A Year 12 electrical apprentice has taken out the top school based apprentice honour at the 2026 TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Apprentice and Trainee Awards.
Nick Seeto, a Year 12 student at The Industry School Gold Coast, has been named School Based Apprentice of the Year at the 2026 TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Apprentice and Trainee Awards. He was one of three finalists from the school’s Gold Coast campus.
The awards provide a platform to celebrate and recognise the education and efforts of apprentices, our future industry leaders, as well as the contribution of employers.
Nick is completing a Certificate III in Electrotechnology through TAFE Queensland at Ashmore while working as a school based apprentice at Crystal Waters Electrical, an owner operated business at Isle of Capri focused on residential energy maintenance and installation.
“I was home schooled until Year 8 and didn’t know many people in the trades, so winning this award means a lot,” Nick said. “I chose to become an electrician because of the variety. You can work in so many different environments and you learn something new every day.”
Nick took his time finding the right fit. In Year 10 he tried electrical, plumbing and carpentry career tasters at TAFE, then completed work experience with Cold Front Air Conditioning and Lancasters Electrical.
He began his Certificate III at The Industry School in March 2025, during Year 11, and started out working on new industrial and commercial sites. He has since learned to read plans and technical drawings, run cables, find electrical faults and test circuits.
Keen to see the residential side of the trade, Nick asked his school to arrange more work experience. In December 2025, he made the move to Crystal Waters Electrical as the business’s first apprentice.
“It was one of the hardest decisions of my life,” Nick said. “I didn’t want to let my employer down, but I want to run my own electrical business one day and I had to follow that goal. Everyone was really supportive, and I’m learning so much at Crystal Waters.”
The Industry School Gold Coast Campus Principal Amanda Middleton said the award reflected the way Nick approached every opportunity at the school.
“Nick puts his hand up for everything,” she said. “He is one of our Year 12 school leaders, he is reliable on the job, and he had the maturity to work out which part of the industry was right for him and act on it.”
The Industry School is an independent senior school for Years 10 to 12, with six campuses across South East Queensland and 20 years of experience preparing young people for careers in industry. Students split their time between the classroom and the workplace, finishing their Queensland Certificate of Education with the support of a network of more than 3,000 industry partners.
“School based apprenticeships let young people try different trades, learn from experienced people and find the right employer before they commit to a career,” Amanda Middleton said.
“Nick’s story shows why that matters. Our students finish school with their Queensland Certificate of Education, real workplace experience and a clear path into industry, and employers get the skilled young people they need.”
Nick is one of nine Year 12 school leaders. In October 2025 he travelled to Siem Reap, Cambodia, with the school’s International Service Program, after raising $5,000 through neighbourhood jobs such as mowing lawns, cleaning pools and pressure washing driveways.
In six days, his team built a small house with running water, electricity and a bathroom for a local family.
Nick is also completing a Certificate III in Entrepreneurship and New Business at The Industry School. Once he finishes his apprenticeship, he plans to start his own electrical business and mentor other young people who want to become electricians.
