Tropical North Queensland regional final

For outstanding achievement in VET by a Queensland business with 99 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.

Sponsor

Cairns Regional Council delivers community infrastructure and services to more than 178,000 residents in the region. We employ more than 1,300 staff including 42 apprentices, trainees and school-based trainees. Every day, our teams help to shape a community where people love to live, invest, work and play.

Finalists

Evolution Mining and Civil	GMH Solutions	Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation
Founded with a strong focus on community and employment outcomes, Evolution Mining and Civil create opportunities for people to gain valuable skills and meaningful careers. Mentoring, workplace learning and professional development are central to the business, supporting workforce growth throughout the Cape region. This commitment to people continues to drive both business and community success.	GMH Solutions develops future industry leaders through a combination of technical training, apprenticeship opportunities and practical project experience. Employees work alongside experienced professionals on complex electrical and infrastructure projects, building the specialist skills required in high-risk environments. Workforce development remains a key priority as the business continues to grow.	Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation creates opportunities for Eastern Kuku Yalanji people to develop skills while caring for Country. Training initiatives span land management, cultural heritage and environmental stewardship, blending traditional knowledge with contemporary workforce development practices. By investing in cultural and professional capability, Jabalbina is helping create sustainable employment pathways for future generations.

For outstanding achievement in VET by a Queensland business with 100 or more full-time equivalent employees.

Sponsor

Mas National, part of the IntoWork Group, has delivered employment and apprenticeship support services across Australia for over 25 years. As a trusted Apprentice Connect Provider, Mas partners with stakeholders nationwide to facilitate sign-ups, mentoring, and workforce participation, offering personalised support to job seekers, employers, businesses, and community organisations.

Finalists

CaPTA Group

CaPTA Group is creating career pathways across tourism, hospitality, conservation and visitor experiences. Employees are supported through practical learning and professional development opportunities that help build both technical expertise and customer service excellence. By investing in workforce capability, CaPTA Group continues to contribute to the success of Tropical North Queensland's tourism industry.

For outstanding assistance to Queenslanders to gain the skills, experience and VET qualifications required to enter and stay in the workplace, by a community-based not-for-profit organisation.

Sponsor

STEPS empowers individuals and communities through inclusive training, employment, and support services. As a national not-for-profit organisation, STEPS is dedicated to breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and building a sense of belonging, ensuring everyone has the chance to achieve their full potential. STEPS is committed to making a difference by providing opportunities that truly change lives.

Finalists

Fresh Start Academy Program: Community Integrated Trade Training Program	Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation Program: Community Training Initiative	Centacare FNQ – School Savvy FNQ Program: School Savvy Work Skills Traineeship Program
Fresh Start Academy provides a community-focused trade training program across Tropical North Queensland, designed to re-engage disengaged and at-risk young people through hands-on vocational education in automotive and barbering. Delivered in real-world environments, the program partners with MTA Institute and MiHaven, combining accredited qualifications alongside intensive mentoring and tailored support. Participants develop technical and employability skills through structured, practical learning, community service projects and work experience, creating strong pathways into apprenticeships, employment and further training.	Jabalbina delivers a culturally grounded Community Training Initiative across Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country, empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants to develop skills in conservation, land and sea management. In partnership with TAFE Queensland, the program integrates accredited Certificate I training with On-Country learning, cultural mentoring, and hands-on workplace experience in ranger operations and tourism enterprises. Participants benefit from comprehensive wraparound support, including transport, mentoring and employability development, ensuring they are well-prepared for meaningful employment and long-term careers. By combining cultural knowledge with practical skills, Jabalbina creates strong pathways for sustainable futures within their communities.	Centacare FNQ’s School Savvy Work Skills Traineeship Program delivers practical, community-based training, combining a Certificate I in Workplace Skills with hands-on experience in retail, logistics and customer service. Delivered through School Savvy shops, trainees gain real-world skills while contributing to their community by improving access to affordable school supplies. With the support culturally responsive trainers and strong employer partnerships, the program empowers participants from CALD communities, First Nations peoples and disadvantaged job seekers to build confidence, employability, and workplace capability. By fostering these skills, the program creates clearer pathways to sustainable employment and further education.

