Student Awards Categories and Criteria

 Please note that the criteria in Vocational Student and New Apprentice have been revised to align them with the Victorian Training Awards criteria

(Please note all students with Australian Permanent Residency are eligible to be nominated)

VOCATIONAL STUDENT

A vocational student is somebody who is a full-time or part-time student, or who has completed within the past year, or is currently enrolled in a vocational education training course that leads to a nationally recognised outcome or qualification relevant to the community services and health industry.

Eligibility

A vocational student is not an apprentice or trainee. Training could have been undertaken pre-service or part-time while employed.

 NEW APPRENTICE/TRAINEE

This category includes traditional apprenticeships and traineeships in the community services and health industry. Typically New Apprentices are employed and attend training one day per week as governed by their formal training agreement, whereas trainees may be employed and receive training on-the-job.

ELIGIBILITY

You must have completed within the last year, or currently be enrolled in, a vocational education training course that leads to a nationally recognised outcome or qualification in the community services and health industry relevant to a New Apprentice/Trainee and have a contract of training registered with Skills Victoria (formerly the Victorian Office of Training and Tertiary Education)

 

NOMINATIONS

In the student categories, candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by a school, TAFE institution or other registered training organisation, employer (including a group scheme) or a community group.

Specific details regarding eligibility and criteria are included under each award category.

Nominations will be accepted from any person who has achieved, or is currently enrolled in a community services or health qualification in the Vocational Education and Training sector.

Also, nominations will be accepted from an employer, private or public RTO, or community group with the consent of the student.

Within the relevant categories, nominators may advise candidates on how to prepare the information but the nomination must be written by the candidate.

For an entry to be valid, candidate details must be entered online using the official nomination form.

Preparing your Nomination

  • o There is a maximum limit of five (5) A4 pages, plus five (5) pages in attachments (no more than 10 pages in total). Any material in excess of 10 pages will not be forwarded to the judging panel
  • o If the candidate is a nominee in the Victorian State Training Awards, a copy of that submission should be forwarded to the CS&H ITB in which instance, it is not necessary to complete an online nomination form on the CS&H ITB website. Copies of the nomination should be forwarded to: Office Manager, CS&H ITB, PO Box 1300, Carlton, Victoria, 3053
  • o Any relevant evidence may be provided in support of the nomination so long as it does not exceed the required page limit
  • o The nomination must address all the award criteria. Nominators and candidates must read and address the criteria and take into account the considerations as these form the basis of the judges' decision making when selecting the finalists and winners
  • o The nomination should clearly state what makes the candidate stand out against other candidates. It may be helpful to think of the nomination as an application for a highly-desired position, or business contract
  • o Candidates and nominees/nominators should specify the candidate's strengths in the nomination and use concrete examples. General statements such as 'I am a team player', 'I understand client needs', I understand organisational philosophy and how it applies in the workplace' or 'Training is fundamental to the success of our business' must be supported with clear evidence and practical examples
  • o Information can be presented in dot points but they must be clear and address the assessment criteria
  • o Applications are to be in 12pt font and may not be considered in other pt font
  • o The award criteria should be the focus of your application, however any relevant evidence may be provided so long as it does not exceed the required page limit.

Section A: Overview

Provide a short overview covering:

  • o a description of the qualification you enrolled in
  • o your Registered Training Organisation
  • o your employer (if applicable)
  • o the reason for your choosing this industry and training path.

Section B: Applicants will be judged against the following criteria

Criterion 1: Career and study achievements

Criterion 2: Communication, team and leadership skills

Criterion 3:  Other pursuits

Criterion 4:  Ability to represent the training system at a broader level.

Addressing the criteria

In your application, you must present your information in a way that clearly addresses the award criteria. Judging panels will be looking for evidence of how your training has contributed to your career and study plans, to the development of your skills and your achievements to date, as well as any way in which your training may have helped you to achieve other pursuits.

In developing your application, you should take into account the considerations outlined below. These considerations are provided to give clarification of what is relevant to include when writing against the awards criteria, or presenting during the interview if you are a selected finalist.

