An apprentice electrician has won South Australia’s most prestigious vocational training and training award at the South Australian Training Awards, hosted by the Training and Skills Commission over the weekend. 

Jarrod Morton, 21, of Greenwith recently completed his apprenticeship with PEER – which won Training Provider of the Year – and is now employed as an electrician.

Jarrod said that he applied for the SA Training Awards because he wanted to encourage others to do what he’s been doing.

“Through my apprenticeship, I’ve grown not only as an electrician, but as a person as well,” he said, “my confidence is higher, and I’m now responsible for running my own jobs from start to finish.”

Mr Morton said he aspires to be where his boss is now—running his own company—and plans to go on to study electrical engineering in the future as well.

Minister for Industry and Skills, David Pisoni  said the South Australian Training Awards were a celebration of the positive impact of undertaking vocational education and training and showed the excellence and depth of training providers and employers.

“The high calibre of the award winners shows the strength of vocational education and training in South Australia as we embark on a new strategy to build our skilled workforce to prepare for the massive economic opportunity heading our way from defence projects and the growth of digital technology.”

The State Government is investing over $200 million over the next four years to deliver an additional 20,000 apprenticeships and traineeships through the Skilling South Australia strategy and the Federal Government’s Skilling Australians Fund.

The winners have the opportunity to represent South Australia at the Australian Training Awards, which will be held on 15 November in Sydney.

More information on the awards can be found here.

The 2018 South Australian Training Awards winners are:

Individuals:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year: Lachlan Stone, North Beach Wallaroo
• Apprentice of the Year: Jarrod Morton, Greenwith
• School-based Apprentice of the Year: Shanna-Lee Locker, Mount Gambier
• Trainee of the Year: Kirsty Potter, Kilburn
• Vocational Student of the Year: Sarah Twyford, Kingswood
• VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year: Darren Quinn, Campbelltown
• Voters’ Choice: Jaydon Kovarik, Kersbrook

Organisations:

• Industry Collaboration: The U-Turn Construction Pathways Program, Mossop Construction and Interiors, South Australian Department for Correctional Services, Totalspace Design, TAFE SA
• Large Employer of the Year: Lendlease Engineering Pty Limited, Waterloo Corner
• Medium Employer of the Year: Wickham Flower, Bordertown
• Small Employer of the Year: SMS Geotechnical, Para Hills West
• Training Provider of the Year: PEER, Albert Park

Additionally, three South Australian finalists were awarded direct entry into the Australian Training Awards:

• School Pathways to VET Award: Edward John Eyre High School, Whyalla Norrie
• Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award: Kathryn von Bergen, Thebarton Senior College
• Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award: Lidia Lipkiewicz, TAFE SA Salisbury Campus