Congratulations to Marion Fitzpatrick (pictured right) who has been named the National Trade Teacher of the Year.

Marion, who was the winner in the Hospitality and Personal Services industry, has gone on to be named the overall Trade Teacher of the Year ahead of the other seven finalists in Hobart at the National Training Awards dinner last week.

All of our finalists across the other industry groups have been busy since the awards ceremony in Sydney doing radio and newspaper interviews and the Institute has been delighted by how well the inaugural Trade Teacher of the Year awards have been received. 

One of our three key objectives is to recognise excellent standards and teaching in trades' education and training across our eight industry groups and the Trade Teacher of the Year has been a great platform to recognise Australia's best trade skills teachers.

In other exciting news, last week I travelled to Japan with Australia's World Skills team who are competing in the International World Skills competition for the opening ceremony. 

We have an amazing team representing Australia and I'm sure that over the coming days I will be reporting the success of the Australian team.

SkillsOne have also just launched the second of the Ultimate Apprenticeship promotions. This time people studying or who are aspiring or have completed their qualifications within the Automotive, Horticulture or Chef Trades are eligible to enter for a once in a lifetime trade skills experience. 

The prizes we have secured thanks to our partners at WPC group and A1GP are incredible: 

• For Automotive - the prize is to work with the Australian A1GP team in Brands Hatch England
• For Horticulture - the prize is to spend a week at the world renowned Singapore Garden festival; and
• For Hospitality  - the prize is to work alongside some of Japan's best Chefs.

The three prizes are all inclusive, including air fares and accommodation and are valued up to $13,000.  Special thanks to our partners WPC Group and A1GP.

I'd encourage anyone working or undertaking an apprenticeship in hospitality, automotive or horticulture to check out the details on this website and enter.