Career and study achievements

Consider such things as:

  • o any personal or career gains you have achieved from participating in your studies and your job
  • o how you can demonstrate your understanding of the value of learning
  • o how you have integrated on-the-job and off-the-job training and what benefits this has held.

Communication, team and leadership skills

Consider any skills you have developed through your training, such as:

  • o effective oral and written communication
  • o your level of self-reliance and resilience in times of challenge
  • o effective team participation
  • o leadership and promotion of your training, industry or other things you are involved in
  • o your capacity to be an effective ambassador for your industry, community and Australia.

 Other pursuits

You may wish to include information about:

  • o your achievements in areas other than study and work
  • o your involvement in your local community
  • o your awareness of current social, economic and political issues.

Ability to represent the National Training System at a broader level

Tell us about:

  • o any knowledge or understanding you have gained of new developments and trends in your workplace or industry and the vocational education and training system
  • o any messages you might have that could encourage others who are interested in entering your training pathway

types of evidence you may like to present AT interview

  • § Your career path
  • § What made you decide on your current occupation
  • § What decisions have influenced your career path
  • § Where you are doing/did your training
  • § Whether you received a workplace assessment of the skills and knowledge you acquired on the job and workplace training ‘to fill any identified gaps'
  • § What type of learning/training you have done and how it has contributed to your other pursuits
  • § Statement of Results

NB: If the RTO nominates the student for the Victorian State Training Awards, instead of completing the CS&H ITB nomination form you should lodge a copy of the State awards application form as the nomination for this award.

 

What does lifelong learning mean?

Lifelong learning refers to the capacity of a person to adapt to career changes, both planned and unplanned, through making the most of training opportunities in the Vocational, Education and Training (TAFE) sector.

 

Lifelong learning is reflected in the acquisition of new skills demanded by new technologies, changed work practices, the requirement to be multi-skilled, and the greater mobility of the workforce because of the ability to change career paths.

The lifelong learner will be passionate about learning and the opportunities and satisfaction obtained through the acquisition of new skills and knowledge.

 

Eligibility

The nominee may already have some other qualification/s, but currently may be retraining, or have completed retraining due to a change in career directions, or as a result of structural changes in their previous workplace.

Nominations

Nominations will be accepted from any person who has achieved, or is currently enrolled in a community services or health qualification in the Vocational Education and Training sector. Mature aged people are encouraged to apply and it is anticipated that applicants may be at least forty (40) years of age.

Nominations will also be accepted from an employer or RTO, with the consent of the student.

Preparing your Nomination

  • o There is a maximum limit of five (5) A4 pages, plus five (5) pages in attachments (no more than 10 pages in total). Any material in excess of 10 pages will not be forwarded to the judging panel
  • o Any relevant evidence may be provided in support of the nomination so long as it does not exceed the required page limit
  • o The nomination must address all the award criteria. Nominators and candidates must read and address the criteria and take into account the considerations as these form the basis of the judges' decision making when selecting the finalists and winners
  • o The nomination should clearly state what makes the candidate stand out against other candidates. It may be helpful to think of the nomination as an application for a highly-desired position, or business contract
  • o Candidates and nominees/nominators should specify the candidate's strengths in the nomination and use concrete examples. General statements such as 'I am a team player', 'I understand client needs', I understand organisational philosophy and how it applies in the workplace' or 'Training is fundamental to the success of our business' must be supported with clear evidence and practical examples
  • o Information can be presented in dot points but they must be clear and address the assessment criteria
  • o Applications are to be in 12pt font and may not be considered in other pt font.
  • o All nominations will be assessed against the relevant selection criteria, but you can either:

•1.     prepare a nomination that addresses the selection criteria point by point, or

•2.     simply tell your story in your own words explaining your commitment and achievements as a lifelong learner making sure you address the key selection criteria.

