Professional development

Trainee of the Year finalists in Western NSW Training Awards

Freya Lucas

Jun 3, 2020

Save

Katie Clements, a resident of Cowra in New South Wales, has been named as a finalist for the 2020 Trainee of the Year at the Western NSW Training Awards.

Ms Clements completed her early childhood education and care (ECEC) traineeship late last year, with help from Skillset, a group training organisation which aims to generate employment opportunities for people and communities in regional NSW.

She was hosted by Cowra Early Childhood Services (CECS) while completing her Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care with TAFE NSW, local news source Cowra Guardian reported.

Ms Clements told the paper that the traineeship was a rewarding experience which allowed her to “set the foundations for cognitive, physical, emotional, social and language development” before children transition to primary school.

Being named as a finalist, she continued, was “a great honour” which has given her a surge of confidence in her performance as a trainee.

Craig Randazzo, Skillset CEO, congratulated Ms Clements on the win, which is one of five successes for Skillset in this year's award.

"This is a wonderful achievement for five of our apprentices and trainees to be named as finalists among some of the region's highest achievers in vocational education and training. This award recognises their hard work and determination with both on-the-job and off-the-job training," he told Cowra Guardian.

Ms Clements will now progress to the NSW State Training Awards Finals, to be held through an online event on July 1, 2020.

To read the original coverage of this story, as written by Cowra Guardian staff, please see here.

Don’t miss a thing

New Geccko course simplifies payments, fees and CCS obligations for ECEC services

A new online learning course launched on the Geccko platform is helping early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers better understand how to manage payments, gap fees and Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlements in line with Family Assistance Law.

What is ARACY and how can The Nest support early childhood services

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) has shaped the national conversation on child and youth wellbeing for more than two decades. Its flagship Nest Wellbeing Framework is increasingly used by organisations to align strategy, measure outcomes and strengthen collaboration.

Skilled migration opportunities for early childhood teachers to teach in Victoria

New opportunities are available for qualified early childhood professionals to build meaningful careers through the state’s skilled migration program.

Edge Early Learning becomes first QLD provider to embed Life Ed wellbeing and safety program across all centres

Edge Early Learning has announced a new statewide partnership with Life Ed Queensland that will see a comprehensive wellbeing, safety and school-readiness program embedded across every Edge centre in Queensland from January 2026, the first early learning provider in the state to take this integrated, whole-centre approach.

Looking ahead: What the ECEC sector can expect in 2026

As 2026 begins, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across Australia are preparing for a year of substantial reform, focused on strengthening child safety and raising the bar on national standards. Following a series of agreements by Education Ministers in 2025, new changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the Education and Care Services National Law will take effect progressively throughout the year. These reforms reflect the shared commitment of educators, families, communities and governments to place child safety and wellbeing at the centre of early learning environments.

New Geccko course simplifies payments, fees and CCS obligations for ECEC services

What is ARACY and how can The Nest support early childhood services

Skilled migration opportunities for early childhood teachers to teach in Victoria

New opportunities are available for qualified early childhood professionals to build meaningful careers through the state’s skilled migration program.