you addressed any challenges that impacted your training. For example, how did you manage to study and work at the same time while raising a young family?

Think of real life scenarios where you've been required to use initiative in your training, personal life or workplace. Make sure you also write about the outcome.

Lastly, it is essential that you write about community or industry involvement, either in sports, volunteering or community outreach.

Here is a hypothetical example.

At 19, I decided to dedicate my time to community outreach. During the school holidays, I assisted a local community organisation that provides free English classes to refugees that have recently arrived in Australia and don't speak English.

I assisted in developing the printed materials and organising weekend barbecues for them to meet other community members.

Speaking about other qualities and pursuits in your application will provide us with further insight into what motivates you.

Janaya Milgate - NSW Training Awards ambassador

When applying for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander category, you'll be asked about your connection to community.

Think about how you inspired people in your community. How has your training helped you spread positive messaging around lifelong learning?

Here's an example of one of our previous nominees.

During the school holidays, they assisted in organising a group of under 18 local indigenous women to attend an Aboriginal Women in Business forum so they could learn what a career in the sector might look like.

I want young Indigenous women to know they can succeed even when things don't go as planned. The goal is to remove barriers for young people.

Everyone deserves the same opportunities to achieve their dreams. Examples like this will assist you in answering the criterion in a way that is authentic.

Nick Minto - Training Services NSW Partnerships Manager

How do you apply for an organisation award?

For organisations, the New South Wales Training Awards is the perfect platform to showcase a commitment to Vocational Education and Training.

Entering the awards raises the profile of an organisation, the awareness about an industry, and demonstrates how the organisation is contributing to creating a skilled workforce.

Organisations apply for the New South Wales Training Awards on their own behalf. However, the organisation needs an endorsement letter from their Chief Executive Officer or the Managing Director.

Categories include large training provider, small training provider, industry collaboration, large employer and small employer of the year.

Ethan Zammit - NSW Training Awards Ambassador

An important element of the program is how, as a winner, you would utilise social media to promote, vet and connect with students.

The New South Wales Training Awards, Instagram: @nswtrainingawards and Facebook: fb.com/TrainingAwards page, are a wealth of knowledge regarding the awards program and vocational education and training.

Make sure you check them out when you're preparing your application with your nominator.

Think how, as a winner, you would utilise digital platforms to educate and inspire the people of New South Wales about vocational education and training pathways.

For example, you could create an informational video, just like the one I am in, to inform potential learners about the benefits of VET.

You could take us on a journey of what you do in a day so we can see what it's like undertaking a trade or a vocation.

You could even interview your colleagues about why they went into the industry.

There are limitless opportunities when it comes to social media, so remember that when you are completing your application or having your interview, just like you do in your trade or vocation, use all the tools you have to your advantage.

Micah Papalii-Talanai - NSW Training Awards State Team

How to find the selection criteria and additional information about the New South Wales Training Awards.

The selection criteria for your award category can be located on the New South Wales Training Awards website.

Eligibility requirements are slightly different for each award category, so it is important that you meet with your nominator and carefully go through each requirement to ensure that you are eligible to enter.

Additional information regarding the New South Wales Training Awards like key dates, how to enter, and what region am I in, can also be found on the New South Wales Training Awards website.

This website is a great resource throughout your VET and awards journey.