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2023 HVTC Excellence Awards

The HVTC Excellence Awards are a celebration of outstanding achievement in vocational education and training, and allow us to recognise a number of apprentices, trainees, students, host employers, and staff across the HVTC Group.

Congratulations to all winners of the 2023 HVTC Excellence Awards!

	HVTC Group Employee of the Year - Natasha Gomes Workforce Solutions Manager - Apprentice/Trainee Employment Natasha joined HVTC in August 2017, and has been leading the Sydney region since, providing exceptional leadership and guidance to her team. In the last 12 months, Tash has been the driving force behind some of our key programs, including the Service NSW Recovery traineeship program, and the NSW Department of Education IT traineeship program, both of which have seen successful outcomes under Tash’s leadership. As well as driving the success of these programs, Tash has shown courage in her own personal development as part of a leadership development program, and has continued to lead the Sydney team to accomplish successful results in the last 12 months, notably achieving 100% compliance for hosted employee safety engagement in the region.
	Milton Morris Encouragement Award - Preston Donovan Hosted to Sydney Airport Corporation After experiencing some hardships throughout his childhood and relocating to Sydney from Wellington, Preston decided that school wasn't for him and wanted to pursue an apprenticeship to support himself and his family. At 16, Preston is currently in the second year of his Electrical apprenticeship with HVTC and Sydney Airport Corporation, and is continuously developing his skills and demonstrating maturity well beyond his years. As a proud Indigenous man, Preston is also involved with his local Indigenous community, where he shares his experience and raises awareness to show that anyone can achieve what he has.
	Apprentice of the Year - Justin Curley Hosted to Origin Energy Justin successfully completed his Electrical apprenticeship with HVTC and host employer, Origin Energy in 2022, having already completed a Mechanical apprenticeship with HVTC in 2017. Justin has also completed a Certificate IV in Hydraulic Fluid Power, as well as being named the 2020 HVTC Safety Champion. Now a dual-qualified tradesman, Justin has obtained employment with Centennial's Myuna Colliery and continues to develop his skills while providing guidance to new apprentices coming through the ranks.
	Trainee of the Year - Laura Tetley Hosted to Centennial After working with a financial institution for four years, Laura decided it was time to further her education and career opportunities, taking on a Certificate IV Business Administration traineeship with HVTC and Centennial. Laura consistently impressed her co-workers and managers throughout her traineeship, allowing her to complete her traineeship early and secure a full-time role with Centennial. As the only woman on-site at the Myuna Colliery, Laura is an advocate for women looking to enter male-dominated industries.
	Trainee of the Year: Highly Commended - Isabelle Law Hosted to Service NSW Auburn Prior to starting her traineeship, Isabelle was a young stay at home mum without clear direction of her next career step. With a passion for customer service, Isabelle decided to undertake a Customer Engagement traineeship with HVTC and Service NSW, which was perfect in setting her up for a long term career. Through hard work and determination Isabelle excelled in her traineeship with Service NSW Auburn, where she now works as a supervisor.
	Indigenous Apprentice/Trainee of the Year - Jayden Simms Hosted to Shoalhaven City Council Jayden completed his Waste Operations traineeship with HVTC and host employer, Shoalhaven City Council, in 2022 through competency-based completion. Jayden showed great dedication and aptitude both on-the-job and in his RTO studies, which allowed him to gain in-depth knowledge and experience across a number of operations within Council's Waste Management department. Jayden now works with Council full-time and continues to be an asset to the team.
	Woman in Non-Traditional Trade Apprentice/Trainee of the Year - Charli Croker Hosted to Upper Lachlan Shire Council Charli undertook a Civil Construction apprenticeship with HVTC and Upper Lachlan Shire Council, which allowed her to develop a range of skills to benefit her career. Charli is a driven and motivated worker, always asking for feedback and advice from her colleagues. She was named HVTC's Apprentice of the Month in October 2022 and has secured a permanent role as a Plant Operator with Council post-completion.
	School-Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year - Wil Osgood Hosted to Shoalhaven City Council In December 2022, Wil completed his Cert II in Conservation and Land Management as part of a School-Based Traineeship with HVTC and Shoalhaven City Council. Wil gained experience across all areas of the Environmental Services department at Council, while also completing his high-school studies and RTO training. As a proud Aboriginal man, Wil was passionate about learning all aspects of environmental conservation, and helping give back to the land.
