Vito Musumeci teacher/LVT of horticulture has been awarded the VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year regional award on 31 July and is now in the running for the state finals.

The regional finalists along with the direct entry finalists will be competing to be named the best in the state at the Queensland Training Awards.  “I am off to Brisbane on Friday 11 September as a regional finalist and will be competing with seven other regional finalists at the RNA Convention Centre. I even had to go and buy a suit and my wife and kids think it’s marvelous,” said an excited Vito.

After being nominated by colleagues and others in the industry, providing references and surviving a panel interview, Vito was then shortlisted as one of three finalists.  

“It has been enjoyable meeting the other finalists.  They are well known and respected those guys, I am still pinching myself that I won over those fellows.  Their training is in completely different fields, chef and marine training. We got on really well and they’re good for the industry.  The highlight for me was the quality of apprenticeships and they are all very caring, it was a positive outcome coming together with like minded people, with good strong ethos,” said Vito.

After 26 years in the industry Vito still loves what he does.  “In Port Douglas all the employers seem to get along with each other and they all have strong ethos for training.  There are eight business in Port Douglas, and that’s not the Council, that’s just in Port Douglas.  I do all the training in Port Douglas and I make sure the training plan matches the employers needs.  The staff levels in Mossman and Port Douglas are very stable and when they finish their training they stay in employment,” he said.

A fitter and turner by trade, Vito completed university to become a teacher and began working with TAFE 3-4 years after uni.  A farm boy at heart, he decided to complete further education via correspondence with Gatton Agricultural University, now UQ Gatton Campus.  

One of the most satisfying achievements for Vito, being very involved in many communities, is seeing his students complete their training, obtain permanent employment and then going back to visit and they are still employed. “Seeing Hope Vale Banana Farm create thirty full time permanent jobs has been very satisfying.

The relationships I have developed are gold and I get to watch people grow and change.  I taught Peter from Papillon his apprenticeship and now I am teaching his apprentices and watching them evolve,” said Vito.
Apprentice, Mitch Sullivan (pictured with Vito) is completing his Cert II.I Horticulture at Papillon.

We congratulate Vito and look forward to hearing about the State finals. Now in its 54th year in 2015, the Queensland Training Awards are the state's highest recognition of people and organisations who strive for success, best practice and innovation in training.