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Blue Dog Training was last night awarded the prestigious Innovative Business Award at the Australian Training Awards in Canberra.

The award recognises Blue Dog Training as a vocational education and training (VET) system leader in using technology to deliver high quality, flexible and engaging training which is tailored to the needs of their learners.

Blue Dog Training, a Queensland-based registered training organisation (RTO), has embedded e-learning at the theoretical, practical and assessment stages of the training process. This allows Blue Dog to deliver truly flexible training to their carpentry, engineering and concreting apprentices.

Blue Dog has custom-designed interactive, animation-rich learning resources and quizzes which learners complete online during work down time. Blue Dog also uses an electronic skills profile which documents photographic and journal evidence of learners' practical competencies, and is an integral part of the assessment process.

The comprehensive and well-designed way in which Blue Dog has embedded e-learning at all stages of the training process saw Blue Dog overcome a number of quality finalists to receive the Innovative Business Award, sponsored by the national training system's e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework).

Rod Arthur, Chair of the Framework's managing body, the Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG), said the selection panel was particularly impressed by how Blue Dog is creating learner-centred e-learning solutions, and using technology to deliver a high rate of training qualifications in a skills shortage area.

"Blue Dog Training is not only using technology to provide learners with greater choice and control over when, where and how training is delivered, but is specifically designing hands-on e-learning to suit the practical learning style of many learners in the trades.

"By working in a close three-way partnership with employers and apprentices, Blue Dog Training is developing opportunities for tailored training that addresses skills gaps in the workforce," Mr Arthur said.

Kris Andre, a Director of Blue Dog Training, said that it was an honour to receive the Innovative Business Award, and that Blue Dog is not resting on their achievements.

"We're currently developing our own tailored learning platform which will allow us to customise our learning resources even further; and have developed and implemented a successful numeracy program for school students."

The Innovative Business Award was presented at the gala awards dinner held at Exhibition Park in Canberra.

The award recognises an organisation which has demonstrated excellence in using ICT to deliver education and training programs. For more information visit the 2009 Australian Training Awards site.