Portfolio — 19 May 2026

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Andrew Giles opened nominations for the 2026 Australian Training Awards on 19 May, marking the program's 33rd year and positioning it as the government's primary public showcase for vocational education and training excellence [TA-260518-dewr-d9e5eef4599b]. The awards will span 16 national categories, with five direct-entry categories — Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector, Innovation in VET, Australian Apprenticeships Employer Award, School Pathways to VET, and Excellence in Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Practice — accepting nominations until 3 June 2026 [TA-260518-dewr-d9e5eef4599b].

Finalists will be recognised at a gala night in Sydney on 20 November.

The Minister used the announcement to profile last year's Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award winner, Tasmanian educator Stella Quintero Sanchez, whose work expanded digital access for disadvantaged learners through inclusive and innovative teaching methods [TA-260518-dewr-d9e5eef4599b]. The choice of example is deliberate: the profile ties skills recognition to equity and access themes the portfolio has run consistently, framing VET not merely as workforce supply but as a lever for social inclusion.

In his statement, Giles said the awards demonstrate how high-quality training supports secure, meaningful work, helps businesses grow and adapt, and strengthens Australia's productivity and economic resilience [TA-260518-dewr-d9e5eef4599b]. That framing — linking individual training excellence directly to national economic resilience — reflects the portfolio's sustained effort to elevate VET's standing relative to university pathways in the public narrative.

Winners may also join the Australian VET Alumni group, an outreach mechanism the portfolio is using to amplify peer-to-peer storytelling within the sector.