Aqwest Trainee Joel Hartmann has been awarded 2020 Trainee of the Year at the Apprentice Employment Network WA 2020 Awards of Excellence.

The awards recognise outstanding achievements in the vocational education and training sector.

Joel Hartmann started a Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology traineeship at Aqwest in February through the Apprentice and Traineeship Company in Bunbury.

The 18 year old has always been passionate about computers and just prior to joining Aqwest, worked with a friend to build their own computer.

Joel’s first job was to assist Technical Support Officer Kieran Treloar with the installation of IT at Aqwest’s new water treatment plant, Ngoora Moolinap in Glen Iris.

Just weeks later as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Joel assisted Kieran with the rapid re-deployment of Aqwest staff to work from home, procuring and setting up equipment and teleconferencing technology.

“Looking back to what I have learned in the past six months blows my mind,” Joel said. “Things like learning a coding language, building good work relationships, learning how to administer a collection of computers and extending my hardware knowledge by leaps and bounds.

“Not only is Aqwest a great working environment but it’s also super exciting, I’ve been able to do and experience things I never thought I would be a part of.”

Aqwest Chief Executive Officer Gary Hallsworth said Joel was an excellent trainee who was willing to take on any task and had risen to the challenge of working in a difficult COVID-19 environment.

“This has been a traineeship like no other for Joel, who had to learn new skills while responding to the ever-changing environment of a pandemic, so this award is a testament to his positive, can-do attitude and is very well deserved,” Mr Hallsworth said.

The Apprentice Employment Network WA (AEN WA) is the peak association representing 17 member Group Training Organisations operating in Western Australia.