Five First Nations apprentices and trainees were celebrated on Tuesday at Skillset’s Bathurst office as part of a scholarship presentation made possible through a new partnership with Edify Energy.
The scholarships, valued at $1,000 each, aim to support young people in their training journey and according to the recipients, will be used for anything from tool purchases to easing financial pressures. Recipients included:
- Tamahara Martin – Early Childhood School-Based Trainee at Towri MACS Centre
- Jamara Lamshead – Conservation & Ecosystems Management Trainee at Skillset Land Works
- Jaydon Crawford – Heavy Vehicle Apprentice at Bathurst Regional Council
- Madison Honeysett – First Nations People Animal Welfare Trainee at Bathurst Regional Council’s BARC
- Sydney Jones – recently completed an Animal Welfare Traineeship at Bathurst Regional Council’s BARC
The event brought together families, host employers, and representatives from Edify Energy to celebrate the achievements of these talented individuals.
Skillset CEO Narelle Stocks expressed her gratitude for the partnership and the impact these scholarships will have:
“We are proud of our apprentices and trainees and so thankful for Edify Energy’s partnership that seeks to support the communities in which they have projects. It’s also a joy to see the families and host employers attend the scholarship ceremony, as together we can encourage, support and train these young men and women to kick-start their careers. We are so grateful to Edify Energy for creating these scholarships and we look forward to exploring additional projects in 2026 that will strengthen local skills and create lasting community benefits.”
Edify Energy, a leader in solar farm development, recently changed ownership but continues to demonstrate a commitment to Australia and regional communities.
Spokesperson for Edify Energy Adam Smith said, “Renewable energy projects in regional Australia have many responsibilities. Their purpose is to provide abundant, clean energy that will enable our country to transition to cheaper, cleaner power. The projects also need to serve the community, ensuring economic, social and environmental benefits flow into the regions.
“Edify is excited to be progressing the Brewongle Solar Power Station—a project that will deliver clean energy and significant economic benefits to the Bathurst region. At peak construction, we expect to employ around 250 people, with a strong focus on sourcing local contractors and creating employment and training opportunities.
“Collaboration with the community, local council, and employment providers like Skillset is paramount to the success of this project. Through our partnership with Skillset, we have keen insight into community needs and can identify capacity building opportunities for the town of Bathurst. Our recent scholarship support reflects this commitment—investing in education pathways and supporting local talent to ensure the community shares in the long-term benefits of renewable energy development.”
Through this partnership with Skillset, Edify has funded three initiatives: work-ready workshops in local schools, a tree-planting project in Forbes, and scholarships for First Nations apprentices and trainees.
