29 May 2023

A young Southern Highlands tradie has encouraged other young locals to embrace the “boundless opportunities” of pursuing a trade through TAFE NSW after winning a prestigious award.

Jasper Murphy, 20, a boilermaker with Bong Bong Engineering, was this month awarded the Apprentice of the Year at the TAFE NSW Excellence Awards in Wollongong.

Mr Murphy said he was “shocked” after being announced as the winner, crediting his parents, his employer and the hands-on, practical training he received at TAFE NSW Moss Vale.

“It was such a rush of emotion, I was just ecstatic,” Mr Murphy said. “My TAFE NSW teacher (Chris Parker) shared so much with me about what he knows and made the classroom such an enjoyable environment.”:

As the son of an electrician and grandson of a former ship builder, Mr Murphy has had the value of the trades instilled in him from a young age. But at a time when fewer young people are entering trades, he encouraged locals to seize the career opportunity trades presented.

According to a recent National Skills Commission report, nearly half of all trade jobs nationally in 2022 were “in shortage”.

“The opportunities are endless when you do an apprenticeship and at the end of the day, the trades all need more boots on the ground,” he said.

TAFE NSW Executive Director Education and Skills for South, Kerryn Meredith-Sotiris, commended the 13 award winners for the commitment and dedication they have shown to their studies.

“These awards recognise our most passionate, industrious and skillful students, and the fact teachers are the ones who nominate the students’ makes it even more special,” Ms Meredith-Sotiris said.

“I have no doubt these students will go on to forge highly successful careers and will be wonderful ambassadors for TAFE NSW.”

Ms Meredith-Sotiris said the awards exemplified TAFE NSW’s commitment to training the workforce leaders of tomorrow.

“TAFE NSW is proud to equip students with practical skills and work experience so they’re ready to hit the ground running in their chosen field,” she said.

“It’s very gratifying for TAFE NSW staff to watch students grow and transform their lives through education.”

Ms Meredith-Sotiris said the awards emphasised the commitment of TAFE NSW to train the workforce leaders of the future when, where and how it suits them.

Media contact: Daniel Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, (02) 6938 1441, mobile 0477 722 428