Queensland Training Awards move to virtual event

For the first time in the 59 year history of the annual Queensland Training Awards, the entire program of events and recognition will take place online, Queensland Minister for Training, Skills and Development, Shannon Fentiman announced yesterday.

Nominations for the awards will be extended until the end of June, with the regional and state winners announced online.

“Now more than ever we need to recognise and celebrate our top achievers in training,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has meant we are moving our awards online – this won’t stop us from acknowledging and celebrating the great work being done by our training achievers across the State.”

She paid special attention to Queenslanders who are training and teaching in healthcare and individual support, “because we know we need more frontline workers to do incredible work caring for our community.”

The seven regional award nights, which were to have been held in July, and the State Gala Dinner, scheduled for September, will be announced online and promoted through social media.

Judging for the awards will be conducted online via Skype, and also by telephone. 

As the nation prepares for a changed economy once COVID protection measures lessen, Ms Fentiman said the relevance and promotion of high quality training was now more important than ever. 

“There’s no better time to shine a spotlight on our top achievers in vocational education and training as it is key to launching careers, growing businesses and in making sure we have the highly skilled workforce we need for the jobs now and into the future” she added. 

In 2019, the judges for the awards received more than 860 nominations, from which 80 state finalists for the Queensland Training Awards were chosen, 11 finalists in the Australian Training Awards, and two national winners including TAFE Queensland for International Training Provider of the Year.

“If you know an inspirational apprentice, trainee, student, employer, teacher or trainer, community initiative or training provider, please nominate them as a way to reward their commitment and encourage them to keep working towards their goals in these tough times,” Ms Fentiman said.

A full list of award categories, nomination details and eligibility criteria for 2020 is available here. Nominations for the awards will close 30 June 2020.