Katie is completing the third year of her mechanical (light vehicle) apprenticeship at Mudgee Toyota. 

She said the $5000 scholarship would help her to buy new tools, as well as assisting with the cost of completing the Certificate III training at Dubbo TAFE. 

“This is quite a nice surprise,” said Katie.  “It’s nice to get a little bit of recognition.”  

Katie said she had always had an interest in vehicle mechanics and planned to continue in the trade after completing her apprenticeship.

She thanked her employers and teachers at Dubbo TAFE for their assistance, in particular TAFE teacher Jeremy Reid. 

The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarship provides first-year apprentices with $5000 each year for three years. 

In the first year of the scholarship, second and third year apprentices will receive $5000 for each year of study remaining. 

Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli said the scholarship program aimed to support apprentices with disability, Aboriginal apprentices and women in non-traditional trades.

“If people are given support and the opportunity to excel in their trade not only will they reap the benefits but our community will prosper as well,” Mr Piccoli said.

“These scholarships are in addition to the Country Apprentice Scholarships we have awarded which support up to 30 apprentices in rural and regional NSW each year to meet the additional costs associated with their training.”

Member for Orange Andrew Gee congratulated the local recipients. 

“Apprentices play a vital role in growing the NSW economy,” he said. 

“That is why the NSW Government recognises the need to provide additional financial support to those apprentices facing difficulty and help them gain their qualification.”

Other recipients in the Orange electorate were   Sammantha Devlin (Commercial Cookery Certificate III) of Orange,   Lincon Stanley (Painting and Decorating Certificate III) of  Wellington and Jacob Astill-Kelly (Carpentry Certificate III) of Orange.   

Information on the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships and Country Apprentice Scholarships is available from State Training Services Regional Centres on 13 28 11 and at www.training.nsw.gov.au