2009 Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Apprentices

The Minister for Education Julia Gillard congratulated the winners of the 2009 Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices. Ms Gillard awarded the top employers who have employed and trained apprentices to build their businesses and address skills shortages in local communities in a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra. Maintaining a strong apprenticeship system is crucial to ensuring that we can take advantage of the opportunities that economic recovery will bring. The investment in skills that employers make today will yield dividends for themselves, their apprentices and the nation into the future.