15 October 2020

Georgia takes out NSW trade award

Each year, outstanding achievements in the vocational education and training sector are recognised at the NSW Training Awards.

This year one of our team, Georgia Foley, took out the Special Award for a Woman in a Non-Traditional Trade or Vocation, and was a finalist for the NSW Apprentice of the Year Award.
Georgia said she was honoured to be recognised for her success in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“I highly recommend apprenticeships to women who are strong-minded and willing to get in there and have a go – there are so many benefits and you get so much from it,” said Georgia.

“My apprenticeship helped shape who I am today. It’s made me more outgoing, confident and strong.

“I want to be a role model for not only women in trades, but for regional youth. I was shocked to have won the New England region Apprentice of the Year Award, so to win the award in NSW – I’m speechless.”

Georgia started her electrical apprenticeship with Whitehaven and received the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarship, which helped ease the financial burden and assisted her to buy quality tools for her kit.

She completed the first three years of her apprenticeship working at Rocglen, Tarrawonga, Sunnyside, Werris Creek and the Gunnedah CHPP. Her final year was spent at Narrabri, where she now works in a full-time electrical trade role.

“Georgia’s recognition at the NSW Training Awards is testament to her strong work ethic and positive attitude that has seen her grow from a first year apprentice to a fully-qualified, full-time employee for other apprentices to look up to,” said Whitehaven Managing Director and CEO Paul Flynn.

“She is a fantastic role model for all young people in the region – and particularly young women – who are thinking of starting an apprenticeship in a rapidly evolving local industry.”

Georgia took out the Apprentice of the Year award at the New England Regional Training Awards in June, where two other Whitehaven apprentices were recognised. Electrical apprentice Tyler Mills, an electrical apprentice at Narrabri, was named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student of the Year, and Kih McDonald – a Mechanical Engineering apprentice at Maules Creek – was Highly Commended in the Apprentice of the Year category.

To ensure the safety of finalists and state communities, the NSW Training Awards were streamed live over Facebook on Friday, 9 October 2020 with the full list of award winners here.

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