For outstanding achievement by a teacher or trainer providing nationally recognised training to students at, or in partnership with, a training provider.

Sponsor

Skills Explorer is an innovative online platform for adult literacy and career development, offering over 400 courses across key industries. It personalises learning to individual goals, adapting content daily. It builds confidence and practical skills through tailored pathways, helping organisations and learners nationwide unlock new opportunities.

Finalists

Doe Ahmat Employer: TAFE Queensland	Roisin Murphy Employer: TAFE Queensland	Luke Threlfall Employer: Orbus3
Doe’s mother never had the opportunity to gain a formal qualification. That history is present in every classroom Doe teaches in. Drawing on Saibai Islander heritage through her mother's family, Doe delivers business and digital training across Cairns, Yarrabah, Bamaga and Thursday Island with a combination of cultural authority and practical discipline. Her contribution to the SEE + Microbusiness program went well beyond delivery, she helped shape the structure, sequencing and learner pathway from the ground up. Colleagues describe her as someone who lifts standards without fanfare. Her students describe her as someone who believed in them first.	Roisin was a flight safety instructor with Qantas before she became a foundational skills educator. That background, high stakes, communication-critical, performance under pressure, shapes the way she teaches. Working across the Pathways to Policing Program, the Navy Indigenous Development Program and Learning Support at TAFE Queensland Cairns, Roisin has helped students from remote communities enter Defence and policing careers, has helped redirect an International student from a misaligned course into a qualification that protected his visa and gave him a genuine runway, and supported students from Cert III level to Dual Diploma level to key roles in areas of crisis work in Cairns homeless shelters and Queensland Health. In 2025, one of those students won Equity Student of the Year.	Luke spent 15 years in the Australian Army specialising in engineering training, including operational deployments, before redirecting those skills into civil construction VET across remote Far North Queensland. Working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities on Cape York and beyond, Luke integrates live road construction and maintenance work directly into assessed training, so learners are demonstrating competency on real community infrastructure, not in a simulated classroom. Industry partners across the region have noted that he is the preferred VET provider for remote delivery. Communities can see the difference in their roads.

For outstanding achievement in overcoming a significant barrier or disadvantage to effectively participate in VET.

Sponsor

Established in 2005, the Australasian Drilling Institute (ADI) delivers practical, industry-focused training for drilling, mining, and resources careers. ADI also partners with 30+ Queensland schools through its Resourcing the Future program. Proud sponsor of the 2026 Training Awards, ADI is committed to developing Queensland’s future skilled workforce.

Finalists

Sagar Sanyasi Qualification: Certificate I in Construction Registered Training Organisation: Major Training Group Employer: Centacare FNQ / Trinity Fire Services	Nurma Simatupang Qualification: Certificate I in Workplace Skills Registered Training Organisation: Major Training Group Employer: Centacare FNQ	Colleen Wallace Qualification: Certificate III in Business Registered Training Organisation: Skill360 Australia Employer: Cairns Regional Council
After arriving in Australia as a young humanitarian entrant from Nepal, Sagar completed Year 12 and discovered a clear pathway through Centacare FNQ's Skilling Queenslanders for Work program. In a culturally safe and supportive environment, he achieved a Certificate I in Construction and transitioned directly into employment with Trinity Fire Services. Now nearing completion of a Certificate II in Fire Protection, Sagar is working towards his QBCC licence and building a long-term career in the industry. A quiet yet inspiring role model, Sagar demonstrates to his community what can be achieved through hard work and determination.	After migrating from Indonesia and overcoming language barriers and long-term unemployment, Nurma embraced a Certificate I in Workplace Skills traineeship with Centacare FNQ. Her determination and commitment to her community earned her recognition as a Community Champion through the Workers' Rights Education and Support Program. Today, Nurma provides reception and administrative support across multiple Centacare departments and shares her voice as a presenter on Cairns FM 89.1 Community Radio. Awarded a scholarship to attend the FECCA 2024 Conference, Nurma exemplifies how small, consistent steps can lead to meaningful and lasting change.	Colleen, a proud member of the Deaf community and a fluent Auslan user, brought unique perspective and initiative to her Certificate III in Business traineeship at Cairns Regional Council. She went beyond overcoming communication challenges by actively breaking down barriers. Colleen introduced a ‘Sign of the Week’ program engaging over 100 staff members, created an Auslan video for the organisation's orientation program, and facilitated Deaf awareness training for colleagues. Her efforts are a powerful example of fostering inclusion and creating lasting change that extends far beyond her qualifications.

