Two of WA’s nine nominees from the WA Training Awards 2019 winners received accolades whilst Wayne Collyer, former Managing Director at South Metropolitan TAFE and Central Regional TAFE, received the honourable Lifetime Achievement Award. Having worked in the education sector for more than 40 years, 30 of them dedicated to VET, Mr Collyer achieved significant results for VET in WA through his expertise in developing future VET leaders and providing leadership to state and national policy committees. An instrumental builder of the education and training sector, Mr Collyer has made a difference to thousands of students.

Winner of the Large Employer of the Year Award, Barminco was recognised for their excellent training programs, dedication to their staff and successful partnerships with registered training organisations.

Runner up for the Australian Trainer of the Year Award, Caversham resident Matthew King has a passion for working with young people and believes through great teaching you can shape the next generation.As a mentor he has provided inspirational learning experiences and was responsible for establishing the only school-based pre-apprentice electrical course in WA.

For information about the WA Training Awards please visit the website 

Lifetime Achievement Award — Wayne Collyer

Wayne Collyer was Managing Director at Polytechnic West (now South Metropolitan TAFE) from 2004 until his retirement in February 2013. In the ten years previous, he was Managing Director of Central West College of TAFE (now Central Regional TAFE).

Throughout his career Mr Collyer achieved significant results for VET in WA through his considerable expertise in developing future VET leaders and providing leadership to state and national policy committees. Nationally, Mr Collyer has contributed to the development and continuous improvement of a world class Australian VET sector through his long commitment and executive membership of the TAFE Directors Australia Board.

Winner - Large Employer of the Year 2019 
Barminco (winner of the WA Training Awards Large Employer of the Year 2019)
Barminco is one of the world’s largest hard-rock underground mining services providers employing 3,500 employees world-wide. Founded in 1989, the WA-based company has 30 years’ experience in delivering hard-rock underground mining services both domestically and internationally. Its Barminco Leaders Program (BLP) has 102 employees enrolled, of which 24 have graduated with a BSB42015 Certificate IV in Leadership and Management. 

Runner up  - VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award
Matthew King (winner of WA Trainer of the Year 2019), Caversham, Swan Trade Training Centre 
Prior to becoming a trainer, Matthew was an electrician and still runs his own business. With a passion for working with young people, he believes that through great teaching you can shape the next generation. As a mentor, he provides inspirational learning experiences while remaining relevant to industry. Matthew was responsible for establishing the only school-based pre-apprenticeship electrical course, run by in-house staff in WA.  

Main picture: WA Training Awards 2019 finalists and Australian Training Award nominees with Department of Training and Workforce Development Director General, Anne Driscoll, and guests at the Australian Training Awards presentation dinner, Brisbane Exhibition Centre, 21 November