2020 Victorian Training Awards – Winners Announcement

We are very excited to share this year’s 2020 Victorian Training Awards Winners.

Over two weeks from Monday 26 October, we featured this year’s award finalists and announced the winners via a VTA2020 Virtual Events Series. You can view these videos now on the Victorian Training Awards Facebook and LinkedIn.

For the first time in the awards history, the Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement was given to two people, Geraldine Atkinson and Lionel Bamblett, for their work in Koorie education and training.

Geraldine is the President of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association and has played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Minimbah Adult Education Program, as well as being a driving force behind key policies and strategies in Koorie education and training.

Lionel is the General Manager of the Victorian Education Association Incorporated and has also been instrumental in a host of key policies and strategies, including the Wurreker Strategy (2000), which focused on Indigenous vocational education delivery.

The winners in each category for the 2020 Victorian Training Awards are:

Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement
Geraldine Atkinson and Lionel Bamblett

Apprentice of the Year
Shona McGuigan

Trainee of the Year
Nicole Barrow

Vocational Student of the Year
Simon Watts

School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
Van Sui Thawng

Koorie Student of the Year
Matthew Atkinson

Teacher/Trainer of the Year
Kevin Nunn – TAFE Gippsland

Large Training Provider of the Year
South West Institute of TAFE

Community Training Provider of the Year
The Centre for Continuing Education

Small Training Provider of the Year
Builders Academy Australia

Inclusive Training Provider of the Year
GOTAFE

Medium Employer of the Year
Mambourin

Large Employer of the Year
Swan Plumbing Supplies

Industry Collaboration Award
SuniTAFE Aged Care Leadership Development Collaboration

People’s Choice Award (Apprentice of the Year)
Nellie Baker

Find out more about this year’s winners and finalists. Good luck to those winners who will be representing Victoria at the Australian Training Awards.

About the Awards

Now in their 66th year, the prestigious Victorian Training Awards foster connections and collaboration, bringing together students, teachers, training providers, employers and industry representatives, sharing in a high-quality training system that meets the needs of all Victorians.

VTA app

Download the app to stay informed about key activities in the program, including the judging process, announcement of finalists, gala schedule, voting dates for the People’s Choice Award, and much more. You can also read about the VTA’s history and success stories of past winners and finalists.

Follow these easy steps to download the app:

  • 1. Download from the App Store on iOS or the Play Store on Android
  • 2. Enter the code: VTA2020 when prompted
  • 3. Create a profile

























    • Follow us on social media to see who our 2020 finalists are.

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    To contact the Victorian Training Awards team phone: 1800 290 657 or email victorian.training.awards@education.vic.gov.au