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Inspiring apprentices win top awards
Two inspiring apprentices have taken out the marquee awards at the 2024 TAFE Queensland - SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards.
The best and brightest utilities apprentices were recognised at the 2024 TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards on Thursday 10 October at the Royal International Convention Centre in Bowen Hills, Brisbane in a night to remember for attendees.
Drawing a crowd of 350 attendees made up mostly of apprentices, their employers, and guests, with industry sponsors and TAFE Queensland staff also in attendance, the event showcased the nation’s top training provider’s very best apprentices across 14 trade categories along with two employer categories. At the conclusion of the event, two overall awards were presented to the most outstanding apprentice and to the apprentice who has best succeeded against additional adversity.
Apprentices were treated to a spectacular celebration of their excellence.
Amy-Lee Murray, an air conditioning and refrigeration apprentice from Woolworths Format Development and winner of the Fluke Australia Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Apprentice of the Year, was awarded the overall award for the most outstanding apprentice – the CSQ Outstanding Apprentice of the Year – thanks to her undeniable skill level.
Amy-Lee Murray is regarded as a highly skilled apprentice by her employer and teachers.
Having initially competed with over 500 other applicants to secure her place in the Woolworths apprenticeship program, Amy-Lee’s prospects were identified early, and she has gone on to shatter even the most ambitious expectations set for her.
“It’s extremely tough to get an apprenticeship with Woolworths, she’s done well to even get in the door, let alone to go through her apprenticeship and perform as well as she has,” Amy’s Service Team Leader Matthew O’Neill said.
Amy’s direct supervisor Jarred Barnard spoke of her dedication to her trade and bettering herself week in, week out as a key reason that she deserved this landmark award, placing her at the top of a large group of apprentices he has overseen in his 20 years in the trade for her dedication.
“It’s an awesome achievement that she really deserves, she’s put in the dedication and the work, and I’ve never known another apprentice to research refrigeration so much in their spare time,” Mr Barnard said.
Amy-Lee Murray was thrilled to take home two awards on the night.
Amy-Lee’s skills and performance under pressure ensure she contributes greatly to the lives of thousands of locals on the northside of Brisbane through her crucial work to maintain food safety standards by maintaining and fixing fridges and freezers in various Woolworths stores.
Meanwhile, fellow air conditioning and refrigeration apprentice Lachlan Debel was awarded the BUSY At Work General Manager’s Apprentice of the Year for his great success in his trade through the additional adversities that come with a permanent and severe hearing impairment.
Lachlan shines in his workplace and at TAFE despite his additional adversity.
The General Manager’s Apprentice of the Year was introduced by former TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech General Manager, now TAFE Queensland CEO, John Tucker and is proudly continued on by his successor Stephen Gates, as an ode to TAFE Queensland’s core mission to contribute to all Queensland communities.
Losing more than 80 per cent of his hearing capacity in an accident as a child, Lachlan is firmly acknowledged as the best apprentice employed by NRG Services even though he often experiences excessive fatigue due to relying on lip-reading for long periods when working in loud areas.
HVAC-R Manager at NRG Services Mark Allsopp said the young man was an upstanding member of both the business and his community, regularly donating time to be a role model to others.
“Lachy donates a lot of his time to St Vincent de Paul, I think he’s got a passion inside to show other people that may have a similar impairment to him that there’s nothing that can stop you,” Mr Allsopp said.
Lachlan Debel with his employer and partner celebrating his award.
“Part of our trade is look, listen, and feel, and he has adapted quite well to that. It’s hard for any kid when they first start out to find a voice, but it didn’t take him too long before he was training our people on how to train him,” he said.
TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech General Manager Stephen Gates said the 2024 TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards was, above all else, an opportunity to encourage reflection on the achievements of Queensland’s future industry leaders.
“Every year, this event gives us the opportunity to promote rewarding excellence and engage the employers who train apprentices with us to think about what their apprentices’ best assets are,” Mr Gates said.
“I was lucky enough to be involved in the judging process and it was remarkable to hear about the achievements of our apprentices and their individual stories. There is no one pathway to success in a trade career and that was exemplified by our winners in 2024.”
TAFE Queensland - SkillsTech General Manager Stephen Gates congratulates Lachlan Debel on his award.
“We had Apprentices of the Year that were male, female, under 18, over 45, from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, North Queensland, starting their first career, extending with a second trade, or changing careers completely. That in itself was inspiring.”
“TAFE Queensland is so thankful to the raft of industry sponsors that make this event possible, led by Main Event Sponsor CSQ, and enable us to create a fantastic memory for our apprentices as they move towards a high-flying career,” Mr Gates said.