Apply now for the Australian Training Awards

Deadline: 30-Jun-21

Nominations are now open for the Australian Training Awards to recognize and celebrate excellence and are an important mechanism for promoting the benefits of vocational education and training.

Award Categories

• Individual Categories
  • The Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector Award (Direct Entry)
    • The 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 practices to the sector.
  • Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year Award is presented to a student who is undertaking a Certificate II or above qualification as a part-time Australian School-based Apprenticeship or Traineeship. The Award recognises the student’s commitment to their formal studies at school, and in the workplace.
  • Vocational Student of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Vocational Student of the Year Award recognises outstanding achievement by a vocational student in a course of study leading to a nationally recognised qualification. State or territory training award winners of this category are automatically finalists for the Australian Training Awards and will compete at the national level.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award recognises the achievement of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who displays a strong understanding and knowledge of the vocational education and training system and demonstrates the relevance of lifelong learning for themselves and their community.
  • Trainee of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Trainee of the Year Award is presented to an individual who is undertaking a trainee-ship and has been outstanding in all aspects of their training.
  • Apprentice of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Apprentice of the Year Award is presented to an Australian Apprentice who has been outstanding in all aspects of their trade.
  • VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award recognises innovation and excellence by a vocational education and training (VET) teacher/trainer providing nationally recognised training to students at a registered training organisation (RTO), or in partnership with an RTO.
  • Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award (Direct Entry)
    • The Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Practice Award recognises innovation and excellence by an individual involved in improving LLN skills in an educational, community or workplace context.
    • Applications can be made by relevant individuals or organisations (eg colleagues, professional bodies, students, employers, industry or community representatives); or through self-nomination.
• Business Categories
  • Small Employer of the Year Award (Direct Entry for NSW and WA only).
    • All other states and territories are to apply through their respective training awards, noting the opening and closing dates will differ for each state and territory.)
    • The Small Employer of the Year Award recognises a small business that employs 19 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, and has achieved excellence in the provision of ‘nationally recognised training’ to its employees.
    • ‘Nationally recognised training’ refers to training that is based on a national training package or accredited course which results in a person receiving a formal qualification or Statement of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation. This includes Australian Apprenticeships.
  • Medium Employer of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Medium Employer of the Year Award recognises a medium business that employs 20 or more, but less than 200 full-time equivalent employees, and has achieved excellence in the provision of ‘nationally recognised training’ to its employees.
    • ‘Nationally recognised training’ refers to training that is based on a national training package or accredited course which results in a person receiving a formal qualification or Statement of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation. This includes Australian Apprenticeships.
  • Large Employer of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Large Employer of the Year Award recognises a large business that employs 200 or more full-time equivalent employees, and has achieved excellence in the provision of ‘nationally recognised training’ to its employees.
    • ‘Nationally recognised training’ refers to training that is based on a national training package or accredited course which results in a person receiving a formal qualification or Statement of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation. This includes Australian Apprenticeships.
  • Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award (Direct Entry)
    • The Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award recognises those employers who have made innovative improvements in training which provide beneficial outcomes for their apprentices and/or trainees in Australia and to their local community.
  • Industry Collaboration Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Industry Collaboration Award recognises exemplary skills development collaboration between at least one employer/industry body and at least one organisation delivering nationally recognised training.
• Registered Training Organisation Categories
  • Small Training Provider of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Small Training Provider of the Year Award recognises a registered training organisation, delivering less than 50 qualifications, that offers a specific range of training products and services and demonstrates excellence and high level performance in all aspects of vocational education and training.
  • Large Training Provider of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
    • The Large Training Provider of the Year Award recognises a registered training organisation, delivering 50 or more qualifications, that offers a broad range of training products and services and demonstrates excellence and high level performance in all aspects of vocational education and training.
  • School Pathways to VET Award (Direct Entry)
    • The School Pathways to VET Award recognises eligible organisations including schools, registered training organisations (RTO), group training organisations, industry bodies and employers that have collaboratively delivered one (or more) excellent vocational education and training (VET) programs to secondary school students.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to apply for one of the direct entry categories, applicants must understand and agree to the following conditions of entry. They must also meet the specific eligibility requirements of the applicable category.
  • Applications may be made:
    • between 11 March 2021 –  30 June  2021
    • by self (where permitted), an individual, public or private sector organisations, groups or businesses involved in vocational education and training (VET)
    • to more than one direct entry category
  • All applicants should:
    • apply directly to the Australian Training Awards. NB direct entry categories are not received through state/territory processes
    • be an Australian citizen or be a permanent resident of Australia if an individual nominee
    • be registered in Australia, with an Australian Business Number if an organisation
    • if not self-nominating ensure that nominee’s agree to being nominated
    • advise the Australian Training Awards if they are under 18 years of age at the time of application
    • comply with workplace health, privacy, safety and industrial relations legislation
    • note that finalists may be visited at the location of the training as part of the judging process
    • be prepared and able to meet with the judging panel if selected as a finalist
    • note that a photographer may visit them at the location of the training to take photographs for use at the awards presentation and to promote VET
    • note that the Australian Training Awards presentation event will be held in Perth, Western Australia on Thursday 18 November 2021 and that all finalists must attend this event
  • All applications will:
    • meet the specific eligibility requirements of the category for which they are applying
    • address the selection criteria
    • be factually correct
    • refer to a service, program or training that meets the Australian Qualifications Framework standards.
    • refer to a current VET activity, or VET activities undertaken within two years of the closing date (Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector Award nominees excluded)
    • not exceed the word or page limit
    • All applicants understand and agree that:
      • when an application does not meet the eligibility requirements of the award category, it will not be considered by the judging panel
      • only one application for any joint program will be accepted
      • decisions of the judging panel are final
      • late applications will not be accepted
      • The Australian Training Awards and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment reserve the right to use all or part of any material generated (photographs, film footage, application submissions) for the purpose of the Australian Training Awards for publication online, in print or other broadcast media, for use in publicity, promotional materials or campaigns related to Australian VET
      • The organisation or collaboration has no current compliance issues with the regulator and no adverse issues with any government contracts.

For more information, visit https://www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au/