Selection Criteria

Nominees for this category are assessed on their ability to demonstrate:

  1. The positive role learning has played in their/your life and career
  2. Their/your understanding of their/your own learning style and preferences
  3. Ability to show initiative
  4. Effective interpersonal skills and awareness of the importance of personal presentation
  5. Ability to participate as a team member in the workplace
  6. Industry and training knowledge, including ability to identify new developments and trends in the industry
  7. Ability to pursue studies in the face of adversity/challenges
  8. Achievements in other pursuits

 

Types of evidence you may like to present at interview

  • § Your career path
  • § What made you decide on your current occupation
  • § What decisions have influenced your career path
  • § The types of learning/training you have done
  • § The types of qualifications you have completed
  • § Where you are doing/did your training
  • § Whether you received a workplace assessment of the skills and knowledge you acquired on the job and workplace training ‘to fill any identified gaps'
  • § How your commitment to learning has supported your work, career, or other challenges in your life
  • § Letters of support from your RTO and your employer
  • § Statement of results.

VET in Schools Student

Pathways into the community services and health industry are strategically important for both young people and the industry. The VET in Schools program offers a variety of pathways into the community services and health industry and during the course of their training, students undertake on-the-job training with an industry host or employer.

Eligibility

To be eligible for nomination, as part of their VCE the VET in Schools student will be currently undertaking an approved course leading to a community services and health industry qualification, or have completed the qualification within the last twelve months. The VET in Schools study program may be undertaken as a School-Based Apprenticeship.

NOMINATION

The candidate may be self-nominated or nominated by a school VETIS and/or ASbA Coordinator, TAFE institution or other Registered Training Organisation, employer (including a group employer) or community. Nominations from other than the host employer require support of the industry practical placement host or School-based Apprentice employer.

Nominators may advise candidates on how to prepare the information but the nomination must be written by the candidate.

Preparing your Nomination

  • o There is a maximum limit of five (5) A4 pages, plus five (5) pages in attachments (no more than 10 pages in total). Any material in excess of 10 pages will not be forwarded to the judging panel
  • o Any relevant evidence may be provided in support of the nomination so long as it does not exceed the required page limit
  • o The nomination must address all the award criteria. Nominators and candidates must read and address the criteria and take into account the considerations as these form the basis of the judges' decision making when selecting the finalists and winners
  • o The nomination should clearly state what makes the candidate stand out against other candidates. It may be helpful to think of the nomination as an application for a highly-desired position, or business contract
  • o Candidates and nominees/nominators should specify the candidate's strengths in the nomination and use concrete examples. General statements such as 'I am a team player', 'I understand client needs', I understand organisational philosophy and how it applies in the workplace' or 'Training is fundamental to the success of our business' must be supported with clear evidence and practical examples
  • o Information can be presented in dot points but they must be clear and address the assessment criteria
  • o Applications are to be in 12pt font and may not be considered in other pt font.
  • o All nominations will be assessed against the relevant selection criteria, but you can either:

•1.     prepare a nomination that addresses the selection criteria point by point, or

•2.     simply tell your story in your own words explaining your achievements as a learner and making sure you address the key selection criteria.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Nominees for this category are assessed on their ability to demonstrate their:

  1. Ability to show initiative
  2. Effective interpersonal skills and awareness of the importance of personal presentation
  3. Industry and training knowledge, including ability to identify new developments and trends in the industry
  4. Job skills-including a commitment to quality/client service in their training and work environments
  5. Ability to participate as a team member in the workplace

Letter of Support

A letter of support should be written by the TAFE/RTO/School VETIS/ASbA Coordinator and be countersigned by the practical placement host/apprentice employer addressing the following areas:

  1. Why it is considered the student has outstanding potential for working in this industry
  2. What type of qualities the student possesses
  3. Whether the student has other experience/interest in working in this industry as a volunteer
  4. What influences were involved in the student's decision to undertake studies in this industry
  5. Whether the student participated as a team member
  6. Whether the student showed initiative and motivation to learn and gain the most from their practical placement/on the job training
  7. Whether you believe the student is suitable for employment in the CS&H industry when their secondary school studies are complete.

TYPES OF EVIDENCE YOU MAY LIKE TO PRESENT AT INTERVIEW

  • § Your future career plans
  • § The decisions that have influenced your career choice
  • § The deciding factor for undertaking your current studies in the community services and health industry
  • § Any experience working as a volunteer in the community services and health industry
  • § The aspects of your placement/job that you enjoy/ed
  • § The most important thing you learned on the job/industry placement
  • § Statement of Results.