Sydney (Tribune International, NSW Govt Release, 25 Nov 2020): The NSW Government has awarded a total of 95 Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships for 2020 worth a total of $1.425 million to apprentices across NSW.
The scholarships are worth $5,000 each year over three years. They support apprentices who are experiencing financial or personal hardship, demonstrate a high aptitude for vocational education and training, and are committed to their on and off the job training.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the scholarship program is named in honour of the late Bert Evans AO, a passionate advocate of vocational education for more than 30 years.
“An apprenticeship is a great way to kick-start a career, and apprentices are vital to our State’s growth, but we also understand it’s not always easy to complete a qualification,” Mr Lee said.
“In some cases, they may be the sole supporters of their family and have difficulty buying tools for their trade while others travel hundreds of kilometres just to attend their formal training.
“We want to back our apprentices by giving them a helping hand to complete their training and gain a qualification. This support is particularly relevant as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.”
Bert Evans Scholarships winners from 2020 include Oscar Sutherland from the Bega region on the NSW South Coast and Western Sydney based Shayna Logan who have both overcome barriers to get started in rewarding careers.
Automotive electrical technology apprentice Oscar faced huge challenges after his family home was lost in the bushfires early this year that included commuting huge distances past road closures and detours to maintain his attendance at work.
Mechanical engineering apprentice Shayna has shown great resilience to progress in her apprenticeship including daily 4:30am lengthy Sydney commutes to her workplace.
