2024 Apprentice Awards Evening

Last month we were thrilled to celebrate a huge cohort of apprentices at our most successful Apprentice Awards Evening yet!

Our Apprenticeship Program has run with great success for more than 20 years, and we’re so proud to be able to offer our apprentices a diverse and exciting career in an environment that fosters teamwork, creativity and innovation.

Watch the video below to hear from a couple of our up-and-coming apprentices about why they love being a part of our Apprenticeship Program.

This annual event is about welcoming our new apprentices as they start their careers in the automotive industry, and celebrate our current apprentices as they each reach a new milestone within the program.

Our West Terrace dealership was host to this year’s event, with apprentices and their special guests, as well as management, apprentice mentors and TAFE partners, attending. It was the perfect opportunity for apprentices to mingle with one another, as well as with those in the industry. 

The evening was off to a start with guests treated to beverages and tasty canapes by Indulgence Food Design. CMI Toyota Group General Manager, Drew Ford, was first to take to the stage to thank everyone for coming and commend the apprentices who have completed another year or started their career.

Following this, CMI Toyota Training Centre Manager, Darren Quinn, took the opportunity to recognise our Apprentice Mentors, who’s years of experience in the industry and dedication to the Training Program is incredibly valuable for the education of our apprentices.

Thank you to the following mentors:

• Graeme Edwards – 30 years experience and 12 years with the CMV Group.
• Ben Reudiger– 22 Years Experience, 10 years with CMI Toyota 
• Jason Greenham – 20 years with Toyota and is a Senior Diagnostic Technician and Foreman
• Chris Newman – 16 Years with Toyota and Suzuki, and is a Toyota Diagnostic Technician
• Marco Matto – 31 Years Experience, 12 years with Lexus of Adelaide and is currently a Lexus Senior Diagnostic Technician.

Darren also took the opportunity to recognise the participants in the 2023 Toyota National Skills Competition - Cooper Sleightholme (third year), James Longinidis (third year), and Cameron Stewart (fourth year) who was named a 2023 National Skills Champion! The Toyota National Skills Competition distinguishes Excellence on both a Regional and National scale. It is the largest annual automotive skills development program in Australia, open to Toyota employees from more than 250 dealerships across the country. Congratulations again to Cameron on this fantastic achievement!

Next, it was time to congratulate and welcome our new apprentices who were accepted into the program and congratulate our current apprentices on completing another year. Plus, we also were extremely proud announce our Apprentices of the Year!

Welcome to our 2023 Apprentices

Chloe Andrews, Brooklyn Beeby, Jazmine Evans, Nicholas Farrar, Geb O’Halloran, Frank Herbut, Caitlin Lucas, Jonathan Moyle, Chika Pakes, and Jordan Schrapel.

Second Year Apprentices

Beau Baddock, Menglyheng Chea, Travis Iaccarino, Andrew Jelisavac, Harrison Kleinschafer, Asher Pelling, Boyd Purcell, Madelyn Stefanovic, Daniel Tran, and Jamie Watson.

Third Year Apprentices

Jessica Cufone, Vanessa Gaze, James Longinidis, Dale Namocatcat, Cooper Sleightholme, and Hamish Smith.

Fourth Year Apprentices

Angus Dougal, Victor Enriquez, Logan Langridge, Amber Ryan, Cameron Stewart, Thomas Walker, and Joshua Weston.

A massive congratulations to the Apprentices of the Year and Runner-Up Apprentices of the Year!

First Year Apprentice of the Year

Winner - Madelyn Stefanovic
Runner up - Jamie Watson

Second Year Apprentice of the Year

Winner - James Longinidis
Runner up - Jessica Cufone

Third Year Apprentice of the Year

Winner - Joshua Weston
Runner up - Victor Enriquez

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a warm welcome to our newcomers, and to celebrate the accomplishments of our up-and-coming apprentices in what was our biggest Apprentice Awards evening yet. We look forward to the next one!

About the CMI Toyota Apprentice Program

CMI Toyota offers an exciting career within a diverse business, proudly fostering a work environment that encourages creativity, teamwork and innovation. This is a company philosophy supported by our strong leadership, high ethical standards and passion for safety. 

In January each year, successful CMI Toyota apprenticeship candidates commence a Toyota specific Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology. Training is conducted in partnership with TAFE SA and is complimented by specialised in-house training programs conducted in the purpose-built CMI Toyota Technical Training Centre. 

The Apprenticeship Program is overseen by CMI Toyota’s Training and Development Manager, Darren Quinn. CMI Toyota is committed to the development of highly skilled technicians that will excel in the servicing, diagnosis, and repair of modern motor vehicles along with providing exciting and challenging career opportunities for its employees.

Find out more here.