On Friday 21 August, we brought some of our community together at Subiaco Football Club to celebrate the 2026 ABN Training Apprentice Awards, presented by Totally Workwear with KingGee.
Hosted by Executive General Manager for Residential WA, Dean O’Rourke, we had a fantastic evening night acknowledging the accomplishments and continued growth of the exceptional young people who are developing their trade skills through ABN Training’s apprenticeship program.
The night also gave us the opportunity to celebrate the dedicated host trainers, family members, supporters within ABN Group and supply partners who contribute so much in developing the next generation of our industry.
Since we first established ABN Training in 2004, we’ve grown into the largest trade training program of its kind in Australia. We’ve seen around 2,000 young men and women come through our programs and we’ve had the pleasure of helping so many construction careers flourish in an industry that desperately needs and wants them.
Apprentices are the future of the building industry and our love for our industry drives us in helping the 126 young people currently with ABN Training to hone their skills, discover career pathways and play a part in delivering the dream of home ownership.
A massive congratulations to all our winners and nominees. The future looks bright for our industry when we have such a high calibre of young tradespeople developing themselves.
Apprentice of the year awards
Sabit Maper
Best Final Year Apprentice
Presented by Apprenticeship Support Australia
Chloe Robertson
Best Second Year Apprentice
Presented by MEGT
Ollie Wills
Best Final Year Apprentice
Presented by Makita
Other key awards
Shane McKeand
Host Trainer of the Year
Presented by Totally Workwear
together with King Gee
Nick Perrozzi, Jaxon de Bie & Charlie Hughes
Excellence in Safety Award
Presented by Construction Training Fund
Mohammad Ali Taleb
Most Improved Apprentice
Presented by Bunnings Trade
Trade awards
Sabit Maper
Brick & Blocklaying Award
Sponsored by Brick & Block Careers
Allysia Forward
Cabinet Making Award
Sponsored by The Maker Designer Kitchens
Ollie Wills
Carpentry Award
Sponsored by Independent Timber Supplies
Jack Luscombe
Concreting Award
Sponsored by Heidelberg
Jess Bell
Painting & Decorating Award
Sponsored by Wattyl
George Ayres
Mechanical Fitting Award
Sponsored by The Maker Designer Kitchens
Ben Romeo
Plumbing Award
Sponsored by Reece Plumbing
Harrison Blair
Roof Plumbing Award
Sponsored by Tool Kit Depot
Hamish Gluskie
Solid Plastering Award
Sponsored by Dulux
Malachai Baz-Bosch
Wall & Ceiling Fixing Award
Sponsored by CSR
Recognising our supporters
We extend our profound gratitude to the community of supporters our apprentices have around them, including the ABN Training team, host trainers, site managers, suppliers, subbies and lecturers. They all play a valuable part in their development, with their support empowering the future of our industry.
We’d also like to express gratitude to the award sponsors who donated prizes for our apprentices and host trainers. Your partnership and support really make a different in the work we do.
Our Diamond Sponsors:
Totally Workwear with KingGee
For generations, Totally Workwear and KingGee have supported hardworking Australians with quality workwear, safety solutions and industry expertise. As the Diamond Sponsor of the ABN Training Awards, their commitment goes beyond the job site. Their support enabled us to further recognise outstanding apprentices and host trainers, celebrate their achievements and highlight the importance of skills development across our industry.
Investing in apprentices today helps us build the skilled workforce we need for tomorrow; creating opportunities for emerging tradespeople to learn, grow, connect and succeed. We’re proud to partner with KingGee and Totally Workwear in recognising the next generation of construction professionals.
Our Platinum Sponsor:
Makita
Experts in electric power tools, Makita has left an indelible make on countless Australian homes and the work of countless Australian tradespeople. We’re proud to partner with Makita with our shared commitment to setting our apprentices on the best footing as they begin their careers.
Our other sponsors
ABN Trade Mates, Apprenticeship Support Australia, Brick & Block Careers, Bunnings Trade, Construction Training Fund, CSR, Dulux, Heidelberg , Independent Timber Supplies, MEGT, Reece Plumbing, The Maker Designer Kitchens, Tool Kit Depot and Wattyl.
