Victorians are being encouraged to show their support for hardworking apprentices by casting a vote for the Community Choice Award at this year’s Victorian Training Awards.

Now in its second year, the award is a public vote and Victorians are being asked to get behind their favourite apprentice. The four apprentices who are shortlisted for this year’s Community Choice Award are:

• Apprentice electrician Elliott Grayling, who trained at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
• Apprentice carpenter Steven Jeffery, who trained at Swinburne University of Technology
• Apprentice shop-fitter Danielle Kazi-Shedden, who trained at Chisholm Institute
• Apprentice carpenter Paul Saynor, who trained at Holmesglen Institute

The apprentice with the highest number of votes will win $2000, a MacBook and a software package. A random voter will also have the chance to win an iPad Air 2.

Apprentices are the backbone of Victoria’s training system and the Andrews Labor Government has introduced a number of initiatives to support them, including:

• Half-price car registration for apprentices in the construction trades
• The Major Projects Skills Guarantee, where at least 10 per cent of the work carried out on Victoria’s major projects is undertaken by apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets
• $9.3 million for Group Training Organisations and $3.7 million to extend the Apprenticeship Support Officer program and work with TAFEs and employers to identify ways to help apprentices complete their training

You can cast a vote at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/awards/Pages/vtavote.aspx.

Voting closes on Friday, 26 August, at 7.45pm.

Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Training and Skills Fiona Richardson

“These four finalists are all outstanding apprentices and I commend them for their dedication to their training.”

“I encourage Victorians to get online and show their support for these hardworking apprentices.”

“Apprentices are at the heart of the training system and we are working hard to support them. I am thrilled that apprentice commencements in Victoria are on the up.”