2/8/2018 Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

On this page:Applying or nominating for an award

Why should I apply or nominate someone for an award?

Who can nominate me for an award?

Can an individual nominate themselves?

How many awards can I apply for or be nominated for?

Can I nominate more than one person?

Do I have to apply online, or can I submit a hard copy application?

Are there sample questions for me to view?

When do I need to submit my application by?

Is there any cost involved in entering the NSW Training Awards?

Where do I find out more information about entering?

Can I use my 2017 log-in details?

Can I enter again this year, even though I applied or was nominated last year?

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I completed my training contract sooner than expected, can I still benominated?

I finished my training contract & have moved to a new employer, can I still benominated?

I am of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Which Award should Iapply for?

What's a Group Training Organisation/GTO?

What’s Next?

What happens after I have been nominated?

When do I find out if I am shortlisted or if I have won?

If I win at a regional event, what's next?

What can I win?

Do I get my picture in the paper if I win?

If I/we are a State finalist or State winner, can we advertise this?

Can I request feedback on my application/nomination if I am not successful?

When will I receive feedback?

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Contacts

Why should I apply or nominate someone for an award?

The NSW Training Awards celebrate the best of vocational education and training (VET) in NSW and are thepremier VET awards in the state.

The NSW Training Awards provide recognition to individuals and serve as a launching pad to opportunities in theVET industry and within their local community.

For organisations, the NSW Training Awards provides great networking opportunities for finalists and thepossibility to showcase your organisation's commitment to excellence. Success in the NSW Training Awards raisesthe profile of your organisation in your industry, your community and with the state government.

Who can nominate me for an award?

Apprentices, trainees, school-based apprentices/trainees can be nominated by their training provider or employer(or host employer if they are working for a group training organisation).

School-based apprentices/trainees can be nominated by their training provider, school or employer (or hostemployer if they are working for a group training organisation).

Vocational students can be nominated by their training provider.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can be nominated by their training provider or employer (or hostemployer if they are working for a group training organisation) if they are an apprentice or trainee.

VET in Schools Students can be nominated by their training provider, school or their employer (if applicable).

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VET Trainer/Teacher nominees can be nominated by their students, colleagues, employer or other industry group.The VET Trainer/Teacher Category is a direct state entry category (candidates will be shortlisted directly to theNSW state event).

Employers and Training Provider award category entries are to be completed by full-time employees (i.e. not acontractor) with the permission from your organisation’s chief executive officer or equivalent.

Can an individual nominate themselves?

Self nomination for individuals is allowed in the VET Trainer/Teacher category only, however the entry form muststill be endorsed by a training provider or employer.

Self nominations in the Apprentice, Trainee, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student, Vocational Student,School-based Apprentice/Trainee and VET in Schools Student of the Year categories are not accepted.

How many awards can I apply for or be nominated for?

Individuals can only be nominated for one category. If you have been nominated for more than one category, wewill contact your nominator/s to clarify which award is to be selected.

Organisations can apply for more than one award, provided that the eligibility criteria of those awards are met.Note that we do not accept multiple applications for the same award.

Can I nominate more than one person?

There is no limit to the number of apprentices, trainees, students or trainers you can nominate.

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Do I have to apply online, or can I submit a hard copy application?

The NSW Training Awards online application process is only available through our Application Portal

No other applications will be accepted including electronic or hardcopy submissions such as paper, USBs, CDs,DVDs, fax, email or links to external websites or media platforms.

Are there sample questions for me to view?

Yes, a PDF with sample questions is available for download, and are available under the Selection Criteria sectionfor each award group.

When do I need to submit my application by?

Applications to the 2018 NSW Training Awards close 11:59pm on Friday 16th March 2018.

Is there any cost involved in entering the NSW Training Awards?

No, the NSW Training Awards do not charge an application fee.

Where do I find out more information about entering?

For more information about the NSW Training Awards, how to enter and eligibility, click on the relevant link/sbelow:

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How to enter

Eligibility and selection criteria

Terms and conditions [pdf]

Submission tips

If you require further information you can also contact us with any questions.

Can I use my 2017 login details?

Yes. You will be able to use your existing login details. Just enter your username and password, and you are goodto go.

Can I enter again this year, even though I applied or was nominated last year?

The rules state that you may only be nominated once for a training contract. This means that you cannot benominated for the same apprenticeship, traineeship or vocational course twice.

If you have progressed to the next level in your training, you can be nominated again. For example:

You were nominated for the 2017 NSW Trainee of the Year as you did a traineeship in Certificate III in Business.You have since completed this traineeship and progressed to a Certificate IV in Business (Legal Administration).You can be nominated for the 2018 NSW Trainee of the Year as it is a different training contract.

You were nominated for the 2017 NSW School-based Apprentice of the Year Award (you were in Year 12 then).You are now due to complete your apprenticeship in March 2018. You can be nominated for the 2018 NSW

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Apprentice of the Year as this is a different category.

