2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards
Guidelines for Entry

Entries are now closed for the 2008 Awards. Click here to view the winners.

1. Benefits
2. Eligibility
3. Judging
4. Nomination requirements
5. Closing date and postal details
6. Conditions of entry
7. Selection criteria
8. Contact details

1. Benefits

Award winners will be presented with their cash prize at the Trades and Skills Awards night which will be held on 30 October 2008. Our nominees will also be invited to participate in a special one-day event that will enable sharing of ideas and to celebrate excellence in trades and skills teaching.

The winner of the 2008 Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award will be flown to Darwin for the Australian Training Awards on 20 November 2008 for the presentation of their award.

Travel and accommodation costs for all winners to attend the one-day event and for the 2008 Australian Trades and Skills winner to attend the Australian Training Awards will met by The Institute.

 

2. Eligibility

Nominees for The 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards must be currently engaged in trades or skills training with an Australian Registered Training Organisation. 

Nominees can be trades or skills teachers who teach and/or assess in one of the following industry areas::

Automotive:	Manufacturing:
Automotive	Advanced Manufacturing
Building &  Construction:	Metals &  Engineering:
Services	Mechanical
Structures	Fabrication
Fitout and finish
Electrical:	Mineral Resources
Data	Mineral Resources
Electrical	Mineral Resources
	Mineral Resources
Hospitality, Tourism & Services:	Rural & Farming
Cookery	Agriculture
Hairdressing	Conservation and land management
Bakery	Horticulture

Nominations can be made by teachers themselves or by Registered Training Organisations, client organisations, colleagues, or students.

 

3. Judging

Awards in each of the industry areas will be judged by a panel of representatives from industry, with expertise and standing in the industry award area.

Judging for the  Awards will take place during August and September with Nominees being judged on the submitted written nomination, requirements for which can be found in Section 4. Feedback will also be sought from the referees provided, as a part of the nomination process. Nominees who are shortlisted to compete for the national award will also be interviewed by the national judging panel on 30 October 2008, in conjunction with the event for winners.  

 

4. Nomination requirements

Written nominations should include:

• a fully completed and signed entry form;
• information about how the Nominee meets the three selection criteria detailed in Section 7; and
• attachments including copies of certificates, awards, photos etc. relating to the nominee’s work (no videos, tapes or CDs please).

Five copies of each application should be supplied.
Applications should not be bound or in folders.
No more than ten pages are allowed in addressing all selection criteria and excess pages may be eliminated from the judging process. Dot points are acceptable.

 

5. Closing date and postal details

Entry forms and supporting information must reach the following address by 5 September 2008.


The 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award
The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence
PO Box 2400
Toowong BC  Qld  4066

To Courier Nomination forms, send to:
The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence
Att: Gemma Hogan
Level 2, 71 York St
Sydney, NSW 2000

 

6. Conditions of entry

The judging panel reserves the right to make enquiries about award nominees from nominators and referees and to visit nominees on site if deemed necessary.

Winners must agree that photographs and information provided in their nominations can be used in publicity by The Institute.
Nominees who are selected as finalists for the national award must be available to attend an interview on 30 October 2008 and if successful, to attend the Australian Training Awards in Darwin on 20 November 2008.

Award winners will be required to submit a proposal for a professional development project prior to receiving funds for that component of the prize money. Winners will be provided with guidelines for development projects at the one-day event.

 

7. Selection criteria

The assessment criteria for the Awards are set out in the following table. They are the same for all industry categories to allow teachers to be judged equally for the Australian Training Awards which will be held on the 20 November in Darwin. Judges reserve the right to refrain from conferring an award if nominee does not meet the selection criteria.
Judges will be looking for evidence that Nominees have performed at a level that is above and beyond the call of duty in the areas of excellence and innovation in serving industry and inspiring learners, as well as for Nominees’ capacity to be an ambassador for The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence. Clear evidence and information should be provided as to how the nominees(s) meet each of these selection criteria.

Selection criterion	Definition	What the judging panels might look for
Excellence and innovation in serving industry	Proven ability to work with industry and employers to develop flexible and effective training programs. Developing new teaching methods or devices or adapting better practices from elsewhere into trade skills teaching in order to improve outcomes for industry. Demonstrating an in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of industry practices.	Using unique approaches to industry engagement, or practices adapted from elsewhere, to produce better outcomes for industry Involvement in industry based professional development activities Delivering training in flexible ways e.g. online, after-hours or on-site Innovative responses to practical workplace requirements Championing best practice through industry and/or teaching networks Employer testimonials or surveys Contribution to body of knowledge Examples of vision or leadership leading to excellent outcomes.
Excellence and innovation in inspiring learners	Establishing a stimulating learning environment that meets the individual needs of students and inspires them to achieve high levels of competence. Developing new teaching methods or devices or adapting better practices from elsewhere into trade skills teaching in order to improve outcomes for students. Demonstrating an in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of learning & assessment practices.	Using unique approaches to teaching and training, or practices adapted from elsewhere, to produce better results Developing high quality teaching resources or materials Working with colleagues to share and evaluate teaching practice Involvement in professional growth activities Support for students through difficulties (workplace, family or learning) Student testimonials or surveys Positive student results; High student retention rates and completions Contribution to body of knowledge Examples of vision or leadership leading to excellent outcomes.
Capacity to be an ambassador for The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence	Interest in and potential to promote The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence and its three main initiatives, within industry and the VET system.	Championing best practice through industry and/or teaching networks Examples of vision or leadership leading to excellent outcomes for trades and skills Potential opportunities to promote The Institute and the importance of trades and skills through networks or other activities.

 

8. Contact details

For further information on the 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards or the nomination process,
please contact:

Gemma Hogan
The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence
Ph: 02 8314 7300
Email: gemma.hogan@itse.com.au

 

The Institute for Trades Skills Excellence would like to thank Victoria University for its sponsorship of the 2008 Trades and Skills Fit out and Finish Teacher of the Year Award.

The Institute also thanks Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council for its sponsorship of the Building & Construction Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award.