1 April 2021 Nominations Open
21 May 2021 Nominations Close
22 May 2021 – Judging Opens
6 June 2021 – Judging Closes
7 June 2021 Notification of Judging Outcome
28 June 2021 Skills Test Day for Secondary Students and virtual interviews with Employer and Trainer/Teacher of the year nominees
Skills Test Judging closes – 11 June 2021
26 July 2021 - Formal Awards Dinner – Hilton Hotel
Well done to all finalists for making it through the nomination process during such a challenging time. A special congratulations to all Runner Ups and Winners on this very important achievement. We welcome you to the industry and look forward to following your progress through your chosen careers.
Cookery Category
WINNER: Samantha Boyd – Brisbane State High School (Prize: Village Roadshow – 2 x Tickets to Australian Outback Spectacular, Job Skills Queensland – Employment Mentoring, Work Experience at Star, Institute of Culinary Excellence – Chef Uniform & 1 x Knife kits)
RUNNER UP: Mackenzie Treloar – Helensvale State High School ( Prize: Surf Connect – 2 x Stand-up Paddle boarding Lessons (Value $100), Institute of Culinary Excellence – 1 x Knife kit, Work Experience at Star)
FINALIST: Jennifer Tyson - Brisbane Bayside State College
FINALIST: Julia Alon - Calamvale Community College
FINALIST: Tiarna Weston - Kirwan State High School
Food & Beverage Category
WINNER: Ella-Louise Merrigan – Calamvale Community College (Prize: Village Roadshow - 2 x Four Park Annual Pass, Work Experience at Star, Job Skills Queensland – Employment Mentoring, TAFE Diploma of Hospitality Management)
RUNNER UP: Rochelle Ballard – AXIAL Training / Longreach State High School (Prize: Voucher from Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Work Experience at Star)
FINALIST: Hannah Getawan - Calamvale Community College
FINALIST: Centuary Hardy - Maroochydore State High School
Tourism Category
WINNER: Eden Oldham – St Ursula’s College Yeppoon (Prize: Voucher from Capricorn Caves, Work Experience at Star, Job Skills Queensland – Employment Mentoring, Work Experience at Riverlife, TAFE Diploma of Travel & Tourism Management)
RUNNER UP: Charli Berger – Albany Creek State High School (Prize: Surf Connect – 2 x Stand-up Paddle boarding Lessons (Value $100), Work Experience at Star, Work Experience at Riverlife)
FINALIST: Chloe Dower - Albany Creek State High School
FINALIST: Lili Robinson - Maroochydore State High School
Teacher/Trainer of the Year
WINNER: Julie Lewis – Albany Creek State High School (Prize: Aussie World – 1 Family Pass, Work Experience at Star, Riverlife - 1 x Abseiling)
RUNNER UP: Stephanie Wright – Helensvale State High School (Prize: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – 1 Family Pass, Work Experience at Star)
FINALIST: Frank Guarnaccia - Envirotech Education
FINALIST: Christian Beattie - Kirwan State High School
FINALIST: Dylan Campbell - Training Unlimited Pty Ltd
Important message: Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, QTIC has modified the Salute to Excellence Awards program to allow for nominations and judging to take place completely online. The 'skills test day' for secondary students has been modified to include video submissions demonstrating practical skills, responses to written assessment submitted by PDF into the Judgify system, and face to face interviews with judges conducted through scheduled webinars.
The formal awards dinner will be postponed until early 2021. Finalists will not be kept in suspense until next year, QTIC will be holding an online event to announce the winners on the 27 July 2020.
Salute to Excellence Awards
The QTIC Salute to Excellence Awards acknowledges secondary students, employers, schools and registered training organisations for their contribution in the delivery of tourism, food and beverage and cookery qualifications through VETiS, and School Based Apprenticeship(s) or Traineeship(s).
The QTIC Salute to Excellence Awards recognise:
Category | Judge | Organisation | Role |
---|---|---|---|
Student - Cookery | David Holmes | The Star Gold Coast | Executive Sous Chef Culinary Department |
Student - Cookery | Rahul Raj | Mercure Brisbane | Executive Chef |
Student - Tourism | Karen Thorburn | Gateway to Industry | Tourism & Hospitality Expert |
Student - Tourism | Karen Hellsten | Mountain Wine Tours | Managing Director |
Student - Food and Beverage | Adrienne Putelli | Hilton Hotel Brisbane | Director of Human Resources |
Student - Food and Beverage | Michelle Christoe | NightQuarter and Malt Shovel Taphouse | Director |
Teacher/Trainer of the Year |
Abbey Blanchfield |
Airtrain |
Marketing and Sales Manager |
Teacher/Trainer of the Year |
Arwen McGregor |
Devon Pixies |
Owner/Operator |
Employer of the Year |
Helen Shoubridge |
Aabon Apartments and Motel |
Manager |
Employer of the Year |
Douglas Innes-Will |
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art |
Executive Chef |
QTIC is proud to be driving this initiative and remain committed to raising industry standards through training and education.
QTIC 2020 Salute to Excellence Sponsors
The QTIC Salute to Excellence Awards acknowledges secondary students, employers, schools and registered training organisations for their contribution in the delivery of tourism, food and beverage and cookery qualifications through VETiS, and School Based Apprenticeship(s) or Traineeship(s).
Platinum Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
Prize Sponsors:
Work Experience for finalists:
For more information about entering or sponsoring the Salute to Excellence Awards, please contact our Workforce Development team on 07 3236 1445.
Contributes to the following SDG:
Use of Photographs and Personal Information
Award entrants, nominees and ticket purchasers are advised that we will collect your personal information for the purpose of communicating with you about the awards and associated events. This information may be kept on file (hard copy and/or electronic) for future reference.
The Salute to Excellence Skills Test Day and Awards Dinner will be filmed and photographed for publicity and marketing purposes in printed publications and the Internet (websites and social media). If you do not give consent for your voice and/or image to be used in our printed or electronic publications, you must advise photographers in attendance that you do not want your image captured for publicity purposes.
For more information, view our Privacy Policy or request a hard copy by contacting us on 07 3236 1445 or info@qtic.com.au, or write to Queensland Tourism Industry Council, C/- Office Manager, PO Box 13162, George Street QLD 4003.