Carpentry delivers top apprentice at TAFE Qld awards

Carpenter Sam Ederveen is the toast of the Far North trade community after taking out top honours at the TAFE Queensland 2023 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards on Thursday 27 July 2023.

More than 1300 apprentices train at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus and Sam Ederveen, 25, emerged victorious, claiming the trophies for Building and Construction Apprentice of the Year and Outstanding Apprentice of the Year.

Sam recently completed his carpentry apprenticeship training at TAFE Queensland and said winning the night’s major award was a shock. “It feels excellent to be named the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year, it’s such an honour,” Sam said.

“The teachers at TAFE instilled in me a passion for the work, and this became a very effective foot-in-the-door, securing me an apprenticeship with Brendan Grant Homes, one of the Housing Industry Association’s most awarded local builders. The skills I’ve learned and the mates I’ve made during my training have been irreplaceable and I would not be in the position I am now without it,” Sam said."One of my greatest achievements has been completing my apprenticeship nearly six months early. My Certificate III in Carpentry is a qualification that gives me the freedom to work anywhere in the world”, he said.

TAFE Queensland Director of Trades, Hydrogen and Renewables Maree Butler said Sam Ederveen was a deserving winner of the night’s top prize. "Around 200 people attended the Cairns Trade Excellence Awards and 12 trophies were handed out to recognise and celebrate the hard work of our most dedicated trade students. TAFE Queensland is proud to train more than 1300 apprentices at the Cairns campus who are helping to fill skills shortages across a range of industries, including construction, hairdressing, cookery, and diesel fitting,” she said.