apprentices feature at Whyalla awards
Recognition for workforce development program
14 November 2025
The Whyalla Steelworks and Iron Ore Mining Workforce Development program was recognised at the Mine Spec Whyalla Business & Tourism Awards recently with four nominations and two finalists in the Apprentice of the Year Award.
OneSteel Manufacturing (Administrators Appointed) (OneSteel) operations were represented in the apprentice award by Chris Reeves (third year fitter), Cassie Davies (fourth year electrical), William Dinedios (fourth year fitter) and William Hanna (first year fitter).
Cassie Davies and William Dinedios made it to the final three in the judging for the award.
With first year to fourth year apprentices nominated it is great to see the development and growth in each one of our apprentices and the way they are being set up for future success in work and life
OneSteel Workforce Development Early Careers Lead, Rebecca Harris
OneSteel Workforce Development Early Careers Lead, Rebecca Harris congratulated the four apprentices nominated for the awards and said they were effectively representing every one of the 72 apprentices currently employed across the OneSteel operations in Whyalla.
“The apprentices were nominated for their skills, diligence, commitment to the job and ability to learn,” Rebecca said.
“We could have nominated another 20, 30 or 40 for this award such is the quality of our cohort of apprentices and the training and encouragement they are receiving from our OneSteel mentors, tradespeople, team leaders and trade schools.
“These four were effectively representing every apprentice in our system while providing great examples of our operations’ strong work culture, safety focus and skills training.”
Rebecca said the awards were also a good opportunity for those nominated to be presented to the wider community while rubbing shoulders with significant people in our region, business and politics.
The evening was attended by South Australian Premiers Peter Malinauskas, Whyalla Mayor Phill Stone and Whyalla Regional Coordinator and SA Industry Advocate, John Chapman OAM along with Steelworks general manager Amrit Mangat and Iron Ore General Manager Jared Fechner.
“With first year to fourth year apprentices nominated it is great to see the development and growth in each one of our apprentices and the way they are being set up for future success in work and life,” Rebecca said.
“Our mentors are seeing their efforts rewarded, the apprentices are seeing their hard work pay off and it is a real tick of approval for our training system and everyone involved.
“We have first year apprentices adapting quickly to our established cultures, receiving support from our mentors, leaders, their families and their more senior apprentice colleagues like those nominated for these awards.
“It is a system that is allowing our apprentices to get to where they are today … vital employees in our business that can now look forward to becoming talented tradespeople and, just as importantly, valuable community members.”
The Apprentice of the Year Award, sponsored by OneSteel Manufacturing, was won by Amylee Dunn from Aquest Electrical.
Main picture and top right: Whyalla Iron Ore General Manager Jared Fechner, Chris Reeves 3rd year apprentice fitter, Cassie Davies 4th year electrical, William Dinedios 4th year fitter, Whyalla Steelworks General Manager Amrit Mangat and General Manager Supply Train Hayley Perkins. Absent: William Hanna. Above right: Jared, Amrit and Hayley present Amylee Dunn with the OneSteel Apprentice of the Year Award. Below: Amylee Dunn, Cassie Davies and William Dinedios at the announcement of the apprentice of the year award.
