WA Training Awards 2024

WA Training Awards 2024

WA and Australian Trainer of the Year 2023, Holly Gudsell

The Western Australian Training Awards recognise excellence in vocational education and training (VET) and the outstanding achievements of our VET students, apprentices and trainees, practitioners and training providers, organisations and employers. The Awards have eight individual categories, and five organisation categories. 

In 2024, the WA Training Awards celebrates 30 years!

In addition to the recognition and opportunities these prestigious awards bring, as the winner in an individual category you will receive $3,000.

Organisation winners are recognised as industry leaders and promoted and celebrated as such through a variety of media and marketing opportunities. 

 

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Key dates

Individual categories  Date
Applications open   1 March 2024
Applications close  26 April 2024
Semi-finalists notified  13 May 2024 (week commencing) 
Judging day  19 July 2024
Finalists announced  31 July 2024 (subject to change)
WATA Presentation Event  20 September 2024
Australian Training Awards     6 December 2024 (Canberra)

 

Organisation categories  Date
Applications open  1 March 2024
Applications close  26 April 2024
Virtual interviews   17 - 28 June 
Finalists announced  31 July 2024 (subject to change)
WATA Presentation Event       20 September 2024
Australian Training Awards  6 December 2024 (Canberra)
   
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Individual and organisation award categories

The WA Training Awards highlights the achievements of both individuals and organisations across 13 award categories.

Individual categories

  • WA Apprentice of the Year
  • WA School-based Apprentice of the Year
  • WA Trainee of the Year
  • WA Vocational Student of the Year
  • WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
  • WA Cultural Diversity Training Award
  • WA International Student of the Year
  • WA Trainer of the Year

    Organisation categories

    • WA Large Employer of the Year
    • WA Small Employer of the Year 
    • WA Industry Collaboration Award
    • WA Small Training Provider of the Year
    • WA Large Training Provider of the Year

    Winners of the WA awards may go on to represent Western Australia at the Australian Training Awards that year.

    For full details about each of the categories, please visit the Individual awards and/or the Organisation awards section of our website. 

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    Australian Training Awards

    The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards that showcase best practice in vocational education and training.

    Winners from each state and territory (in aligned categories) have the opportunity to compete for a national award title. The Australian Training Awards also has a number of awards that are available by direct entry.

    • Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector Award
      Recognises an individual or employer who has made an outstanding contribution to the VET and skills sector for over 15 years and has contributed a new innovation, knowledge or practice to the sector.
    • Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award
      Recognises innovation and excellence by an individual or organisation involved in improving LLN skills in an educational, community or workplace context.
    • Innovation in VET Award
      Recognises and celebrates innovation initiatives in the vocational education and training (VET) and skills sector.
    • Australian Apprenticeships — Employer Award
      Recognises employers who have made innovative improvements in training that provide beneficial outcomes for their apprentices and/or trainees in Australia and to their local community.
    • School Pathways to VET Award
      Recognises eligible organisations including schools, RTOs, group training organisations, industry bodies and employers that have collaboratively delivered excellent VET programs to secondary school students.

    For further information regarding the Australian Training Awards please visit the website

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    Frequently asked questions

    Here we have provided answers to some frequently asked questions about the WA Training Awards program. Please email the WA Training Awards team or call us on 08 6551 5155 if you have any further enquiries or questions.

    For individuals

    Can I submit more than one application?

    No.

    Individuals can only apply for one WA Training Award and must not apply/accept a nomination for another state or territory’s training awards in the nominating year.

    Can I apply on behalf of an individual?

    No. Applications are required to be written and submitted online by the applicant.

    Applicants can seek assistance from others in preparing the information, but the application should be written and submitted by the applicant.

    Can previous winners apply again?

    Finalists in all categories may reapply for the same or other awards in subsequent years if they are eligible.

    Individual winners may not apply for the same category award in subsequent years but may apply in other categories if they are eligible.

