AGA Excel at the Victorian Training Awards

On Friday 6 December, the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) presented their 2019 annual awards during a gala dinner at Parliament House. The awards night recognises the successes of apprentices, trainees and group training organisations across the Victoria, with nominees hailing from all parts of the state.

In summary AGA & IntoWork featured as award winners, finalist and also nominations across a host of multiple categories which was fantastic result for the business and everyone involved during the past 2019 year.

Our very own Talei Winning (pictured below) was a finalist for Trainee of the Year,

Whilst we also had several of our apprentices and trainees up for various awards:

• Sian Prangnell – Finalist for Trainee of the Year and won the Inspiration Award: Overcoming Adversity
• Nicholas Wu – Winner of the STAR OHS Award
• Annabel Humble – Finalist for Inspiration Award: Overcoming Adversity
• Youssef Batal – Finalist for Apprentice of the Year.

In addition to the rich success of our earlier Apprentice & Trainee awards, AGA also received major awards across:

GTO Service Excellence Award

The Major Projects team (pictured above) at AGA are currently the employment provider for a Pathway Program on the Metro Tunnel project with Cross Yarra Partnership (CYP). The program focuses on disadvantaged youth between the ages of 16 and 25 with extreme barriers to employment and provides a platform for them to undertake a Certificate III or IV in Business which are placed alongside a mentor within various teams on the project.

The program gives them a pathway into a project which they otherwise probably would not have had. There have been 33 employment opportunities through the program so far, and seven participants have completed their qualification.

GTO Outstanding OHS Initiative Award

The OHS Essentials Program is a WorkSafe funded initiative that provides eligible Victorian employers with assistance with health and safety. Dr Paul Scofield (pictured above) has been on the panel of WorkSafe approved consultants since mid-2013 and delivers the Program under the contract held by MAS National. Over 150 employers participating in the Program have benefited from Paul’s expertise, with almost one in three assisted with compliance with WorkSafe issued Improvement Notices.

Paul has achieved a reputation as an outstanding health and safety professional over his 27 years in Group Training. He commenced as a Field Officer with Inner Northern Group Training, now trading as IntoWork Australia. Paul is the IntoWork Risk Manager and OHS Consultant for MAS National. He has had several roles that currently include providing health and safety services to five Group Training Companies within the IntoWork Group.

There was also great recognition for AGA & IntoWork staff members receiving tenure awards:

GTO Industry Service Awards

10 Year

Leah Crellin – AGA Australia (pictured above)

James McWilliam – AGA Australia

15 Year

Maurie Thurston – AGA Australia (pictured above)

25 Year

Darrell Fricker – AGA Australia

Overall it was an outstanding evening with many great results from a years worth of hard work by the team at AGA, congratulations!