Celebrating 65 years

Hear from past winners about what the Queensland Training Awards and their training has meant to them, as we look back over 60 remarkable years of the awards.

The Queensland Training Awards are this state's ultimate accolade for Working Smarter through training. They are a spectacular celebration of how we can all work together to achieve common goals. The winners of the Queensland Training Awards are workplace champions.

[Odin Lowsley, 2018 Vocational Student of the Year (graphic design freelance)]
Not only being nominated, but winning the award was an incredible honour for me, because it meant I'd been recognised for my years of hard work into my training pathway.

[Sandra Duane, 1997 Trainee of the Year (small business) Personal hair stylist)]
Winning the Trainee of the Year for Queensland supercharged my career.

[Dr Nancy Spencer, 1981 Apprentice of the Year, (radio mechanics) Executive in Residence, Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith University)]
So winning the training award gave me a lot of confidence about my skills and my experience were valuable.

[Lawrence Bolton, 1994 Apprentice of the Year (cooking) Director, Food and Beverage, Westin and Four Points Hotels Brisbane]
I remember it clearly to today. I remember being nominated and then being successful as a finalist.

[Craig Folker, 2009 Apprentice of the Year (engineering) Electrical and Electronics Manager, Riviera Australia]
Winning the Queensland Training award was a huge reward for the effort during an apprenticeship. It really did confirm that that I'd taken a good path.

[Odin Lowsley]
My VET pathway started when I was in Year 10, when I completed my Certificate Three in Multimedia, and then moved on to complete my Diploma in Graphic Design and then moved on to university.

[Dr Nancy Spencer]
Training gave me the confidence and skills to know that I can do anything.

[Lawrence Bolton]
I gained a career from training, and it allowed me to travel the world, but it also gave me the confidence to actually develop, I guess, into who I am today.

[Sandra Duane]
Training has always been a huge part of my career. When I wanted to start my own business, I knew I had to train myself up.

[Craig Folker]
I really believe that my training gave me a real life pathway to transition from school life into full time employment.

[ Dr Nancy Spencer]
I believe employers are looking for people who are willing to learn.

[Sandra Duane]
My advice to someone starting out would be to aim high, seek out the best employer who's going to give you the best training. I honestly believe, keep a lookout for a mentor, someone who can help you with their experience and their skills.

[Lawrence Bolton]
I think for the future of skills, it will continue to adapt. It'll adapt in line with the industry, specific to what it is.

[Odin Lowsley]
In the future, I see a rapidly changing workforce where we're constantly encouraged to invest in our skills and our future.

[ Dr Nancy Spencer]
Celebrating excellence in training is valuable because it highlights to other young people, the range of diversity of careers that are available.

[Lawrence Bolton]
It really affirmed for me that I had chosen the right career path. It was a great recognition of my skills.

[Odin Lowsley]
For people starting out, experiment as much as you can to find what you love doing and then use training to turn that into your career.

[Sandra Duane]
If I want to get somewhere, I have to train.

[Craig Folker]
I would absolutely recommend entering the Queensland Training Awards. It is a wonderful reward for hard work that you do put into an apprenticeship, or to any sort of training or something that you've committed to and really put a lot of effort into.

[Odin Lowsley]
The power of skills is the ability to pursue your passion.