    Is there any cost involved in applying?

    There is no application fee for any award.

    What should be considered when writing an application?

    The content of the written application is very important for proceeding to the next stage of the judging process.

    • Applicants in all individual categories are asked to provide information about themselves. Applicants can seek assistance from others in preparing the information but the application should be written by the applicant. This means using first person point of view; words like 'I' or 'my', not 'he', 'she' or 'they'.
    • Consider all of the points under each main heading. Treat every one of the assessment criteria equally as they are all important.
    • Vague generalisations should be avoided. General statements such as 'I am a good team member' or 'I have an understanding of industry trends' must be supported with clear evidence and practical examples.
    • Dot points are acceptable.
    • Keep your writing clear and succinct.
    • Be mindful of the word count. There is a word limit for each criterion (as specified in the conditions of entry).
    • Think of the application as an application for a job – emphasise what makes you stand head and shoulders above all other applicants.
    • The judges are looking for an ambassador for the training sector, someone who is passionate about what they do, has achieved great things during their training pathway and is able to inspire others to do the same.
    • Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
    I am a citizen of New Zealand, but I live and train in Western Australia. Am I eligible to apply? 
    To be eligible for the WA Training Awards you will have to provide evidence that you have been granted Australian permanent residency.
    We will accept the following documents as proof of Australian permanent residency:
    •    Australian passport
    •    citizenship certificate
    •    permanent residency visa
    Who sits on the judging panels?

    Panels at all stages of the judging process are made up of people from industry and the vocational and education training sector. People with the appropriate experience and expertise are selected to judge each category.

    Panels have four members. Care is taken to make sure there is a balance of gender and backgrounds. The decisions of the judging panels are final.

    How will I know if I've reached the next stage?

    All applications will be acknowledged by email.  

    Applicants will be notified by email as to whether they have been selected as a finalist.

    How are individual winners chosen?  
    Written applications are assessed by judging panels. Finalists are shortlisted in each category, based on assessment of written applications.                                                                                                                                                                                                    Finalists are then interviewed for approximately 30 minutes. Questions asked are based on the selection criteria. Following the interviews the panel will select a winner in each category. Their decision will be based upon both the written application and the interview.  
    Can I submit my application if I don’t have all the required evidence?
    Yes we encourage you to submit your application along with the completed selection criteria by the closing date. Please email the WA Training Awards team to discuss any concerns about the required evidence.
    If I'm a winner or finalist, will I get my picture in the paper?

    Winners and finalists are ambassadors for the Western Australian training system. They receive a good deal of media attention, particularly in local press media. It is likely that as a finalist or winner your story and photo may be featured in your local or the WA state paper, that your story may be told on radio and a possibility of TV/video coverage, however, this is not assured.

    The Department of Training and Workforce Development may use photographs and non-confidential information from the applications in its print and electronic publications. The application includes a release form for you to sign, for this purpose.

    If I win, will I go to the Australian Training Awards?

    All State winners (except the Cultural Diversity Training Award and International Student Award winners) will be put forward as Western Australia’s nominations for the Australian Training Awards. There are currently no Cultural Diversity or International Student awards at the national level.

    National winners will be announced at the Australian Training Awards presentation, which is held in a different state/territory each year. All eligible individual State winners and all shortlisted organisation State winners will be invited to attend. All costs, including travel to the event, are covered by the Commonwealth Government. National winners will be announced by the Australian Training Awards.

    If I win, what will be expected of me as a training ambassador?

    If you are chosen as the winner of your category, you will be invited to participate in a variety of activities. This could include:

    • photo and video shoots promoting your achievements;
    • attending professional development days;
    • being a member of the judging panel for your category the following year;
    • potential media opportunities (speaking with local press, radio or online journalists); and
    • attending industry/VET sector events.
    I’m of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander descent. Which award should I apply for?

    If you are an apprentice, trainee, vocational student or school-based apprentice of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, keep in mind that the WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year award is not the only one you may be eligible to enter.

