Hear From Our Winners

• Crown's winning goal - 2010 Victorian and Australian Employer of the Year
• Michael Hogan - 2010 Victorian and Australian Vocational Student of the Year
• Ken Radley - 2010 Victorian Teacher/Trainer of the Year

Crown's winning goal

2010 Victorian and Australian Employer of the Year

Crown may be a major company, but being named WPC Group Employer of the Year at Skills Victoria’s Victorian Training Awards is still a big deal for them.

“Our employment brand is that of an employer who invests seriously in the development of people, so to have all the work we’ve been doing in that area showcased and be able to build on that reputation is very important to us,” says Crown’s Executive General Manager of Human Resources, Peter Coyne.

Crown was named WPC Group Employer of the Year in the 2010 Victorian Training Awards and went on to win Employer of the Year at the Australian Training Awards.

“Attracting and keeping good employees is the fundamental driver for us, so we were absolutely delighted,” he says of their win.

Crown has over 6,500 employees, most of who work in hospitality. The company works hard to retain their staff by providing opportunities to gain qualifications and career advancement.

“One of the things our employees consistently tell us in our surveys is that the most important thing to them is career opportunity and development.”

Crown trains its staff at its own training organisation, Crown College, where over 1,200 employees are currently undertaking nationally accredited training qualifications. These include Certificates in hospitality, security operations and frontline management.

In the hospitality industry people often learn on the job without getting any formal training or qualifications, but if you come to work at Crown we will support you with a qualification framework to progress through your career up to a management role,” Shane Thomas, the Training Services Manager for Crown College explains.

However, attracting good staff is not the only benefit of winning the Victorian Training Awards, Coyne says.

“The second driver is our reputation with government and other key stakeholders and even our shareholders – that’s really important.”

Coyne believes the Victorian Training Awards also provide entrants with an opportunity to set and then meet goals of excellence in their business practice.

“Three years ago, we were discussing whether we should enter these awards and whether we could win. I said, well, we’ll win these awards when we deserve to win - when the story is authentic and we can put our hand on our heart and be really confident about it - and that is how it played out.”

Michael Hogan

2010 Victorian and Australian Vocational Student of the Year

Few people are lucky enough in life to be rewarded for doing something they love, let alone been able to pursue a career in it.

In 2010 I was one of the lucky ones, after winning the Victorian Training Awards vocational student of the year.

I was nominated for these prestigious awards for my study, business development and resulting teaching position during certificates 1&2 in Automotive Electrical Technology at Holmesglen TAFE.

Participating in the awards process was at first thought quite daunting, now in hindsight I can honestly say the entire process awakened social skills that not only helped me go on and win the Australian Training Awards, but provided me with the confidence and tools to develop my own business further granting me more exposure to the ever developing Automotive Industry.

I was nominated for the awards by my teacher and mentor Charles Vella who I am now lucky enough to be working along side whilst teaching the very course he once taught me. 

Ken Radley

2010 Victorian Teacher/Trainer of the Year

My name is Ken Radley and in 2010 I was fortunate enough to be selected as the Teacher/Trainer of the Year.

I work in the Centre for Education and Early Childhood Development at South West Institute of TAFE, in South West Victoria. I was nominated by my manager, Jenny Madden.

I was certainly stunned when I returned to work after the award to see the excitement and pride the staff and students had for the achievement. It certainly validated the work and programs we offer here at SWTAFE. The recognition of the award is certainly shared with the staff I work with and the broader Institute management. It has also encouraged other staff and students to reflect on their achievements and consider nominating for future Victorian Training Awards.

I feel extremely well connected in my community and this has been of great benefit in assisting and engaging students. I also feel extremely supported by the Community and South West TAFE, who have supported me with my ideas and requests for improved models for education and training in the Youth Sector. The networks in South West Victoria are very positive and there are lots of opportunities for strengthening of these relationships.

I’m a product of the education, training and skills offered here in South West Victoria. Whilst I do not believe I am the best Vocational teacher in Victoria, I do feel I am one of the most passionate. I am willing to work with a range of other providers and services, and I am genuinely interested in the students I work with and their present and future. I also do not see myself as more or less important as anybody else, and try to treat every learner with respect and focus on their goals, not mine.