For outstanding achievement by a Queensland school-based apprentice or trainee.

Finalists

Rena Jacob Qualification: Certificate III in Dental Assisting School: St Andrew's Catholic College Registered Training Organisation: Australian Academy of Dental Assisting College Employer: MEGT Host Employer: Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service	Hannah Morgan Qualification: Certificate III in Dental Assisting School: Redlynch State College Registered Training Organisation: AADA College Employer: MEGT Host Employer: Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service	Tahlia Mundraby-Holmes Qualification: Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology School: FNQ Vocational Academy Registered Training Organisation: TAFE Queensland
Rena Jacob is completing a dental assisting traineeship at a community health centre while working toward a strong ATAR for a dentistry degree at James Cook University. First-place winner in the regional Design and Technology Teachers’ Association engineering competition, Student Representative Council member, Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award participant and a student who once talked a nervous, emotional patient through receiving dentures with patience and calm, Rena brings the same careful attention to clinical work that she applies to everything else. Dentistry, for Rena, is a clear career pathway.	Hannah Morgan arranged her own work experience at a dental clinic in Year 10, felt immediately drawn to the field, and has now completed a dental assisting traineeship at Cairns North Community Health Centre, working across nine surgeries simultaneously. Vice-Captain at Redlynch State College, 2025 top Health student and guest speaker at a Cairns Regional Jobs Committee business breakfast, Hannah's story was published in the Cairns Local News. The plan: Bachelor of Dental Surgery at JCU, with a casual Queensland Health position already lined up.	Tahlia grew up beside her grandfather fixing broken-down cars and machinery and knew from the first day of work experience at Ignition Diesel that heavy vehicles were the path. A competitive boxer who won a Queensland State Championship at 16 years old, Tahlia pulls over to help strangers with broken-down cars using skills learned on the job. She is completing her apprenticeship in memory of her mother, who encouraged her to enrol at FNQ Vocational Academy before passing away. A proud Mandingalbay Yidinji woman building a career and a legacy, one engine at a time.

For outstanding achievement by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student within the Queensland VET sector.

Sponsor

Rio Tinto Weipa operates bauxite mines and supporting infrastructure in Cape York. It respects the deep cultural connections of Aboriginal communities and partners with Traditional Owners to build sustainable futures through education, employment, training, and heritage initiatives, proudly supporting Indigenous achievement through sponsorship of the Queensland Training Awards student category.