    You may find one of the other award categories more appropriate to you, but you can only apply for one.

    I’m a VET in Schools student. Which category should I apply for?

    As a VET in Schools student you can apply for Vocational Student of the Year (if you meet all other eligibility requirements).

    There is no restriction on qualification level in the vocational student category. If you are a school-based apprentice or trainee however, you should apply for the School-based Apprentice of the Year Award. 

    I completed a pre-apprenticeship. Which category should I apply for?

    If you are completing or have completed a pre-apprenticeship you can apply for Vocational Student of the Year (given you meet all other eligibility requirements).

    There is no restriction on qualification level in the vocational student category.

    I’m a school-based trainee. Which category should I apply for?

    The School-based Apprentice of the Year award is open to both school-based apprentices and trainees.

    You must have completed or be completing a Certificate II qualification or above and meet all other eligibility requirements.

    I’m an apprentice/trainee. How do I know what my completion date is?

    Contact Apprenticeship Office on 13 19 54 to confirm your completion date.

    This is the total period of time which you are indentured as an apprentice/trainee, not just the date you have completed your training component.

    I’m an apprentice/trainee employed through a group training organisation. Who should provide my reference – the group training organisation or my host employer?

    Either party can provide a reference however you should select an individual within these organisations who best knows you and can provide an appropriate reference.

    For organisations

    Can we apply for more than one category? 

    Organisations may apply for more than one category, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and clearly differentiate the information in their applications between each category.

    Separate applications must be submitted for each category an organisation intends to apply for.

    Can I apply on behalf of another organisation?

    Applications should be written by the organisation and signed off by the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director.

    It is not advised to outsource the writing of your application. No one knows your organisation and the way its management and staff operate like you do.

    Can part of an organisation apply?

    Where an organisation has more than one workplace in WA, it must choose to apply as a state wide business or as an individual workplace. If an organisation applies as an individual workplace, it must lodge a separate application for each workplace that wishes to apply.

    In the case of registered training organisations, Western Australia must be the primary state of registration and the application should be for the entire Western Australian operation.

    In the case of employers and training providers with activities in more than one state or territory, only the training activities in WA will be considered for the award.

    Can previous winners apply again?

    Both organisation finalists and winners in all categories may reapply for the same award or another award in subsequent years, if they are eligible.

    Is there any cost involved in applying?

    There is no application fee for any award.

    What should be considered when writing an application?
    • The content of the written application is very important for proceeding to the next stage of the judging process.
    • Applicants in all organisation categories are asked to provide information about their organisation. Applications should be written by the organisation, using first person point of view; words like ‘we’ or 'us', not 'them' or 'they'.
    • Cover all of the selection criteria and consider all of the points under each main heading. Treat every criterion equally, as they are all important and weighted evenly during the judging process.
    • Vague generalisations should be avoided. General statements such as “the organisation has various strategies in place to encourage participation by all students” or “training is fundamental to the success of our business” must be supported with clear evidence and practical examples.
    • Dot points are acceptable.
    • Keep your writing clear and succinct.
    • Be mindful of the word count. The online application portal will not allow you to submit more than the word limit for each criterion (as specified in the conditions of entry).
    • Think of the application as an application for a contract — emphasise what makes your organisation stand head and shoulders above all other applicants.

    Remember, late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

    Who sits on the judging panels?

    Panels at all stages of the judging process are made up of people from industry and the vocational education and training sector. People with the appropriate experience and expertise are selected to judge each category.

    Panels have four members. Care is taken to make sure there is a balance of gender and backgrounds.

    The decisions of the judging panels are final.

    How will we know if we have reached the next stage?

    All applications will be acknowledged by email.

    Applicants will be notified by email as to whether they have been selected as a finalist.

    If we're a winner or finalist, will we get our picture in the paper?

    Winners and finalists are ambassadors for vocational education and training in WA. They receive a good deal of media attention, particularly in local press media.

