Prime Minister's Vocational Excellence Award 2019

Both Darren Falaniko, year twelve from Paraparaumu College and Nick Fleming, year thirteen from Ōtaki College, have participated in our programmes throughout 2019 helping them receive outstanding recognition from the government. 

The ‘Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award’ acknowledges students who have achieved significantly in vocational knowledge and skills. The awards are given to year twelve or thirteen students who have been nominated by their school. The winning students are given a cash prize of $2,000 in recognition of their success in vocational education and training, alongside an official certificate recognising their achievement. 

Students are nominated on a scale of one to three based on skills relevant to vocational pathways. For example, demonstrating self-determination, strong communication, a positive attitude, teamwork skills or displaying resilience.    

Darren is described by his school as “an exceptionally hard-working and polite young man who has taken every opportunity offered to him over the last two years in his vocational classes.” As shown, Darren went through our Kāpiti Work Ready Passport programme and attended #EmployerMeets events where he shone. He also completed a work experience placement via Gateway at Gold Coast Building Removals, in which he proved to everyone he will make a fine employee. 

Nick Fleming has seen similar success and accolades. Andy Fraser, Ōtaki College Principal, commented, “Nick impressed me with his ability to strive to achieve his best academically and as a senior student he role models a high standard of behaviour to the younger students”. In 2018 Nick completed our Kāpiti Work Ready Passport, which has helped him to build his confidence and his interviewing skills. In the past two years, he has seized opportunities like attending the #EmployerMeet events in which useful connections have been made. Nick also undertook our WEX - Work EXperience programme during the last school holiday period, working for Pzazz Building where he demonstrated he is well and truly ready to enter the workforce and secured himself an Apprenticeship.

It’s fabulous to see these two Work Ready Kāpiti participants achieving such amazing results, congratulations goes to them both!