BRISBANE, Queensland, Sept. 22 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training

The Honourable Ros Bates

* More than half of the 2026 Queensland Training Awards statewide winners are regional apprentices, businesses and training providers. * Women claimed five of the seven individual award categories, including two apprentices in male dominated trades. * TheCrisafulli Government is backing Queenslanders to get skills today for a job tomorrow and turning the tide on Labor's skills shortages. * TheCrisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy, after a decade of decline under Labor.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering the skilled workforce needed to build Queensland's future and celebrating the next generation of superstar apprentices and trainees.

The statewide winners in this year's Queensland Training Awards have been announced, with regional apprentices, businesses and training providers taking out 8 of 13 categories.

Labor's decade of decline created skills shortages all over the State, but the Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy by backing Queenslanders who are going to help build the future of the State and turning the tide on Labor's failures.

This year's QTA winners were selected from more than 750 nominations, including apprentices, trainees and students building careers, teachers preparing Queenslanders for work, and employers creating pathways into skilled jobs.

Townsville's Nicola Todd was named Apprentice of the Year, while Cairns school-based apprentice Tahlia Mundraby-Holmes received the school-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year award.

Gold Coast civil construction trainee Conor Stevenson was named Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year, while former head chef Erin Pender was named VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year after taking her industry experience into the classroom at Loganlea State High School.

Five of the seven individual awards were won by women, highlighting the career opportunities available to Queensland women in traditionally male dominated industries.

The winners will now go on to represent Queensland at the Australian Training Awards in Sydney on 20 November.

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said this year's award recipients showed the future of Queensland's skilled workforce is in good hands.

"These awards showcase some incredible stories and highlight the impacts the vocational training sector has on Queenslanders every day," Minister Bates said.

"Labor's decade of decline left us with dire skills shortages, but the Crisafulli Government is delivering record numbers of apprenticeship completions and the number of Queenslanders looking to pick up a trade is surging."

"There may have been 13 official Queensland Training Award recipients, but I'd say anyone who's made the decision to pick up a trade is onto an absolute winner."

To learn more about the Queensland Training Awards, visit www.dtet.qld.gov.au/training/qta

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Christian Penny, 0439 882 294

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Full list of winners:

Individual award categories

Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year - Nicola Todd, Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology, Kirwan

Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year - Conor Stevenson, Certificate III in Civil Construction, Coomera

Vocational Student of the Year - Helaine Wilesmith, Certificate IV in Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration, and Certificate IV in Conservation and Ecosystem Management Regional, Brighton

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year - Stirling Ludwick, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Yarrabah

School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year - Tahlia Mundraby-Holmes, Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology, Manoora

Equity Student of the Year - Krystal Marie Lunny, Certificate III in Hairdressing, Forest Lake

VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year - Erin Pender, Loganlea State High School, Loganlea

Organisation award categories

Community Training Initiative of the Year - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary's N.E.S.T Eco-conservation Skills Traineeship program

Large Employer of the Year - Cowboys Leagues Club, Townsville

Small Employer of the Year - Byrne Lawyers, Gladstone

Large Training Provider of the Year - Asset College, North Lakes

Small Training Provider of the Year - Orbus3, Caboolture

Premier's Industry Collaboration Award - Townsville Aviation Training Academy - Aviation Australia and Boeing Defence Australia

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.