Small Training Provider of the Year Award

St Columban's College is characterised by outstanding training facilities, an innovative and collaborative training environment, reciprocal training partnerships, and measurable progress toward national vocational educations and training (VET) goals, matching outcomes to industry demands. They deliver training in 19 national qualifications in 11 industry areas, including Hospitality, Kitchen Operations and Hairdressing through the St Columban's Community Trade Training Centre.

The College has gained a successful reputation as a leader and strong advocate for vocational education in a secondary school setting, winning the School Pathways to VET category in the Australian Training Awards, 2014, and national finalist in the category, 2016.

As a small training provider St Columban’s objective is to maintain excellence in training and outcomes, equity in access and participation in courses, and strategic edge for students in the changing world of work. Annually over 90 students engage in school-based traineeships/apprenticeships, and currently the College employs 17 trainees.

Avidity Training and Development is a registered training organisation (RTO) operating in Tasmania and offering 20 qualifications, from Certificate I to Diploma level, including in business, leadership management, community services, health support services, hospitality and retail.

Since opening in 2009, Avidity has helped thousands of students grow and reach their full potential, like Alysia Woodhall.

After 15 years working as a machine setter, Alysia was made redundant. She had no other qualifications and limited options. Life was scary until Alysia chatted to a trainer at Avidity.
With strong support from her trainer, Alysia pursued her dream career change and enrolled in Avidity’s Certificate II in Community Services program. She became a part-time volunteer in an aged care facility while studying part-time. After graduating she quickly landed a rewarding position in her chosen field and went on to study a workplaceundertake a traineeship  incompleting a Certificate IV in Disability.
‘I now feel like I can do anything I really want to,’ says Alysia. ‘I’ve never felt so confident and proud in my life.’

Alysia’s story is very familiar to Avidity, says Director Simon Wiggins.
‘We provide a range of services, focusing on improving the health and wellbeing of students,’ says Simon. ‘Services include face-to-face training of nationally recognised qualifications to disengaged members of our community or the long-term unemployed. We support students to develop personal confidence, career plan and navigate the world of work.’
‘We work with partners to identify outcomes and vocational education training (VET) plans to meet those outcomes,’ says Simon. ‘We’re solution focused which helps us remain sustainable.’

It’s no surprise that Avidity holds several accolades, including Employer of Choice, Best Micro Business in Australia, and Tasmanian Training Award for Small Training Provider of the Year. Most recently it won the 2017 Small Training Provider of the Year Award at the Australian Training Awards. This award recognises an RTO delivering less than 50 qualifications and demonstrating excellence and high-level performance in all aspects of VET.

Winning the award brought many benefits to Avidity, including increased confidence in the integrity of the VET industry and recognition of staff and their important work. ‘It validates the hard work we put in,’ says Simon.
As an Australian VET Alumni member, the team at Avidity understands that VET is an integral part of the nation’s training system. ‘It’s a different but not a lesser path,’ says Simon. ‘It provides real careers.’

‘Avidity is a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with enthusiasm and dedication—to be avid. This is what we want our graduates to feel,’ says Simon.

To find out more about how you can gain real skills for a real career through a VET qualification, visit www.myskills.gov.au

Avidity Training and Development, a Launceston-based registered training organisation (RTO), provides a wide range of training services throughout Tasmania aimed at helping individuals, communities and organisations grow and reach their potential.  Its work, particularly in equity, is contributing to improved employment outcomes and increased personal, social and economic capital for their students.

 The RTO has established strong relationships within the community services industry, enabling its ongoing collaboration with community partners and equity groups to identify industry training needs and develop targeted training plans. An Employability Spectrum, developed by Avidity Training and Development, facilitates assessment of individual learners’ requirements and improves the RTO’s ability to help learners transition onto a tailored pathway that ultimately leads them to employment.

 Avidity Training and Development provides qualifications for about 600 students a year. It is recognised as an Employer of Choice and as one of the leaders in quality equity VET in Tasmania.

Adelaide Training and Employment Centre (ATEC) is a bipartite incorporated, not-for-profit organisation with a board of management comprising representatives from industry and unions. A successful RTO since 1989, ATEC’s services encompass the education, training and employment sectors and offer a mobile workforce delivering training, apprenticeship and recruitment services through a flexible partnership model with industry. 

TBC

An RTO since 1994, Master Builders Association of Victoria (MBAV) offers highly relevant and valued training solutions that improve business productivity, site safety, project quality and employee engagement. MBAV provides a ‘one stop, one platform, one provider’ industry training service that includes onsite evaluation of workforce skills, capabilities and learning gaps, designing and facilitating compliance skills, professional development and simulated learning programs.

Through specialist training, recruitment, employment and industry advocacy CHARLTON BROWN® has become a leader in the care and community services sector. CHARLTON BROWN ® currently has 1748 students undertaking 29 different qualifications around Queensland.

Enterprise & Training Company Limited (ETC) is a Registered Training Organisation that specialises in helping disadvantaged learners to up-skill in order to increase their employability.

A not-for-profit organisation, ETC has been operating for 27 years with offices located along the East Coast of Australia between Tuncurry in the south and Gold Coast in the north.

The Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) provides a seriously fun learning environment and is seriously good at what it does. The first specialist game institution at the time of its establishment in 1996, its graduates today work in the top creative studios around the world and contribute to the success of acclaimed games such as Gears of War 4 and movie blockbusters such as Mad Max: Fury Road.

Established as a non-profit organisation to grow the creative digital sector, AIE pioneered the development of specialist game qualifications through industry partnerships and dynamic teaching. As one of the most awarded 3D animation, game design and visual FX educators in the world, the Small Training Provider of the Year Award at the 2016 Australian Training Awards, is a very welcome accolade for the company in its 20th year of operation.

“Having started out as industry trailblazers 20 years ago it’s fantastic recognition and validation to have the judges look at us objectively and confirm we are performing to a standard of excellence,” said AIE’s Director of Business Development and Marketing, Neil Boyd.

“When success is often measured by the number of students through the door, we distinguish ourselves by being about quality rather than quantity. AIE’s number one focus is on helping our students to succeed and it is very pleasing to have our student-centric approach rewarded.”

Also validating AIE’s approach is the consistently positive feedback received from student satisfaction surveys, with 91 per cent of students indicating they are satisfied with their training and 93 per cent indicating they would recommend the training to others.

Neil attributes much of AIE’s success to its focus on teacher quality and attracting the best of the best. "The quality of what you do and the outcomes you achieve are only as good as your teachers on the front line. Our teachers are absolutely committed and invested in their students. They are expert, passionate and inspiring.”

Neil observed more generally that having worked across many sectors he has found that the teachers in the VET sector are some of the most passionate he’s come across. “They can take students who haven’t enjoyed school and their experience of learning and get them interested and excited about learning again.

“It is really important to value and celebrate the work and achievements of those in the sector and that’s what the Australian Training Awards do so well. For us the award is a stamp of quality which will inspire confidence from the industry, teachers and students. At a time when there’s a lot of debate about private providers, this award is very important for us and will help to drive our reputation as an industry leader well into the future.”