The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence has announced the 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards are open for nomination via http://www.itse.com.au/Following the success of the inaugural Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards in 2007, The Institute is again calling for nominations for the very best Trades and Skills Teachers across Australia who work in Registered Training Organisations, including TAFE’s and Private training colleges.
The Institute has announced twenty three categories for the Awards (outlined below), across their eight industry groups: Automotive; Building and Construction; Electrical; Manufacturing; Metals and Engineering; Hospitality and Personal Services; Rural and Farming; and Mineral Resources.
From the semi-finalist Industry Trades and Skills Teachers, eight finalists will be chosen by the Institutes‘ industries of focus, following which the Australian Trades and Skills Teacher will be named at the Australian Training Awards which will take place on Thursday, 20 November, in Darwin.
The 2007 Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year was Marion Fitzpatrick from Northern Sydney TAFE in Ryde New South Wales, who was awarded for her commitment to developing and improving the quality of teaching in the Cookery field.
“Since being named the Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year I have had the unique opportunity of participating in the recent 2020 Summit and contributing my views on how education and skills development might look by the year 2020.
“Winning the Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year has enabled me to further my skills and development in the Hospitality Industry,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
Gary Sewell was named the 2007 Bakery Trade Teacher of the Year. Gary used his prize money to further develop his e-learning program to train bakers by distance which has now been implemented by a number of top baking franchises across the country including Bakers Delight and Tip Top.
Gary said that he would never have been able to launch such a program if The Institute hadn’t awarded him Bakery Trade Teacher of the Year.
“There’s no doubt about it, the $5,000 project money received from The Institute was the impetus for this project...with the $5,000 we ran pilot classes, were able to set in place the resources and framework to then roll out the Fast Track Apprenticeship Project.
Gary used the prize money from The Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards to further develop his project and apply for a $50,000 grant from the Federal Government.
“Without the prize money from The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence we wouldn’t have been able to approach the Government for Federal funding for the program,” Mr Sewell said.
About the Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award
The Trades and Skills Teacher Awards are run by The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence, an organization dedicated to recognizing excellence in trades and skills education and training.
Brian Wexham, The Chief Executive Officer of The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence said that
“This Award acknowledges leadership in developing tomorrow’s skills and trades professionals. It was established to give deserving teachers in the trades and skills arena the opportunity to implement professional developmental projects, that otherwise would not have been possible without funding.
“The Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award derives its success from identifying teachers who are able to move beyond delivering only to curriculum and who meet industry standards to ensure Australia continues to turn out the most highly skilled men and women,” said Mr Wexham.
Go to http://www.itse.com.au/ to apply.
