Tropical North Queensland TAFE state's number 1 training provider
Wednesday, 29 September 2009 8:00AM
It's official - Far North Queensland has the best TAFE in the state.
Tropical North Queensland TAFE was named Public Training Provider of the Year when the Queensland Training Awards were announced at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday night.
The Institute claimed the coveted award ahead of other finalists, South Bank Institute and Gold Coast Institute of TAFE, two of Queensland's biggest TAFEs.
The win was sweetened when Tropical North Queensland TAFE's Deputy Institute Director Donna-Maree O'Connor was named Professional Manager of the Year at the Australian Institute of Management's Cairns Management Excellence Awards on the same night.
Tropical North Queensland TAFE Institute Director Jo Pyne said the Public Training Provider of the Year win was welcome recognition of the hard work of teaching and support staff across the Far North.
"We achieved this award because of the dedication of our staff, because of their commitment to our students and because what we do changes people's lives," Ms Pyne said.
"Our Institute delivers almost 200 quality-assured training programs to more than 15,000 domestic, international and commercial clients annually.
"Our service area extends 268,000 square kilometres from the Torres Strait, south to Cardwell and west to the Gulf of Carpentaria, an area larger than the state of Victoria.
"Delivering training to regional, rural and remote communities across the Far North means we need to be innovative and flexible in the way we run our courses, and this award recognises that innovation and training excellence."
Ms Pyne also congratulated Tropical North Queensland TAFE graduate Darrell Geary, who was one of three finalists in the Apprentice of the Year Award.
"Darrell was an outstanding bakery apprentice and represented our Institute with distinction at the awards," Ms Pyne said.
For more information on TAFE training, contact Tropical North Queensland TAFE on 1300 656 959, or visit www.tnqit.tafe.qld.gov.au.
TAFE media contact: Jason Van Ballegooyen 0408 746 747