Queensland has taken out two of the top awards at the 2025 Australian Training Awards, with wins recognising excellence in apprenticeships and vocational education outcomes.
Gold Coast-based luxury motor yacht manufacturer Riviera Australia was named Australian Apprentice Employer of the Year, while Cairns youth worker Kayla Gagai was awarded Trainee of the Year. The awards were announced at a ceremony held at the Darwin Convention Centre.
Riviera Australia was recognised for its Academy of Excellence, a purpose-built training facility that enables apprentices to train alongside master craftspeople. The program has achieved a 95 per cent completion rate among apprentices, a result highlighted by judges as a benchmark for industry-led training.
Gagai was acknowledged for her work empowering young people in Far North Queensland. As a youth worker in Cairns, she supports primary and secondary school students by teaching respectful relationships and helping them prepare for employment and obtain driver’s licences.
The Australian Training Awards, now in their 31st year, celebrate outstanding achievement across the vocational education and training sector, including apprentices, trainees, students, teachers, practitioners, employers and training providers.
Federal minister for skills and training Andrew Giles congratulated the winners and finalists, describing them as ambassadors for the national VET system.
“I congratulate the winners and finalists of the 2025 Australian Training Awards. They’re great ambassadors for Australia’s world-leading vocational education and training sector,” Giles said.
“VET is the engine room delivering the skilled workforce our communities need and rely on every day in sectors as diverse as nursing, construction, manufacturing, aged care and clean energy.”
Giles said the government remained committed to strengthening vocational education through long-term funding and policy reform.
“The Albanese Government is committed to strengthening the VET sector, including through our contribution of $12.6 billion over five years under the National Skills Agreement, and working with the states and territories to deliver Free TAFE, which recently marked more than 725,000 enrolments nationally,” he said.
Queensland minister for finance, trade, employment and training Ros Bates said the results reflected strong training outcomes across the state.
“With three of Queensland’s five recipients from outside the South East Corner, we are proud to be delivered strengthened training opportunities right across Queensland,” Bates said.
“These winners are not just role models in their communities, they are shaping the skilled workforce Queensland needs for the future.”
Queensland recipients also included recognition for Murroona Gardens, CTA Training Specialists and Dion Sands. Winners and finalists will act as ambassadors for the national VET sector.