Finalists

Stirling Ludwick Qualification: Certificate IV in Training and Assessment Registered Training Organisation: RAM Training Services Employer: Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Prescribed Body Corporate Aboriginal Corporation (GMYPPBC)	Elsa Merad Day Qualification: Micro Business Skill Set and Digital Business Administration Skill Set Registered Training Organisation: Envirotech Education Employer: The PuipiKak Malu Indigenous Corporation	Loretta Pele Glanville Qualification: Micro Business Skill Set and Digital Business Administration Skill Set Registered Training Organisation: Envirotech Education Employer: Totalai Land & Sea Corporation Ltd
Stirling joined the GMYPPBC Ranger Program in 2023 as a trainee and is now the Junior Ranger Team Leader, overseeing a cohort whose achievements include 14 Certificate I qualifications, 16 First Aid certifications and four PADI dive qualifications. Living in Yarrabah and commuting 2 hours to Cairns while supporting 4 children including a son with autism, Stirling recently had an abstract accepted for the International Coral Symposium in New Zealand. The GMYPPBC motto is "Show Up to Go Up." Stirling is the definition of it.	Elsa is a Komet Tribe Elder from Mer Island, a retired Senior Registered Teacher with 30 years of service, a 2025 University of Sydney postgraduate, and the founder of Maiso Meriam Mir Ltd, a company dedicated to saving Meriam Mir, the only Papuan language on Australian soil, now spoken by just 16 people, all aged over 70 years. Elsa completed business and digital skill sets to build the operational infrastructure her language company needed and is a 2026 Australia Day Cultural Recognition Award recipient.	In June 2025, Loretta presented at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, as a student still completing her Diploma of Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration. A Strong Mulgal, Dauareb, Kaurareg woman from Moa Island, Loretta founded Totalai Land and Sea Conservation Hub, became the first Torres Strait Islander to receive an internationally delivered marine restoration scholarship in Israel, and mentors young rangers through the Queensland Indigenous Women’s Ranger network. As an emerging leader, Loretta is helping carry Torres Strait Sea Country stewardship into the future.

For outstanding achievement by a student who has recently completed or is due to complete a VET qualification in Queensland.

Sponsor

For over 140 years, TAFE Queensland has delivered practical, industry-relevant training, equipping over 139,000 students annually, including 29,700 apprentices, with skills for rewarding careers. As Queensland’s largest training provider, TAFE Queensland offers 400+ qualifications across 60+ locations, empowering people to achieve their greatness now and into the future.

Finalists

Kay Butcher Qualification: Diploma of Project Management Registered Training Organisation: CQUniversity Australia Employer: Department of Trade, Employment and Training	Bianca Rickert Qualification: Diploma of Nursing Registered Training Organisation: TAFE Queensland Employer: Torres Health Indigenous Cooperation	Bennett Tweedie Qualification: Diploma of Laboratory Technology Registered Training Organisation: ABC Training and Consulting Employer: B2B Materials Testing
With over 20 years in education and workforce development, Kay Butcher used the Diploma of Project Management to take already-strong instincts and make them measurable. Overseeing the TagaiTech program on Thursday Island, 188 participants, 73% employment outcomes across ten industries, Kay turns training investment into community impact at scale. A working parent of 3 who completed assessments after midnight, Kay is also the person who helped a Torres Strait trainee find the confidence to submit an awards nomination of her own.	A proud Djangadi woman who studied nursing from Thursday Island, Bianca Rickert navigated ferry, bus and plane travel to attend placements, while managing internet outages and caring for elders at the northernmost aged care service in Australia. Currently the first person on Thursday Island to complete this diploma pathway, Bianca is building the clinical authority to advocate for better health outcomes in remote communities from the inside. The qualification that is now complete sits as a foundation for Bianca, not a finish line.	Bennett Tweedie didn't wait to finish studying before launching B2B Testing, a construction materials testing business in Cairns built on the standards and compliance knowledge gained through training. An Indigenous business owner from a remote community, Bennett is creating pathways into technical careers for others who don't traditionally see themselves in this space. Formal qualifications and entrepreneurial drive, combined, this is what VET-powered business ownership looks like.

For outstanding achievement by a trainee who has recently completed or is due to complete a traineeship in Queensland.

Sponsor

MEGT is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that has been supporting employers, apprentices, trainees and job seekers for 40 years. Established in 1982, MEGT's flexible, low-risk labour solutions and expertise in sourcing, screening, and employing high-quality apprentices and trainees ensures we place the right people in the right jobs to fill skills gaps and future-proof our Australian workforce.

