A young woman who is the first person in her family to complete year 12, a mature-age apprentice and a single mother who is now an enrolled nurse are among the winners of the 2026 ACT Training Awards.
The awards are an annual celebration, acknowledging the skills, efforts and achievements of those involved in vocational education and training in the ACT.
The winners were announced at a ceremony at the National Convention Centre on Thursday night.
Now a qualified carpenter with her own business, Emmi Lee was named the 2026 Apprentice of the Year on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old from Chisholm completed a Certificate III in Carpentry with MBA Training while working as an apprentice with Trade and Construct Pty Ltd.
Emmi has now opened her own business Emin8 Carpentry after finishing her studies in July. She was thrilled to be named Apprentice of the Year.
"I'm honestly so honoured," she said. "I was very surprised. It's such amazing recognition to get as an apprentice."
A former barista who was studying to become a secondary school teacher, Emmi worked as a labourer for a year with Pichelmann Custom Building, also working as its truck driver, and decided then that carpentry was a career she would like to pursue.
"During my time with Pichelmann, I learnt to love carpentry and all aspects of residential carpentry," she said.
"You know, working in people's homes and creating spaces they live in and enjoy, I just found such a passion in creating spaces for others. It surprised me, it surprised my family. No one thought I'd be the kid in the family that ended up in carpentry."
As a mature-age apprentice, Emmi chose carpentry as a new career and has approached her training with determination and professionalism.
"It's never too late to start a new career," she said.
"With the right attitude and dedication, an apprenticeship can open doors you never expected. Choosing a trade was one of the best decisions I've made.
"It has given me practical skills, confidence, and a career with purpose."
Living in Mogo and working in Batemans Bay, Mickyia Glover was named the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year.
Mickyia completed a Diploma of Government through the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
"I'm very shocked. I'm very grateful," she said.
"I feel blessed to have so much support from my family and CIT was nothing but helpful."
The 21-year-old also worked full-time as a services officer in a Smart Centre with Services Australia in Batemans Bay.
Mickyia chose VET to continue her education while building a public service career.
"I did the majority of it online remotely, and had two stints where I actually went to CIT at Belconnen, which was quite nice, meeting the other apprentices face-to-face," she said.
She was the first person in her family to complete year 12, finishing her studies at Batemans Bay High School.
A proud Biripi woman from the Forster-Taree region of NSW, Mickyia hopes to work in remote communities to address intergenerational trauma, unemployment and educational disadvantage for First Nations peoples.
Her family is "very proud" about all she has achieved, including this latest award.
"They were so stoked," Mickyia said.
"I'm a bit of a harsh critic on myself. I set very high expectations. When I won, even when I got nominated as a finalist, it was a huge thing. It's very validating."
Kambah father-of-one Nathan Snow has been thinking of ways to give back since he was very young.
Now working at Communities at Work's Taylor Child Care and Education Centre in Kambah, Nathan was named the 2026 ACT Trainee of the Year.
"There's lots of people who deserve it, but for me it's an opportunity where I can help raise people up to achieve great things as well," he said.
"I can give back what I've been given."
He completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care with the Communities at Work Centre for Professional Learning and Education while working for Communities at Work.
His goal is to keep studying and eventually work in the field of childhood psychology.
A former swim instructor, Nathan, 27, chose VET to make a meaningful difference in children's lives, drawing on his experience as a father and passion for education.
His attitude to childcare and teaching was formed early, when he was a teenager spending a lot of time in hospital with a heart condition.
He remembered another patient in the hospital, a young boy with a heart condition that was much worse than his, who always made an effort to make Nathan feel better.
"Despite every challenge he had, he chose to be happy and chose to make others happy," Nathan said.
Nathan's manager describes his journey as one of "exceptional dedication, perseverance and integrity".
At the awards night on Thursday, Nathan had a special good luck charm from his four-year-old son.
"My son actually gave me an early Father's Day present, he couldn't hold back, it was a pair of socks. So, on the night I was wearing them and they gave me the extra strength," Nathan said.
Caitlin Carter completed a Diploma of Nursing with the Canberra Institute of Technology in 2025.
On Thursday night, she was named the ACT Vocational Student of the Year.
"I was so excited, I'm still stunned," she said.
