Diversity and inclusion shine at Victorian Training Awards 2026

The best and the brightest in Victoria’s vocational education and training sector were celebrated at the Victorian Training Awards 2026:

• electrician Anna Oliphant Wright won Apprentice of the Year. She loves the electrical industry and railways and completed her apprenticeship working on the Gippsland Line Upgrade.
• South West TAFE, one of Victoria’s highest-performing TAFEs for student and employer satisfaction, won Large Training Provider of the Year.
• Frances Coppolillo, the first woman to become CEO at Melbourne Polytechnic, took home the Outstanding Achievement in the TAFE and Skills Sector Award.

The awards spanned 14 categories and celebrated the achievements of Victoria’s:

• students
• teachers
• employers
• training providers.

The awards reflect the diversity of Victoria’s VET sector. Finalists included:

• people from many cultures and backgrounds
• First Peoples Victorians
• people with disability
• women training and working in male-dominated fields
• Victorians from all parts of the state.

Many of the award winners will go on to represent Victoria at the Australian Training Awards in Sydney later this year.

The event is hosted by the Victorian Skills Authority. It is supported by the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN).

View the full list of 2026 Victorian Training Awards winners and finalists.