A BENDIGO TAFE teacher and an apprentice plumber are among those deemed best at what they do in the Victorian Training Awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Julie Kramer received the Victorian Teacher of the Year award and Andrew Jan took out the Victorian Apprentice of the Year category.
Bendigo TAFE was a finalist in the Inclusive Training Provider category.
Ms Kramer has been a teacher since 2011 and, among other accomplishments, has introduced "real world simulations" for students learning critical skills to work in ageing, home and community care.
"We have these state-of-the-art labs now at Bendigo TAFE and we try to simulate the aged care environment as much as we can," she said.
That included putting students in the position of the elderly people they will one day care for.
"It gives them so much more empathy when they are put in that position," Ms Kramer said.
"And it gives them a lot more hands-on training."
Ms Kramer said she was honoured to be recognised with an award.
"I just do what I do because I want the best trained people out there," she said.
"I often run onto people who I have trained when I'm out assessing current students and it's amazing to see what they achieve."
Apprentice of the Year Mr Jan said he was "completely overwhelmed" by the recognition.
"I never in a million years could have imagined I would be awarded this title," he said.
The mature-age Bendigo TAFE student returned to studies after a career in the thoroughbred industry.
He had trained to be a plumber.
Mr Jan's previous accomplishments have included clinching the 2020 Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grant and Bendigo TAFE's 2021 Apprentice of the Year Award.
The latest win came with $5000 and Mr Jan already knows what he wants to spend it on.
"The prize money will go towards expanding my collection of tools, as well as paying for studies in Certificate IV in Plumbing," he said.
Ms Kramer was thinking of spending her $5000 winnings on further education studies, including a Masters degree.
The awards were run by the Victorian government.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News