	RTO Student of the Year - Bradley Robinson RTO - Central Coast Community College Hosted to Robinson Custom Fabrication Bradley Robinson is a fourth-year Engineering Fabrication apprentice employed by HVTC and hosted to Robinson Custom Fabrication. Brad is currently completing his trade training with the Central Coast Community College and consistently demonstrates outstanding workmanship and dedication to both theoretical and practical training. Having impressed his trainers throughout his apprenticeship, Brad was nominated and subsequently named a finalist for the 2022 Community Education Student of the Year Award.
	RTO Online Student of the Year - Nicole Fowler RTO - Central Coast Community College Hosted to HVTC Nicole Fowler completed a Certificate IV in Business Administration with the Central Coast Community College as part of a traineeship with HVTC. After having time off when she became a mother, Nicole decided to re-enter the workforce and thought a traineeship was the perfect opportunity. Having successful completed her course in just 8 months, Nicole has rolled over into a second traineeship with HVTC, where she is currently completing a Cert IV in Human Resources and continues to develop her skills with the recruitment team.
	RTO Achievement Award - Elizabeth Caporn RTO - Central Coast Community College Elizabeth Caporn completed a Cert III in Beauty Services with the Central Coast Community College before progressing into a Diploma of Beauty Therapy, which she completed in December 2022. With a long-standing interest in the beauty industry, Elizabeth decided to invest in her skillset and pursue a career she is passionate about, which also allowed her to care for her young family. Elizabeth impressed throughout the completion of both her qualifications with the College, consistently showing an enthusiastic and dedicated attitude to her training. Elizabeth now hopes to create her own business to provide beauty services for the community.
	Host Employer Innovation Award - NSW Department of Education After identifying an industry need for IT and Cyber Security professionals, the NSW Dept of Education partnered with HVTC to deliver a state-wide traineeship program offering Certificate III and IV in Information Technology, and Certificate IV Cyber Security placements. The Department of Education IT traineeship program has supported 75 placements over the last two years across 36 host employer agencies. These trainees have been able to gain real industry experience with a Government department and fast-track their careers in a fast-growing, innovative industry.
	Host Employer Safety Award - Shoalhaven City Council Shoalhaven City Council currently hosts almost 50 HVTC apprentices and trainees across a vast range of vocations, including Business, Horticulture, Civil Construction, Water Operations, Heavy Vehicle, Carpentry, Fabrication, and more. Council has a comprehensive online WHS management system and demonstrate a proactive and positive safety culture, where employees are encouraged to report hazards and incidents, as well as sharing safety alerts across all areas of Council work. Shoalhaven City Council conduct daily safety discussions across all sites and actively support hosted employees who experience workplace injuries by adapting work for suitable duties and monitoring their recovery at work.
	Small Host Employer of the Year - Hyden Engineering Hyden is a family-owned business specialising in the installation and maintenance of hydraulic equipment and water spray systems on heavy earthmoving equipment. Hyden design, develop and support a range of products targeting the reduction of costs and maximising efficiency for the owners of machinery. Since winning Small Employer of the Year at the Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT Group Training Awards in 2019, Hyden has made a number of changes to their business, improving training opportunities and outcomes for all employees. Notably, Hyden gained their ISO 9001 and WHS 4500 certification, opening doors to new business opportunities on a global scale.
	Large Host Employer of the Year - Whitehaven Coal Whitehaven Coal operates four mines in the Gunnedah Coal Basin in North West NSW, from which it produces high-quality metallurgical and thermal coal for export to advanced and developing economies across North and South East Asia. With the big picture in mind, Whitehaven has collaborated with HVTC for more than a decade to deliver an apprenticeship program dedicated to building a skilled workforce for the future, with 25 apprentices currently hosted across its mine sites. Whitehaven have produced many talented apprentices who have transitioned to ongoing roles within the organisation, and have gone on to achieve successful careers in the mining sector.
	Overall Host Employer of the Year - Service NSW Since 2017, HVTC has worked with Service NSW to provide training and employment opportunities for people across the state. In this time, Service NSW have hosted almost 300 trainees across 95 different Service Centre locations, in roles including Digital Service Representatives, Data Analysts, and Customer Concierge Operators. In 2022, Service NSW implemented the Recovery program, creating an additional 72 traineeship positions to support the state’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. With a commitment to providing ongoing career development opportunities for their trainees, Service NSW maintains a high retention rate, with many trainees securing ongoing roles post-completion.

