Today marks the start of the seventh consecutive year celebrating National Skills Week, Australia’s pinnacle week for promoting vocational education and training (VET).  Around the country this week, vocational Alumni will be celebrated and their stories profiled in recognition of the week.

Hundreds of events will take place nationally during the week, held to acknowledge the career success that traineeships, apprenticeships and vocational learning can lead to.

Today the national launches will take place in Queensland at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre attended by 200 VET stakeholders from across the country. In other states and territories, success stories will continue to be celebrated, such as Tasmanian David Gardiner’s Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year finalist at the  2016 Australian Training Awards..

David chose a career in farming and began a traineeship on his parents’ farm in far north-west Tasmania. Growing up on the land, David always knew that remaining on the farm was of interest and completed a Certificate III in Agriculture at Agritas Trade College, as a way to start his agricultural career.

“I’ve always loved it, always had a passion for it, I decided at the end of Grade 10 I wanted to go into farming,” said David.

Working on his mother and father’s dairy farm at Togari, located between Smithton and Marrawah at Circular Head, where his parents are 50-50 per cent share farmers on the property.  David maintains his own daily duties including, rearing calves, milking cows, fencing and feeding the cattle herd.

“I love challenging myself on the farm and I get to do a lot of different jobs so that keeps it interesting,” he said.

The training David received, strengthened his confidence, broadened his thinking, giving him strong problem solving skills he could utilise on the farm.  While the family business is not suited to all, David enjoys working for his parents, benefiting from their extensive farming and life skills.  Following his initial training, David decided to further his education, by enrolling in a Diploma of Agribusiness, as a pathway to pursuing his goal of owning and operating his own farm in the future.

“I am really enjoying the diploma because it’s more focused on the financial and business side of managing a farm, something that will be really important in case I ever own a farm in the future,” said David.

For further information on David’s story, or other inspiring career stories from the Australian Training Awardsor the Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors program, visit the Australian Training Awards website.

During National Skills Week, hundreds of events will take place, promoting the breath of vocational careers, from fashion, to tourism, to hospitality, to engineering to agribusiness.

To organise an event, or take part in the many events that can be found across the country, visit the National Skills Week website.

“National Skills Week provides an opportunity to share the success of every day Australia’s such as David, who’s stories will encourage others to consider what vocational pathways may be right for them,” said Kirstin Casey, General Manager at SkillsOne.

For more information please contact: Kirstin Casey (General Manager at SkillsOne)

Mobile: 0420 652 558 Email: kirstin.casey@skillsone.com.au