For the VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year Award, the rules differ slightly. Winners of the 2017 regional VETTrainer/Teacher of the Year cannot be nominated in 2018.

Organisations can apply again each year, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.

I completed my training contract sooner than expected, can I still be nominated?

Competency based completion (often referred to as "early completion") is a great thing. In general, it means thatyou excelled at your trade or vocation and that you picked up the skills required a lot quicker than anticipated.

The eligibility criteria speak of specific time frames. For 2018, the completion date of the training must fallbetween 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2018.

We allow you to be nominated if you complete your actual completion date of your training (as mentioned on theapproval letter from Training Services NSW for apprentices and trainees) or on your expected completion date onthe documentation from the training provider (for vocational students).

Note that if you are an apprentice or trainee and you are applying for competency based completion, you mustlodge the application form [Pdf] before entering the 2018 NSW Training Awards.

If you completed earlier than this or have any questions, contact us.

I finished my training contract & have moved to a new employer, can I still be nominated?

Yes, you can be nominated by your previous employer or by your training provider.

If your new employer was not part of the training contract, we cannot accept a nomination from them. If youtransferred to this employer before completing your training contract, you can be nominated by them.

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I am of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Which Award should I apply for?

You may apply for any award where you meet the eligibility criteria. This includes Trainee, Apprentice, Vocationalstudent, VET in Schools and School Based Apprentice/Trainee student of the year.

The choice is based on your personal preference.

Note: you cannot enter in more than 1 category (i.e. both Trainee of the year and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student ofthe year).

What's a Group Training Organisation/GTO?

Group Training is an employment and training arrangement where a Group Training Organisation (GTO) acts asthe primary employer to apprentices and trainees and then hires them out to other businesses (known as ‘host

employers') whilst they are undertaking their formal training.

If you're filling in a nomination form and are unsure whether you are employed by a GTO, please talk to theperson that is nominating you or ring Training Services NSW on 13 28 11.

What's Next?

What happens after I have been nominated?

All nominations for individual awards* are provided to your regional committee. These committees assess thenominations and may interview at either the office, via video conference or the nominee's workplace.

Successful nominees are invited to a regional NSW Training Awards presentation where a winner for each award

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Successful nominees are invited to a regional NSW Training Awards presentation where a winner for each awardcategory will be announced. Regional winners are then invited for an interview in Sydney and potentially beshortlisted to compete for the 2018 NSW Training Awards.

*Except the VET Trainer/Teacher award category which is now a direct entry via State.

When do I find out if I am shortlisted or if I have won?

After the closing date for nominations, the NSW Training Awards sorts the nominations and forwards them to the10 regional committees. All committees assess the nominations and will get in contact with you.

You will be advised in writing about the progress of your nomination.

If I win at a regional event, what's next?

Regional winners of the individual awards (Apprentice, Trainee, School-based Apprentice/Trainee, Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Student, Vocational Student, VET in Schools Student) will be invited to attend an interviewin Sydney.

These interviews will be held from mid-to late July and candidates will be shortlisted to compete at the 2018 NSWTraining Awards event in Sydney.

The VET Trainer/Teacher award category shortlisted candidates will be directly invited to attend an interview inSydney in May.

What can I win?

Winners at both regional and state levels are eligible for prizes including certificates and trophies. However, thereal prizes is the opportunities the NSW Training Awards will bring to your career

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real prizes is the opportunities the NSW Training Awards will bring to your career.

Do I get my picture in the paper if I win?

Many of our regions have media coverage around their awards presentation events, which means that you mayhave your achievements recognised in local media. Coverage is at the discretion of your region's media outlets,however the NSW Training Awards will include you in our online coverage, social media, websites and publications.

If I/we are a State finalist or State winner, can we advertise this?

Of course! You have achieved something special and deserve to celebrate. State finalists and winners can requestcopies of the logos NSW Training Awards for their specific award, for use in your advertising material. The NSWTraining Awards will provide a. jpg for digital use and an .eps file for print use. All we ask in return is a copy of thepublication.

Can I request feedback on my application/nomination if I am not successful?

Yes. Please send an email to the NSW Training Awards team on nsw.trainingawards@industry.nsw.gov.au withyour name, current contact details (preferably a mobile phone number) and your award category.

Please be advised, feedback regarding judging and selection can be requested within the period up to 30thSeptember 2018.

When will I receive feedback?

Feedback is provided by the chair of the selection panel that reviewed your entry. We try to accommodatefeedback requests quickly, but we cannot guarantee a speedy reply as the panel members belong to different

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eedbac equests qu c y, but e ca ot gua a tee a speedy ep y as t e pa e e be s be o g to d e e tindustries across the state.

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Contacts

Subscribe: Subscribe to the NSW Training Awards

Email: NSW.TrainingAwards@industry.nsw.gov.au

Phone: 1800 306 999 or (02) 8267 7609

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Mail: NSW Training Awards

NSW Department of Industry Level 12, 1 Oxford St

Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (PO Box 960, Darlinghurst NSW 1300)

Regional coordinators

Page last updated: 23 January 2018