Illawarra & South East NSW Region
The Illawarra & South East NSW region stretches from the coastal city of Wollongong to South Coast communities including Nowra, Batemans Bay, Bega and Cooma. Bringing together coastal cities with rural and regional communities, vocational education and training supports learners and communities across the region.
Purchase tickets to the Illawarra & South East NSW 2026 presentation.
View the 2026 Illawarra & South East NSW Training Awards digital program.
2026 regional finalists and winners
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer | Host Employer | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Carlson | Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology | TAFE NSW | PPK Mining Equipment | - | - |
| Blake Hart | Certificate III in Sport Coaching | NSW Department of Education | Australian Training Company | St George Illawarra Dragons | Kanahooka High School |
| Bahlie Smith | Certificate II in Animal Care | TAFE NSW | Ulladulla Veterinary Hospital | - | Ulladulla High School |
Winner
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahlie Smith | Certificate II in Animal Care | TAFE NSW | Ulladulla Veterinary Hospital | Ulladulla High School |
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer | Host Employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Johnson | Certificate III in ESI - Distribution Overhead | Essential Energy | Essential Energy | - |
| Angelique Madry | Certificate III in Hairdressing | TAFE NSW | Belinda's Hair Creations | - |
| Breanna Rigney | Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician | TAFE NSW | My Gateway | Heyday Group |
Winner
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer | Host Employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breanna Rigney | Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician | TAFE NSW | My Gateway | Heyday Group |
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer | Host Employer | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lara Hanger | Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance | UNE Partnerships | Goulburn Phyisotherapy Centre | - | Mulwaree High School |
| Annie-Maree Martin | Certificate III in Agriculture | Australian Training Company | Australian Training Company | Tinker Valley Farm | Ulladulla High School |
| Sophie Minos | Certificate III in Real Estate Practice | Real Estate Institute of New South Wales | Raine & Horne Mollymook/Milton | - | Ulladulla High School |
Winner
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer | Host Employer | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie-Maree Martin | Certificate III in Agriculture | Australian Training Company | Australian Training Company | Tinker Valley Farm | Ulladulla High School |
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer | Host Employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Blair | Diploma of Community Services | h&h Accredited Training Pty Ltd | Department of Communities and Justice | - |
| Blake Dickenson | Diploma of Surveying | TAFE NSW | Zeal Futures | Shoalhaven City Council |
| Grace McLeod | Diploma of School Age Education and Care | ECTARC | Peak Sports and Learning | - |
Winner
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Blair | Diploma of Community Services | h&h Accredited Training Pty Ltd | Department of Communities and Justice |
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Alcock | Certificate III in Tourism | Independent Schools NSW | Sapphire Coast Anglican College |
| Mia Edwards | Certificate II in Agriculture | NSW Department of Education | Bomaderry High School |
| Annabelle Paull | Certificate III in Business | Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Ltd | Carroll College |
Winner
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annabelle Paull | Certificate III in Business | Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Ltd | Carroll College |
| Name | Field of Study | Employer |
|---|---|---|
| Rouaa Altinawi | Real Estate | Entry Education |
| Carol Hicklenton | Business | BSI Learning |
| Wyn Jenkins | Safety and Emergency Response | Risk Response and Rescue |
Winner
| Name | Field of Study | Employer |
|---|---|---|
| Rouaa Altinawi | Real Estate | Entry Education |
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Hines | Diploma of Nursing | UOW College Australia | Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District |
| Evelyn Moreno | Certificate III in Fitness | UOW College Australia | Fernwood Womens Health Club |
| Nardia Reid | Certificate III in Individual Support | ARC Training | The Disability Trust |
Winner
| Name | Qualification | Training Provider | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evelyn Moreno | Certificate III in Fitness | UOW College Australia | Fernwood Womens Health Club |
2025 regional winners
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year - Rory Archer
- Apprentice of the Year - Thomas Smart
- School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year - Harrison Rosta
- Trainee of the Year- Elouisa Monaghan
- VET in Schools Student of the Year - Beau Mullins
- VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year - Renee O’Reilly
- Vocational Student of the Year - Indy-Rai Herrett
Postcodes covered by this region
Contact details
For more information about the Illawarra & South East NSW Regional Training Awards, please contact:
Regional Liaison Officer (RLO) Lead:
Braydon Cowley
E: braydon.cowley1@det.nsw.edu.au
M: 0413 156 345
RLO Support:
Kelsey Stevenson
E: kelsey.stevenson3@det.nsw.edu.au
M: 0412 359 439
Last modified date
11/06/2026
Business unit contact email
Executive director
-
Executive director’s business unit
Communication & Engagement