Finalists

Solace Barnaby Qualification: Certificate III in Business Registered Training Organisation: Skill360 Australia Employer: Cape York Institute	Lexi Knox-Borton Qualification: Certificate I in Workplace Skills Registered Training Organisation: Major Training Group Employer: Citizens of the Reef	Landon Law-Palm Qualification: Certificate I in Workplace Skills Registered Training Organisation: Skill360 Australia Employer: Wuchopperen Health Services
Graduating as Dux of Djarragun College while simultaneously completing a Certificate III in Business traineeship, Solace brought a creative talent to Cape York Solutions, producing original artwork featured across NAIDOC Week, International Women's Day and major organisational anniversary celebrations. With a clear ambition to become a tattoo artist and run an independent creative business, Solace chose business training deliberately, recognising that artistic success requires entrepreneurial foundations. A passionate advocate for traineeships, Solace encourages other young people to seize the opportunity, confident that every experience offers something valuable in return.	5 months of job searching ended when Lexi found a traineeship that matched a lifelong passion for the ocean. Completing a Certificate I in Workplace Skills alongside scuba diving certifications, Lexi fabricated and deployed reef stars at Moore Reef, conducted Crown-of-Thorns surveys, and spoke to international tourists about Great Barrier Reef conservation; all within 22 weeks.  Recognised as the highest-achieving trainee in the cohort, Lexi developed educational social media content that reached over 16,000 views, communicating important information in an engaging and accessible way.	A Bindal, Bigambul and Wakka Wakka man from Cherbourg, Landon arrived at the Staying Connected traineeship after years of structure provided by boarding school leadership suddenly gave way to uncertainty. Completing a Certificate I in Workplace Skills at Wuchopperen Health Service, Landon rotated across Finance, IT and Communications; ultimately earning a permanent position with the IT team upon completion. Now representing the program at career expos and mentoring Year 12 work experience students, Landon champions traineeships as a pathway to learning, growth and greater self-belief.

For outstanding achievement by an apprentice who has recently completed or is due to complete an apprenticeship in Queensland.

Sponsor

Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) supports apprentices, workers, and employers by funding essential training and work tickets through partnered RTOs. Collaborating with industry statewide, CSQ delivers tailored training solutions to meet local needs, helping individuals and businesses stay competitive, secure new opportunities, and adapt to the evolving construction industry.

Finalists

Daniel Courtney Qualification: Certificate III in Carpentry Registered Training Organisation: TAFE Queensland Employer: QBuild	Linden Sharp Qualification: Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician Registered Training Organisation: TAFE Queensland Employer: GMH Electrical Contracting	Taylah Smith Qualification: Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician Registered Training Organisation: Ergon Energy Corporation Employer: Energy Queensland
Daniel grew up surrounded by the construction industry and knew early that a traditional academic path wasn't the right fit. Completing a Carpentry apprenticeship with QBuild, Daniel developed colour coding, visual referencing and step-by-step strategies that sharpened his attention to detail and built genuine resilience. Now trusted on site to guide newer apprentices and coordinate tasks, Daniel speaks openly about navigating learning differences in the trades; a perspective that resonates with young people who may not see themselves in traditional training pathways but have every reason to be there.	Linden relocated from Victoria to Far North Queensland mid-apprenticeship integrating into a new team and continuing to progress without disruption. Linden has completed a substantial portion of formal competencies ahead of schedule across government, commercial and specialist sites. Working for an employer that actively engages schools and community groups to promote trade careers, Linden brings the same proactive standard to the workshop as to the broader industry; approaching every task as a learning opportunity and every colleague as someone worth investing in.	Taylah has completed an electrical apprenticeship while simultaneously earning an Associate Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Distinction. A former School Captain now serving as Health and Safety Representative, Taylah voluntarily tutored peers through capstone preparation, has developed a profiling handbook for future cohorts and advocated for redesigned female workwear. Winner of both the Young Achiever and Young Leader awards at the 2025 Awesome Women in Construction Awards, Taylah is breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for future apprentices through her achievements and leadership.