Industry Not-for-Profit Training Recognised in 2025 SA Training Awards

Three of South Australia’s leading not-for-profit training providers, ATEC, MTA and PEER, have been named finalists in the Large Training Provider of the Year category at the 2025 South Australian Training Awards. 

This recognition highlights the critical role not-for-profit Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) play in equipping South Australians with job-ready skills, industry employment outcomes, and life-changing career opportunities. As mission-driven organisations, these training providers reinvest in students, training facilities, and industry partnerships to ensure high-quality outcomes across the state’s key trade and technical sectors. 

“The recognition of ATEC, MTA, and PEER as finalists is a testament to the strength and quality of South Australia’s not-for-profit training sector,” said Brian Rungie, Chair of the Industry Training Providers Association. “Profits don’t drive these providers - they’re driven by purpose. That’s what sets them apart.” 

The South Australian Training Awards, presented annually by the Department for State Development’s Skills SA are the state’s highest recognition for excellence in vocational education and training. Finalists represent the very best in teaching, innovation, student achievement, employer collaboration, and training leadership. Winners from the state awards go on to represent South Australia at the Australian Training Awards, placing them on the national stage. 

The Large Training Provider of the Year category celebrates organisations that deliver nationally recognised training, demonstrate a strong commitment to learners, and show sustained industry engagement and innovation. 

“Not-for-profit training providers are nimble, industry-connected and learner-focused. The fact that the three finalists for the Large Training Provider category are not-for-profit providers, speaks volumes about their value and contributions to the state’s workforce development,” Mr Rungie added. 

About the Finalists: 

The Industry Training Providers Association Inc. (ITPA) was incorporated in 1997 as a body that represents not-for-profit, industry-led Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) operating in South Australia. Our members which include ATEC, MTA and PEER are guided by and are passionate advocates for ethical standards that commit us to deliver quality training and assessment. We endeavour to work closely with industry, schools, government organisations and the community for the furtherance of excellence in vocational training outcomes and the vibrancy and sustainability of the state’s economy.

ATEC, the Adelaide Training & Employment Centre, is featured first as a standout finalist. As a major not‑for‑profit RTO, ATEC delivers qualifications across mechanical engineering, metal fabrication, carpentry, and electrotechnology, and serves over 2,000 students, including school leavers, apprentices, and job seekers. ATEC’s finalist status underscores its reputation for innovation, employer‑responsive training, and continuous quality improvement, including tailored training programs and support for diverse learner cohorts. ATEC officially opened its new $1 million Carpentry Centre of Excellence in June 2025. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to increase ATEC’s carpentry apprentice training capacity and help address the State’s critical shortage of skilled tradespeople in the construction industry. ATEC is proud to be the largest private training provider of construction and manufacturing apprentices in South Australia, currently training over 1,500 apprentices across these sectors—including more than 900 in carpentry. 

MTA Training and Employment delivers industry-leading vocational education across metropolitan and regional South Australia to over 1,100 apprentices across nine automotive trades. As a leader in electric vehicle training, MTA launched South Australia’s first dedicated Electric Vehicle Training Centre and upgraded its Royal Park facility with a new Automotive Technology Vehicle Centre. 

In an Australian first, MTA successfully applied to the South Australian Skills Commission to establish dual trade occupations, combining light- or heavy-vehicle apprenticeships with an automotive electrical apprenticeship. 

PEER, also a finalist in this category, contributes through its strong focus on responsive skills development for school-based students, apprentices, and trainees across sectors, including construction and electrotechnology. A recent initiative for PEER is their involvement in South Australia’s Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP), completely reshaping views of defence careers and revealing opportunities for many South Australians. This, together with their involvement in the four-year Shipbuilding Employment Program is helping locals of all ages to enter the booming defence industry.

Collectively, ATEC, MTA and PEER are currently training around 4,000 apprentices across South Australia – a figure that underscores both the scale of their contribution and the vital workforce pipeline they are building for the state’s future industries.

These three not-for-profit RTOs have consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence by aligning training with the evolving needs of South Australian industries, investing in quality trainers and infrastructure, and maintaining strong support systems for students of all backgrounds. 

Their collective presence as finalists affirms that not-for-profit training providers are not only competitive with public and private institutions, but they are also leading the way in delivering outcomes that matter to learners, employers, and communities. 

The winners of the 2025 SA Training Awards will be announced at a gala event on Thursday, 25 September, at the Adelaide Convention Centre.