20 September 2025
Felix Ellis, Minister for Skills and Jobs
Outstanding achievements in the state’s vocational education and training (VET) sector were celebrated at tonight's 2025 Tasmanian Training Awards in Hobart.
Minister for Skills and Jobs, Felix Ellis, said this year’s 61 finalists across 13 categories represent the very best of what our training system can achieve.
“Not only do these awards celebrate excellence in our VET system, they mark the dedication and commitment of our learners, teachers, trainers and employers to take our state forward.
“Finalists represent industries that are critical to Tasmania’s future - whether building our homes, caring for those in need, or creating experiences as part of our visitor economy.”
Minister Ellis said that with Tasmania experiencing record low unemployment, the job opportunities for skilled learners have never been better.
“Ensuring that more Tasmanians have the skills and training they need to grasp these opportunities is a vital first step.
“The Liberal Government is delivering for Tasmania, with our Tasmanian Skills Plan ensuring learners and employers are at the centre of everything we do to create more jobs and grow the economy,” Minister Ellis said.
Award winners in 10 categories will have the opportunity to represent Tasmania at the Australian Training Awards in Darwin on 5 December 2025.
Winners of 2025 Tasmanian Training Awards
Category | Name | Qualification/ Training Provider | Location |
Apprentice of the Year* | Holly Frankcombe | Certificate III in ESI – Distribution Overhead TasNetworks Enterprise RTO | North |
Trainee of the Year* | Tiarna Bricknell | Certificate III in Business NDA Training Tasmania | South |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year* | Braydon Gower | Certificate III in Commercial Cookery TasTAFE | South |
Vocational Student of the Year* | Mikayla Towns | Certificate III in School-based Education Support TasTAFE | North |
School-based Apprentice of the Year* | Joshua Fielding | Certificate III in Carpentry TasTAFE | South |
VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year* | Steve Wiggers | SCALA The Training Company | South |
VET in Schools Student of the Year | Mia Gaffney | Certificate II in Cookery Department for Education, Children and Young People at Rosny College | South |
Equity Apprentice/Trainee of the Year | Nazir Hussain Sultani | Certificate III in Carpentry TasTAFE | South |
Equity Vocational Student of the Year | William Dyer | Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) Avidity Training and Development | South |
Business winners
Industry Collaboration Award | Civil Contractors Federation |
Small Employer of the Year | The Dental Surgery, Newstead |
Large Employer of the Year | TasNetworks |
Small Training Provider of the Year | SCALA The Training Company |
*nationally aligned categories