St Patrick’s Technical College (StPatsTech) is celebrating a win for Old Scholar Sarah Mills crowned Trainee of the Year at the 2019 SA Training Awards.

Class of 2018 Hair & Beauty graduate, Sarah completed her Certificate III in Beauty Services with TAFE SA and now works full-time at Brazilian Beauty North Adelaide with her focus on making people feel confident in their own skin.

Sarah sees her work as a stepping stone to her goal of becoming a dermatologist. She would like to help people cope with skin conditions and come up with solutions that aren’t too complex or harsh on patients’ skin.

Held on Friday 6 September at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the night celebrated and recognised quality, excellence and innovation in training. Hosted by the Training and Skills Commission, the annual Awards are the State’s peak awards for Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni congratulated the six winners in the Individual Awards.

"I have no doubt that many of these young people will be owning their own businesses and hiring apprentices and trainees of their own in the years to come."

Sarah will now represent South Australia on the national stage at the Australian Training Awards hosted in Brisbane on Thursday 21 November.

St Patrick’s Technical College was a finalist at this year’s awards in the VET Innovation for Schools Award category. Year 12 Metals and Engineering student Tayla Carll was also a finalist for the School-based Apprentice of the Year Award. Tayla is currently studying a Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade while an apprentice at Stratco.

Nearly 1000 St Patrick’s Technical College students have commenced apprenticeships/traineeships in South Australia.

The specialist trade training school offers education, training and apprenticeship pathways to Year 11 and 12 students in the north of Adelaide.