"It was a lot of fun. I had a lot of supporters come for me, so I was very happy about that."
The Charnwood mum now works as an enrolled nurse at Calvary John James Hospital in Deakin through the Graduate Nurse Transition Program.
Before nursing, Caitlin, 36, served as a dental assistant in the Royal Australian Navy. She also completed qualifications in hospitality, early childhood education and dental assisting, building a broad foundation in health and community services.
"I absolutely love it. I love nursing. I'm glad I made the change," she said.
"You have your really hard days but when you have a patient who thanks you and tells you that you've made their day, it makes it all worthwhile."
Her military experience and desire to provide compassionate, patient-centred care led her to nursing.
As a single mother and student, Caitlin demonstrated leadership and resilience.
"I want future students to know that university is not the only pathway to success, and that practical, hands-on training can open doors just as powerfully," she said.
Her son John, who turns 10 on Sunday, is in year 4 at Rosary Primary School in Watson. The whole class had been excited by her being a finalist.
"He's so proud," Caitlin said. "He's been telling his teachers about it all through the week so yesterday [Thursday] his class prayed for me in the morning, which was really nice."
Tim is a VET educator with more than a decade of teaching experience at South Canberra Schools Vocational Training.
A qualified cabinetmaker and secondary teacher, he delivers Certificate I programs in Furnishing, Sport and Recreation, and Skills for Vocational Pathways.
The 43-year-old from Queanbeyan chose teaching to share his trade knowledge, inspire young people and promote vocational careers.
He joined Erindale College this year but previously spent 15 years working at Caroline Chisholm School.
He said received the teacher of the year award was "humbling".
"As a teacher, every day you come in trying to do the best job you can, with the students in the front of your mind," he said.
"I feel honoured to be representing all the teachers and especially the teachers who teach VET because it can be tough at times and everyone is trying to do the best they can."
To support year 10 students at risk of disengaging from education, Tim developed the Certificate I in Skills for Vocational Pathways. The program integrates literacy, numeracy and science into practical vocational contexts. It has improved engagement and attendance, with many students achieving nationally recognised outcomes.
Tim is completing a Certificate III in Fitness, mentors colleagues and supports VET program development across the South Canberra Training network.
He was most proud to have introduced VET to the students he has taught, particularly at Caroline Chisholm School.
"I was given the freedom to create awareness around what VET is and the students actually get excited about it and can experience what the VET world is," he said.
Khoa Dang Nguyen is the ACT Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year.
A year 12 student at Gungahlin College, he is completing a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery with Access Recognised Training. He works as an apprentice chef at Pavilion on Northbourne.
"I am incredibly grateful and honoured to receive such a prestigious award," he said.
"I thank all who have helped me along the way. I am very excited for the upcoming Australian Training Awards."
Khoa, 17, of Moncrieff, discovered the Head Start program in year 11, reigniting his passion for cooking.
As Gungahlin College's first student to undertake an ASbA while studying a tertiary package, he has become a role model for students exploring VET pathways.
"I have realised that undertaking an ASbA alongside tertiary studies, while difficult, was one of the best decisions I have made," he said.
Khoa plans to study engineering at university while continuing to build on the foundation provided by his VET training.
Outside his apprenticeship, Khoa participates in sport and leadership activities. He has represented his school and the ACT in sport, served as a House Captain, volunteered as a sports coach and promoted VET through ambassador roles and careers events.
2026 ACT Training Awards winners
ACT Apprentice of the Year
Emmi Lee
ACT Trainee of the Year
Nathan Snow
ACT Vocational Student of the Year
Caitlin Carter
ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Mickyia Glover
ACT Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year
Khoa Dang Nguyen - Cert III in Commercial Cookery.
ACT VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year
Tim Hawke
Norm Fisher Award (introduced in 1997 and is presented in recognition of an outstanding and extensive contribution to VET in the ACT)
Chontel Green
ACT Small Employer of the Year
Intravision Pty Ltd
ACT Large Employer of the Year
Calvary Bruce Private Hospital
ACT Small Training Provider of the Year
MBA Training
ACT Large Training Provider of the Year
Canberra Institute of Technology
ACT Industry Collaboration Award
2025 SPARK Construction Taster Program for Migrants and Refugees
