Community
29 July, 2024
Award winner inspires
A 25-year-old apprentice landscaper has been named Far North Queensland top apprentice.
Terrence Casey-Douglas was awarded the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year. He moved from Normanton to Cairns to take up his landscape construction apprenticeship with Outdoor Solutions Queensland, which was also a finalist in the small employer of the year category.
He is also a prop with rugby league club Northern Pride with 48 Hostplus Cup games under his belt and stinits with Tweed Seagulls and Towneville Blackhawks.
Tropical North Queensland’s top apprentice, trainee, VET teacher and employers were announced at the 2024 Queensland Training Awards regional final earlier this month.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student of the year Rhonda Woolla is from Aurukun and completed her Certificate IV in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Response while working with Rio Tinto Weipa.
Quicksilver Group, which operates from Cairns and Port Douglas, was named the region’s large employer of the year, for supporting staff training in a variety of fields including diving, engineering, accounting and management to support their Great Barrier Reef cruise operations.
Mr Casey-Douglas knows that sport is a key way of engaging with his community back home.
He highlights how a strong work ethic can take young people places.
“For me and the path that I’ve taken, the best way I can encourage the next generation coming through is to get back on Country as much as they can and utilise my resources with the Pride by going back and giving back to community,” he said.
“Sport is a massive tool. The unity that it brings with everyone in the community is second to none.
“Only a few weeks back they had a golf cluster in Normanton. They’re getting two to three thousand people in the crowd for that.
“You can see how that really is a massive tool for unity and bringing communities together, celebrating and enjoying the sport and being with one another.
“It’s good for the little ones as it gives them something to aspire to. It keeps the little ones out of trouble as well. It keeps them busy.
“Any sport, I think it’s good for any child or person to be in sport.
“When I do go back and chat with the kids at school or on the footy field, I tell them nothing is going to be easy or handed to you.
“You have to have a good work ethic and be willing to put in the work to see the rewards. If I can be that person, be a role model, be a leader to inspire and push them to go further than I have, that would be a tick for me because it feels like I’m giving back to my community and young indigenous lads.”
Quicksilver Group managing director Tony Baker said the company was “a very customer-focused business and we’re absolutely delighted to receive this award that
recognises our staff, and long-term commitment to supporting staff development and training”.
“This includes school-based traineeships, apprenticeships and in-house programs across the many facets of the company such as ship crew to customer service, dive instructors, catering, engineering, environmental, hospitality, financial and corporate support,” he said.
“We also work with providers such as National Job Link and last year employed five First Nations trainees at our Green Island Resort operation.
“Investing in employee development helps to foster a positive work environment which not only benefits staff but also our guests and business goals, and ultimately results in increased retention. In fact over 20 per cent of our workforce have been with Quicksilver for more than 10 years.”
Member for Cairns and Minister for Tourism and Sport Michael Healy gave “ a massive congratulations to apprentice of the year Terrence Casey-Douglas who relocated to Cairns in order to complete his landscape construction apprenticeship, which outlines the dedication of Queensland’s apprentices”.
“I’d like to congratulate Quicksilver Group on their achievement as the Far North Queensland large employer of the year. Their consistency in supporting staff across a variety of fields is admirable," he said.
Other winners:
Bob Marshman trainee of the year — Georgia Simpson, Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care, Kuranda
Vocational student of the year — Holly Sullivan, Certificate III in Carpentry, Kewarra Beach
School-based apprentice or trainee of the year — Sean Slack, Certificate II in Engineering, Weipa
Equity student of the year — Leah Garling, Certificate I in Workplace Skills, Manoora
VET teacher or trainer of the year — Andrew Boothroyd, TAFE Queensland, Machans Beach
Community training initiative of the year — Centacare FNQ, UpCyclinc program
Medium employer of the year — Mount Peter Early Learning, Mount Peter
Small employer of the year — Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Prescribed Body Corporate Aboriginal Corporation, Yarrabah
Geoff Wickenton and Seth Perry in the workshop photo.
Simone Pires and India Strong at the Port Douglas marina.