    It is likely that as a finalist or winner your story and photo may be featured in your local or the WA state paper, that your story may be told on radio, and a possibility of television/video coverage, however, this is not assured.

    The Department of Training and Workforce Development may use photographs and non-confidential information from the applications in its print and electronic publications. The application form includes a release for this purpose.

    As an organisation, if we win, can we advertise our achievement?

    Winners and finalists in organisation categories are encouraged to promote themselves as a "Winner/Finalist WA (award) of the Year" in their print and electronic publications, and on their website and social media platforms.

    An email signature graphic will be supplied to all organisation winners and finalists for this purpose.

    If we win, will we go to the Australian Training Awards?

    All WA Training Awards organisation winners will be put forward as the State’s nominations for the corresponding Australian Training Award. Organisation nominations are then assessed by a national judging panel, and up to three finalists will be selected for each organisation award category. Finalists will have to participate in an interview/presentation with their national panel, from which a winner will be chosen.

    National winners will be announced by Australian Training Awards.

    We are a registered training organisation. Which category should we apply for?

    Being a registered training organisation does not necessarily mean that a training provider category is the most appropriate one to apply for. The answer depends on your organisation's primary role.

    If the primary role of your organisation is training, you should apply for a training provider category.

    If the primary role is something other than training (eg selling products or services), you should consider applying for the employer category.

    How do we apply for one of the direct entry Australian Training Awards categories listed on your website?

    Australian Training Awards categories are open to eligible WA applicants and we encourage you to apply, however they are not run in WA. For these categories, please visit the Australian Training Awards website to download application information.

    If you would like any assistance or advice, please don't hesitate to contact the WA Training Awards team via email or phone us on 08 6551 5155.

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    Conditions of entry

    • Applications must be submitted online via the WA Training Awards application portal by 5:00pm on the closing date. All applicable sections of the portal must be completed, including all required attachments. 
    • Each category requires supporting documentation and references, and these must be uploaded and attached to the online application under the 'Attachments' section.
    • Applicants can apply for one category only and must meet the eligibility criteria for that category.
    • It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have selected the correct category.
    • Application responses must be no longer than the maximum word limit allowed.
    • The WA Training Awards is a self-nomination process. Applicants must personally prepare and submit their own applications. However, it is still recommended that applicants get a friend, coworker or family member to review their application before submitting.
    • In addition to the required attachments, applicants may attach additional relevant supporting evidence (individual applicants may attach no more than five A4 pages and organisation applicants no more than 10 A4 pages).
    • Applicants acknowledge that the information submitted in the 'overview' will be summarised and used as a profile should they be selected as a finalist.
    • Applicants must supply factually correct information with the understanding that this will be checked and confirmed before the application is progressed to the judging panel.
    • Applicants must agree to abide by the decision of the selection panel, as no appeals will be entered into.
    • By entering, finalists and winners agree for their photographs, profiles, video footage, training details and suburbs to be used for promotional purposes by the Government of Western Australia and Commonwealth of Australia. The check box in the application portal must be ticked to substantiate this.
    • Applicants must comply with Department of Training and Workforce Development standards in regards to training, workplace health and safety, and industrial relations matters.
    • Applicants agree to notify the Awards team immediately, should there be a change in an applicant’s Circumstances with regard to their training or employment.
    • Applicants must advise the Awards team of changes to their contact details.
    • Individual finalists must participate in the Judging Day to remain eligible, which includes attending an interview.
    • Eligible category winners* in individual categories must attend a two-day professional development workshop in October, before the Australian Training Awards finalist week and presentation dinner in November.
    • Applicants acknowledge that should they win their WA Training Award category, their original application will be submitted to the Australian Training Awards. The Australian Training Awards will allow State winners to update content only where there is new information or information has changed between nominated dates.

    * Does not include the Cultural Diversity Training Award or International Student of the Year Award.

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    Page last updated February 29, 2024