TAFE Queensland treated tradies to a red-carpet event to remember as they celebrated the best and brightest apprentices in the building industry on 10 October at the TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards.
The crowd of more than 350 apprentices, employees, TAFE teachers and industry sponsors came together at the Royal International Convention Centre in Bowen Hills to recognise the amazing work being done by some of the nation’s best up-and-coming apprentices.
There were 18 awards up for grabs, including two awards recognising small and large employers of building industry apprentices.
The first award of the night, the TradeTools Carpentry Apprentice of the Year, was won by Harrison Steptoe from MIGAS Apprentices and Trainees, thanks to his exceptional skills that have already seen him represent Queensland at last year’s WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Melbourne.
Following him was Jeremy Boulton from Total Fitouts Inner North Brisbane taking out the Coke Vending Furnishing Trades Apprentice of the Year due to his outstanding leadership and interpersonal skills developed across his initial, 30-year career in corporate work that support his trade skills.
Up next, the Cbus Construction Apprentice of the Year, which covers a range of trades including plastering, tiling, upholstery, and more, was won by North Queensland star apprentice Dina Sobol from Aztak Upholstery.
In his congratulatory speech, his employer said she had “never seen anyone take to this trade as fast as Dina has”.
The TAFE Queensland Foundation Painting and Decorating Apprentice of the Year went to Amalgamated Painting Service apprentice Shimeka Holland.
The final building industry award of the night was the Brick and Block Careers Bricklaying Apprentice of the Year, won by Amy Stubbs of Brad Gray Bricklaying.
Stubbs has shown her merit by winning regional WorldSkills competitions in 2024 and was praised by her teacher as consistently being best in her class across a range of metrics.
Rewarding excellence
“Every year, this event gives us the opportunity to promote rewarding excellence and engage the employers who train apprentices with us to think about what their apprentices’ best assets are,” says SkillsTech General Manager Stephen Gates.
“I was lucky enough to be involved in the judging process and it was remarkable to hear about the achievements of our apprentices and their individual stories. There is no one pathway to success in a trade career and that was exemplified by our winners in 2024.
“We had Apprentices of the Year that were male, female, under-18, over-45, from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, North Queensland, starting their first career, extending with a second trade, or changing careers completely.
“That in itself was inspiring.”