Milton Morris Encouragement Award - Preston Donovan

Hosted to Sydney Airport Corporation

After experiencing some hardships throughout his childhood and relocating to Sydney from Wellington, Preston decided that school wasn't for him and wanted to pursue an apprenticeship to support himself and his family. At 16, Preston is currently in the second year of his Electrical apprenticeship with HVTC and Sydney Airport Corporation, and is continuously developing his skills and demonstrating maturity well beyond his years. As a proud Indigenous man, Preston is also involved with his local Indigenous community, where he shares his experience and raises awareness to show that anyone can achieve what he has.

Milton Morris Encouragement Award - Preston Donovan

Hosted to Sydney Airport Corporation

Thank you to our generous sponsors

OVERALL EVENT SPONSOR - VERTO

VERTO is an award winning, not-for-profit organisation assisting businesses and individuals with all their apprenticeship, employment and training needs. Our expertise covers a range of areas including Aboriginal services, Australian apprenticeships services, disability services, employment services and vocational training to help businesses, individuals and local industry to thrive. Our mission is to positively impact the lives of individuals and communities and we’ve built a track record of exemplary customer service over 35 years, built around an ethical approach. You'll find the team in over 40 locations across NSW, Victoria, and the ACT.

MAJOR SPONSORS

Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Origin Energy

Origin has a rich heritage in energy exploration, production, power generation and retailing. Today, we're a leading provider of energy to homes and businesses throughout Australia, working every day to make energy more affordable, more sustainable, smarter and easier. We use a range of energy sources to make electricity, from traditional fuels like coal and natural gas, to renewables like the wind and the sun. Since acquiring Australia’s largest power station in 2013, Origin has employed over 50 apprentices at the Eraring power station and this program continues in 2022 with 19 apprentices on site.

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Trainee of the Year – Sponsored by NSW Minerals Council

The NSW Minerals Council is the leading industry association for the state’s minerals industry. We proudly promote the benefits of mining and educate the community on the contribution of the forward-thinking companies who make up our membership. Mining in NSW is a responsible industry with a big future ahead, as we mine the metals and minerals like coal, copper, gold, mineral sands, silver and more, needed for almost everything including batteries, solar panels, electric cars and every single smartphone.

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Milton Morris Encouragement Award – Sponsored by Glencore

Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 90 commodities. Glencore has operated in Australia for nearly 20 years and holds significant interests in a range of commodity industries across all mainland states and the Northern Territory. Our Australian coal business, headquartered in the Hunter Valley, comprises 16 operating mines and employs almost 10,000 people. We also have one of the coal industry’s largest apprenticeship programs with nearly 250 apprentices.

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CATEGORY SPONSORS

School-Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year - Sponsored by Whitehaven Coal

Whitehaven Coal is the leading Australian producer of premium-quality coal. We are the dominant player in the Gunnedah Coal Basin of NSW and have development assets underway nearby, and in Queensland. We are proudly local, and around 75% of our 2,500-strong workforce lives in the local communities around our mine sites. We believe in equality, diversity and inclusion, and offer a range of benefits for our people including incentive plans and industry-leading parental leave.

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Woman in Non-traditional Trade Apprentice/Trainee of the Year and RTO Student of the Year - Sponsored by Howden Australia

Founded in 1854, Howden manufactures and supplies engineered heavy duty and light industrial fans, heat exchangers, and compressors and provides a full service, retrofit and maintenance team for air and gas handling equipment in a variety of industries. Incorporated in Australia in 1948, and with facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cardiff and Perth. On the 17^th March 2023 Howden’s global business was acquired by Chart Industries, a US based company publically listed on the New York stock exchange. This commences a new era for Howden with an expanded portfolio giving Howden Australia a wider coverage in the gas processing, food and beverage and alternative energy industries on top of our traditional markets.

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Indigenous Apprentice/Trainee of the Year - Sponsored by The Mutual Bank

A member-owned bank offering industry-leading service and award-winning financial products to the Hunter Region. Established in 1888, The Mutual Bank has a long history of helping local people and small businesses to achieve their financial goals whilst supporting local employment and grassroots community organisations.

The Mutual Bank provides its members with choice and convenience in how they do their banking with innovative digital solutions and traditional customer service. It has branches in Dungog, East Maitland, Edgeworth, Maitland, Mayfield, Raymond Terrace, and Rutherford.

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Host Employer Safety Award - Sponsored by Peabody

Peabody is a leading coal producer, providing essential products for the production of affordable, reliable energy and steel. Our commitment to sustainability underpins everything we do and shapes our strategy for the future. We are focused on three core portfolios—seaborne thermal, seaborne met and U.S. thermal.

Our seaborne thermal segment is well positioned to serve continued strong demand from growing Asia Pacific economies and is supported by our high-quality, low-cost mines in Australia. Our seaborne met segment provides an essential ingredient for steelmaking to customers in Asia and Europe. The U.S. thermal segment benefits from our low-cost operations and serves as a foundation for the U.S. energy grid now and in the future.

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Large Host Employer of the Year – Sponsored by The Commonwealth Bank

The Commonwealth Bank is one of Australia's leading providers of personal banking, business and institutional banking and share broking services. With 17.4 million customers and a history spanning more than a century, the Group's purpose is to build a brighter future for all. The Commonwealth Bank is Australia's leader in digital banking and maintains the largest branch network across the country.

The Regional and Agribusiness Banking arm of CommBank provides a comprehensive range of services to small business, corporate and agribusiness customers located in regional Australia. We have over 700 people, located in over 70 sites across Australia.

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Host Innovation Award – Sponsored by PGSR

PGSR provide solutions for complete on-site project execution including workshop support refurbishment, fabrication and project support out of our Morisset facility. Our services include labour supply, tooling hire, Supervision, Safety Officers, Project Engineers, and Project Managers, all with
a broad range of experience covering: Precision works on turbines and generators for Steam, Gas & Hydro Plant; Large-scale processing factory maintenance; Windfarm onsite and off-site maintenance/ refurbishment; Defence Fuel Storage Maintenance across NSW; Shutdowns, outage works, and general fabrication and construction works; Electrical installations, maintaining and servicing of generation assets & HV switchyards; Industrial Boiler repair and maintenance; and Specialised Pressure Welding.

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