Michael was short-listed for the award and has an interview Thursday 26 June. If successful at the interview he will be named a finalist for the 2008 ACT Australian Apprentice (Trainee of the Year). 

Winners of this year’s ACT Training Excellence Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony and dinner on Thursday 14 August 2008 at the Auditorium at Vikings, Erindale. 

Winners at the awards have the opportunity to represent the ACT at the Australian Training Awards in Darwin on 20 November 2008.

About Michael Peoples

• Michael joined Outward Bound Australia in January 2007 as part of the ‘Romeo’ intake of our internship program.  At the end of the eight-month internship Michael had completed his Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation, Leaders Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Bronze Medallion and gained competencies in a wide variety of other skills.

• Michael was presented with the Stephen Wells Memorial Award at the end of the internship. The criteria for the award is as follows:
  
  “The Stephen Wells Memorial Award is presented to a graduate who upholds the core values of Outward Bound Australia, demonstrates a love and commitment to the environment, displays humility and is committed to the journey of self-discovery and the personal development of others.”
  
  The winner of this award is nominated by the intern group themselves and is a hugely sought after and prestigious award. Michael was named the winner of this award due to his passionate commitment to Outward Bound, its values and principles; as well as his willingness and commitment to the personal development of others. 
  
• It has been said that, “Everybody loves Mikey”. This is true thanks to his effervescent and non-assuming character. He puts 100% into all that he does which means he plays hard as well as works hard. His willingness to learn and ability to creatively solve problems while taking the initiative when needed, makes him an indispensable member of a team.

A few words from Mikey

Working in the outdoors is both challenging and rewarding. I love to wake up in the morning knowing that I have a full day in the outdoors ahead of me. Each day brings new challenges through the people I interact with, the environment and the weather. However, no other job brings me greater intrinsic rewards. To see the participants increased sense of self and to be able to share the beauty of nature are definitely highlights. I found the eight months in training to be very worthwhile and am continually amazed that I now have a vast amount of skills and knowledge that a year and a half ago I could not imagine.