Apprentices excelling in technical skills, ongoing personal development, customer service delivery and contribution to the community and environment have become the basis for annual awards from NRMA Insurance.
The 2009 Apprentice of the Year awards were available to apprentices from every mainland state and regional NSW.
In October 2008 NRMA Insurance sought nominations from registered training organisations and employers to nominate apprentice panel beaters or vehicle repairers within their repairer network to receive $5000 for career development and ongoing training.
NRMA insurance industry support manager, Phil Nixon, said the insurer had been extremely pleased with the calibre of applications from the program's first year and in particular, the winners.
"They each demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the repair industry, an excellent skill base and an impressive desire for self-development."
The announcement of the winners came a month after the Federal Government's decision to invest $30 million to expand the Australian Apprenticeship Access Program. Nixon said that NRMA Insurance supported the value government placed on apprenticeships.
"Investing in our young people is good policy and complements the work that we are trying to do through programs such as Apprentice of the Year. We're working with repairers to help make the smash repair industry an appealing career option for school leavers so that we can attract and retain the highest quality repairers. The Apprentice of the Year program helps us achieve that."
The winners are:
Metropolitan NSW: Alex Owerko, panel beater, Greystanes Smash Repair (as seen above)
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Regional NSW: Rick Morgan, panel beater, Bob Christie's Goulburn Smash Repairs.
Queensland: Daniel Pratt, panel beater, Daniel Hey Smash Repairs, Biloela.
West Australia: Cameron Clarke, panel beater, Como Panel and Paint, Alfred Cove, Perth.
South Australia: David Dalby, spray painter, STC Crash Repairs, Kilkenny.
Victoria: David Blight, panel beater, O'Neill's Motor Body Works, Northern Victoria.