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Automotive industry’s best up-and-comers awarded
Top automotive apprentices were awarded at the 2024 TAFE Queensland - SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards
The best and brightest automotive industry apprentices were recognised at the 2024 TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards on Thursday 10 October at the Royal International Convention Centre in Bowen Hills, Brisbane in a night to remember for attendees.
Drawing a crowd of 350 attendees made up mostly of apprentices, their employers, and guests, with industry sponsors and TAFE Queensland staff also in attendance, the event showcased the nation’s top training provider’s very best apprentices across 14 trade categories along with two employer categories.
Apprentices were treated to a spectacular celebration of their excellence.
There were three automotive categories on the night, the Viva Energy Light Automotive Apprentice of the Year, the HVIA Heavy Commercial Industries Apprentice of the Year, and the CTIAQ Recreational Vehicle Apprentice of the Year, each won by deserving nominees.
Zupps Aspley apprentice Mitchell Vessey took out the Viva Energy Light Automotive Apprentice of the Year thanks to his unmatched passion and dedication to his trade, which doesn’t finish when he leaves work.
“It’s a passion I’ve carried with me for as long as I remember, outside of work I’ve had the chance to really dive into this passion through my personal projects: a 2014 Holden Colorado and a 2006 BF Ford Falcon,” Mr Vessey said.
Mitchell Vessey with award sponsor Viva Energy.
Next up was the HVIA Heavy Commercial Industries Apprentice of the Year won by Corin Brewer of Drake Trailers, who has been driven to success by a passion for heavy vehicle trailers.
“As soon as I saw a Drake steerable pull out of the workshop and saw all the axles steer, I knew that was it for me. I didn’t want to work on anything else,” Mr Brewer said.
Corin Brewer with sponsor HVIA.
Finally it was Xavier Johansen from Caravan Repair Centre who won the CTIAQ Recreational Vehicle Apprentice of the Year for his skill and leadership qualities, with his TAFE Queensland teacher saying his greatest skill is his ability to delegate appropriate tasks to all team members in complex team tasks.
Xavier Johansen was unable to attend on the night and was represented by TAFE Queensland Engineering Training Business Manager, Kevin Roos.
TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech General Manager Stephen Gates said the 2024 TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards was, above all else, an opportunity to encourage reflection on the achievements of Queensland’s future industry leaders.
“Every year, this event gives us the opportunity to promote rewarding excellence and engage the employers who train apprentices with us to think about what their apprentices’ best assets are,” Mr Gates said.
“I was lucky enough to be involved in the judging process and it was remarkable to hear about the achievements of our apprentices and their individual stories. There is no one pathway to success in a trade career and that was exemplified by our winners in 2024.”
TAFE Queensland - SkillsTech General Manager Stephen Gates addresses the crowd at the 2024 TAFE Queensland - SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards.
“We had Apprentices of the Year that were male, female, under 18, over 45, from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, North Queensland, starting their first career, extending with a second trade, or changing careers completely. That in itself was inspiring.”
“TAFE Queensland is so thankful to the raft of industry sponsors that make this event possible, led by Main Event Sponsor CSQ, and enable us to create a fantastic memory for our apprentices as they move towards a high-flying career,” Mr Gates said.