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Garry Christiansen – who lectures at the
Great Southern Institute of Technology, is this
year’s winner of the coveted Electrotechnology
Industry Trade Teacher Award.
Garry is a committed, passionate
professional with a wide range of experience
gained from his career as an electrical
engineer. He has developed innovative
approaches to apprentice and employer
support – including the development of an
apprenticeship handbook used by his college,
host employers and their apprentices.
He is very client-focused and works
with a broad cross-section of regional host
employers. And he has achieved excellent
results with his Capstone assessments
process.
Garry is also a passionate advocate of
Training Package reform for the industry and
regularly contributes to the national debate from
a grass-roots delivery standpoint.
“We were very impressed by this year’s
candidates,” said Wes McKnight, NECA’s
former President and leader of the judging
panel. “Garry was the clear winner. But we
were also so impressed by Brett Jotta –
also from WA, that we have awarded him a
Commendation. Brett teaches at the College
of Electrical Training and we were very taken
by his vision for the future and desire to see
young people making a commitment to a
Trade at a younger age,” he added.
As part of his prize Garry will attend the
NECA National Excellence Awards in Brisbane
at the end of November, and thereby joins the
industry as we celebrate the best of the best in
our industry.
These annual awards are testament to
the quality of professionals teaching in our
industry today and we take this opportunity
of thanking all the committed teachers,
lecturers and mentors supporting our
apprentices, and post-qualification students,
in their studies.
On behalf of our industry, we applaud Garry
and Brett, for their great contribution.
Dave McInness, Garry Christiansen (trade teacher) and Neville Palmer (chair of ElectroComms).
NECA awards Trade Teacher of the Year to WA for the
second year running
2015 National Apprentice
Awards
This evening, some of Australia’s brightest
electrical apprentices were recognised by
National Electrical and Communications
Association (NECA) at its National Apprentice
Awards event at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane.
The Awards are held annually to acknowledge
the achievements of each state’s winners.
Guest speaker Brad Morrin – a former
Canterbury Bulldog’s NRL player and
apprenticeship ambassador, delivered an
entertaining speech for all in attendance.
Apprentices from across the country
gathered in Brisbane to hear the winners of
three award categories: Industrial, Commercial/
Domestic and Communications.
This year’s category winners are:
Industrial
Placing Name
State Employer/
host
1st
Jeremy
Scheurwater
QLD i-LEC
Solutions
2nd
Daniel
Cocker
WA SCEE
(Southern
Cross
Electrical
Engineering)
3rd
James Huf
VIC NECA
Education &
Careers
Commercial/Domestic
Placing Name
State Employer/host
1st
Bradley
Milligan
SA Bordertown
Pumps &
Refrigeration
2nd
Cameron
Kerr
ACT Stowe Australia
Communications
Placing Name
State Employer/host
1st
Jimi
George
SA PEER VEET
Hosted by
Expert Data
Cabling
2nd
Nicholas
Burnes
NSW NECA Group
Training
Hosted by Stowe
Australia