The winners of the 2024 TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards have been announced

On Thursday 10 October at the Royal International Convention Centre in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, the best and brightest automotive industry apprentices were recognised at the 2024 TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards in a night to remember for attendees.
Drawing a crowd of 350 attendees made up mostly of apprentices, their employers, and guests, with industry sponsors and TAFE Queensland staff also in attendance, the event showcased the training provider’s very best apprentices across 14 trade categories, along with two employer categories.
There were three automotive categories awarded on the night: the Viva Energy Light Automotive Apprentice of the Year, the HVIA Heavy Commercial Industries Apprentice of the Year, and the CTIAQ Recreational Vehicle Apprentice of the Year.
Zupps Aspley apprentice Mitchell Vessey took out the Viva Energy Light Automotive Apprentice of the Year thanks to his unmatched passion and dedication to his trade, which doesn’t finish when he leaves work.
“It is a passion I’ve carried with me for as long as I remember, outside of work I’ve had the chance to really dive into this passion through my personal projects: a 2014 Holden Colorado and a 2006 BF Ford Falcon,” Mitchell said.
Next up was the HVIA Heavy Commercial Industries Apprentice of the Year won by Corin Brewer of Drake Trailers, who has been driven to success by a passion for heavy vehicle trailers.
“As soon as I saw a Drake steerable pull out of the workshop and saw all the axles steer, I knew that was it for me. I didn’t want to work on anything else,” Corin said.

Finally, it was Xavier Johansen from Caravan Repair Centre who won the CTIAQ Recreational Vehicle Apprentice of the Year for his skill and leadership qualities, with his TAFE Queensland teacher saying his greatest skill is his ability to delegate appropriate tasks to all team members in complex team tasks.
TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech General Manager, Stephen Gates, said the 2024 TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech CSQ Apprentice Awards was, above all else, an opportunity to encourage reflection on the achievements of Queensland’s future industry leaders.

“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,” Stephen said.
“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.
“TAFE Queensland is so thankful to the raft of industry sponsors that make this event possible, led by Main Event Sponsor CSQ, and enable us to create a fantastic memory for our apprentices as they move towards a high-flying career.”

For more information about the event, visit www.tafeqld.edu.au/apprentice-awards