The NSW Sheetmetal Industry Association (SIA) “Apprentice of the Year” awards is a joint Sheetmetal Industry/TAFE initiative to recognise the academic achievements of our young tradespersons and to promote the Sheetmetal Industry as a career option.

To qualify for the awards Sheetmetal apprentices across NSW are nominated by their TAFE teacher and assessed on a competitive basis, based on specified competency tests assessing their practical and theoretical ability together with the employers’ evaluation. Finally, a short list of apprentices are interviewed by a SIA Sub Committee comprising Sheetmetal Company Directors, a TAFE Educational Manager and established industry players to select the winners of the awards.

These awards are just one of many commitments the SIA has undertaken to improve the status of the trade and the educational outlook for future trade generations.

The SIA and the Sub Committee thank the sponsors of the

“Apprentice Of The Year”

awards, for their enthusiastic interest and support.

The elaborate Gala Dinner Awards Ceremony was held at the Tattersalls Club in Sydney on the evening of June 2nd, 2006. The four winners of the prestigious SIA Apprentice of the Year Award 2005 and the four winners of the SIA Sculpture Award for High School Students were announced at the dinner. Funds raised on the night went to the Northcott Disability Services.

SIA President Colin Johnsen (CEO of FJP Manufacturing) opened the 2005 Apprentice of the Year awards presentation by reading a letter from the Prime Minister Mr John Howard, acknowledging the achievements of the apprentices and the initiatives of the Sheetmetal Industry/TAFE to address trade training and skill shortages.

Colin introduced our official guests: The Hon. Mrs Danna Vale MP, Federal Member for Hughes; Mr Kimble Fillingham, General Manager Business Support Services TAFE NSW; our major sponsors Mr James Randall, Director Sheetmetal Tooling Technologies and Mr Robert Pollard, Asia Pacific Manager Wilson Tool; Ron Robertson-Swann OAM, Patron SIA Sculpture Awards; Mr Ron Wright, A/Institute Director Western Sydney Institute TAFE Mr David Wallace, A/Associate Director Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction and Transport Curriculum Centre Western Sydney Institute of TAFE and Mr Mark Goodsell, NSW Director Ai Group.

The Hon. Gary Hardgrave MP, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister; Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, announced via videoconference that the winner of the NSW SIA Apprentice of the Year Award 2005 was Bradley Hooppell of Marcus Engineering and North Sydney TAFE. The Hon. Danna Vale MP presented the award assisted by major sponsors James Randall of Sheetmetal Tooling Technologies and Robert Pollard of Wilson Tools. The highly commended prize was awarded to Justin Moore of St Marys Sheetmetal and Mt Druitt TAFE. The encouragement award went to Michael Adams of Faircloth & Reynolds and Chullora TAFE. For the first year in this annual competition, a new category evolved for the Mature Age Apprentice Award, which went to Warren Allen of Desire Sheetmetal & Air Conditioning Pty Ltd and Miller TAFE.

TAFE Manufacturing, Engineering,Construction and Transport Curriculum Centre

Tel: 61-2 9792 6000 Fax: 61-2 9792 6001