Komatsu Australia Receives 2026 Australian Apprenticeships Leadership Medal
Kate Pemberton and the team from Komatsu Australia with their 2026 Australian Apprenticeships Leadership Medal during National Apprenticeship Week.
National Apprenticeship Week Australia celebrates the role of apprenticeships and traineeships in building the skills and confidence of individuals, strengthening the industries and economy of our nation.
As part of the celebrations, MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees confer a leadership medal to honour organisations that show outstanding dedication to apprenticeship training and development.
During National Apprenticeship Week 2026, MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees awarded Komatsu Australia the prestigious 2026 Australian Apprenticeships Leadership Medal in recognition of its long-standing commitment to developing skilled tradespeople and building inclusive, high-quality apprenticeship pathways.
The Medal was conferred by MIGAS Director Rod Margetts and accepted on behalf of Komatsu Australia by Kate Pemberton, National Apprentice Development Manager, at the Australian Apprenticeships Stakeholder Luncheon – a flagship event of National Apprenticeship Week held in Brisbane on 10 February 2026, delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government.
A Benchmark for Excellence in the Trades Sector
Komatsu Australia's selection by the MIGAS Board of Directors reflects a holistic approach to apprentice development that goes beyond technical training – recognising apprentices not only as learners, but as individuals navigating the challenges of life.
"Our Board of Directors noted the holistic approach Komatsu Australia takes to supporting their apprentices, as students and learners, but also as individuals balancing the challenges life throws up," said David Hoey, MIGAS Chief Executive Officer.
"Over many years, the organisation has made a profound and sustained investment in cultivating skilled talent, broadening participation, and building enduring partnerships across education, industry and the community."
A Nationwide Commitment to Apprenticeships
Komatsu Australia currently employs more than 290 apprentices and trainees nationwide, spanning a wide range of disciplines including mobile plant, auto electrical, fabrication, and electrical. It's a scale of investment that speaks to the organisation's genuine belief in the power of apprenticeships to build both individual careers and industry capability.
"We openly acknowledge that our apprentices are our pipeline of future talent. They are the future leaders, tradespeople, and specialists of our business," said Ms Pemberton.
"Their contribution plays a vital role in our long-term success, and this award reinforces the importance of continuing to invest in them."
The Komatsu Training Academy
A major milestone in Komatsu Australia's apprenticeship journey was the opening of the Komatsu Training Academy in Brisbane in 2016. The purpose-built facility provides advanced technical and safety training for apprentices and technicians, featuring simulators, laboratories and hands-on learning spaces designed to mirror real-world construction and mining environments.
This investment in infrastructure reflects the same philosophy that underpins Komatsu Australia's broader approach: that developing world-class tradespeople requires world-class conditions in which to learn.
It's In the Making
The Australian Apprenticeships Leadership Medal celebrates organisations that create fertile ground for people to thrive in trade careers and beyond. The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2026 – It's in the Making – couldn't be more fitting for a company like Komatsu Australia, whose sustained investment in apprenticeships is actively shaping the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
Komatsu Australia's recognition during National Apprenticeship Week 2026 is a reminder that Australia's future workforce isn't something that simply appears – it's built, deliberately and consistently, by employers willing to invest in people from day one.
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Originally published by MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees. Republished with permission for National Apprenticeship Week.
