This award recognises innovation and excellence by a trainer or teacher providing nationally recognised training to learners at a registered training organisation (RTO), or in partnership with an RTO.
Meet the finalists in the VET Teacher / Trainer the Year category for the 2025 South Australian Training Awards – what an exceptional group of individuals!
Proudly sponsored by SYC
Over his 25-year career as a chef, pastry chef, and educator, Anthony has remained committed to innovation, sustainability through upcycling, and promoting respect in industry and education settings. Mentors such as Cheong Liew OAM, Bethany Finn, John Gabel, and Simon Bryant inspire his approach to cuisine and education.
Anthony transitioned into vocational education and training at Meridian Vocational College, and helped establish the training kitchen, café, and catering operations.
Since 2022 he has worked at Alliance College, most recently as lead for the Certificate III in Patisserie 2024 domestic pilot program. In consultation with respected chefs, Anthony designs learning and assessment resources from the ground up.
Driven by a passion for inclusive, curiosity-led learning, he launched Ed-Spectrum, a digital culinary newsletter promoting VET through storytelling and research. He develops training that embraces ethical AI and digital strategies to address the evolving needs of learners in a dynamic VET environment.
Cornelia is an accomplished vocational trainer with 45 years of experience in hospitality. Starting out in her family’s restaurant, she progressed to senior roles, including head chef, restaurant manager, marketing manager, and corporate trainer.
Since 2010, Cornelia has become a highly respected trainer delivering classroom and workplace-based programs in hospitality and business. Her teaching style is practical, inclusive, and learner-focused, helping learners gain confidence and develop real-world skills.
Empathetic and adaptable, Cornelia supports learners from diverse backgrounds, including job seekers, international students, and those with neurodiverse support needs or mental health challenges. She collaborates closely with employers to tailor training, ensuring learners are job-ready and meet workforce expectations.
An active contributor to learning and assessment resource development, Cornelia is a valued mentor to colleagues. Her scenario-based learning and training strategies and holistic assessments have been widely adopted across her team.
Cornelia finds deep satisfaction in helping others realise their potential.
A dedicated and experienced trainer with over 40 years of expertise in healthcare, community services, counselling, and vocational education, Fiona has a passion for supporting others and a commitment to lifelong learning.
She holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, which qualifies her to deliver and assess nationally recognised training across a range of sectors. Her formal qualifications include diplomas and certificates that have enabled her to teach in diverse fields, including aged care, disability support, cleaning operations, and community and health services.
Fiona specialises in designing methods to support learners from a wide range of backgrounds, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people returning to study, and individuals with disabilities. Her approach is inclusive, trauma-informed, and person-centred, optimising conditions for success.
She has also completed specialist training such as a nursing refresher program, domestic and family violence response training, and mental health and substance use training.
Combining his artistic profession and passion for comedy with community service, Nick employs his creative talents to save lives.
After mastering the art of engaging audiences, Nick moved from the entertainment industry into vocational education and became a first-aid trainer, using storytelling and humour to make complex concepts memorable.
As a qualified trainer and assessor for the last 15 years, Nick has delivered nationally recognised training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), emergency life support, and first aid.
Learners often see a first aid course as mundane and obligatory training they ‘have to do, not want to do’. Nick’s greatest achievement has been to transform this perception – while adhering to regulatory guidelines and compliance. He finds the right mix of information, skills, and entertainment to create training so engaging that participants actively encourage others to get the certificate too.
Nick’s special talent is to develop reluctant attendees into passionate advocates of life-saving education.