CONGRATULATIONS NSW TRAINING AWARDS WINNERS

The 65th edition of the annual NSW Training Awards saw a retail baking apprentice with a passion for pastry and a trainee who believes libraries are at the heart of community take out top honours in a virtual ceremony broadcast tonight.

Minister for Skills and Higher Education Geoff Lee congratulated all of the winners including Joshua Nickl from the Illawarra on being named 2020 NSW Apprentice of the Year, as well as a People’s Choice winner, and Emily Jones from Wagga Wagga as the Trainee of the Year.

“Pastry is Joshua’s life. He grew up in his parent’s patisserie, so it’s no surprise he’s driven to follow in their footsteps, especially as his father was once a finalist in the NSW Apprentice of the Award himself,” Mr Lee said.

“Joshua regularly competes in industry competitions achieving the Baking Association of Australia’s National Apprentice Pastry Chef of the Year in 2017.

He even dedicated his ‘spare’ time to train over 20 additional hours a week with The Australian Pastry Team.

“In 2019, they competed in France’s Coupe Du Monde competition placing sixth, achieving Australia's best result yet.”

Employed by the Gumnut Patisserie in the Southern Highlands and trained by the Canberra Institute of Technology, Joshua said he has also travelled through Europe on a working holiday learning new pastry skills and making industry connections.

“I’m excited to train and lead the pastry chefs of the future,” he said.

Mr Lee said Trainee of the Year award winner Emily Jones stood out as a stellar Greater Hume Council library, customer service and youth development trainee.

“Dreaming of a career where she could help others, Emily soon discovered that libraries are the heart of the community. She brought her library into the 21st century through instigating a social media plan and connecting young people to their services,” Mr Lee said.

Emily has also instigated four new youth advisory committees in the region.

“Supporting these incredible young people has been a gift,” she said.

Mr Lee congratulated the winners of all the award categories saying they are living proof of the great personal and career benefits vocational education and training (VET) can bring.

The NSW Training Award winners will now represent the state at the Australian Training Awards to be broadcast as a virtual event on Friday, 20 November 2020.

A full list of the winners is available online at www.training.nsw.gov.au