UQ Skills Master Farrier and Farriery Trainer, Craig Jones, has been honoured with the prestigious VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year Award at the recent 2023 Queensland Training Award ceremony.
Using his 35 years of experience shoeing horses, Craig has overhauled the traditional Certificate IV in Farriery (ACM40818) program to include modern, digitised training materials.
Jones expressed his humility and enthusiasm about the recognition.
"When I think of all the thousands of Trade and VET courses and trainers in the state, for the farriery course to be recognised for outstanding innovation and excellence is very humbling and encouraging," he said.
"The recognition for the effort that was put into updating the program and the exposure gained from that is so beneficial for the apprentices and farriery in general."
Craig's innovative teaching methods involve integrating modern, digitised training materials into the curriculum, which has had a profound impact on the education of apprentices at UQ Skills.
To achieve this, Jones dedicated his weekends to filming a comprehensive series of instructional videos covering basic to advanced farriery skills.
These meticulously crafted resources now seamlessly complement the practical training and align perfectly with the course requirements.
Looking ahead to the national finals in Tasmania, Jones is excited and eager to showcase the improvements made to the farriery course.
"It will be a great opportunity to present and explain the direction and changes with the farriery course that have been made and so successfully applied," he said.
"To me, it is all about benefiting and promoting lifelong soundness for these noble creatures that we work with.
"The opportunity to promote the farrier's role in this and to explain the constant updating of our skills and knowledge to an interested audience is something I really enjoy."
Craig offered his thanks to several key individuals and organisations who he said have played a crucial role in his journey.
"I'd like to thank my family for their support in creating the new content, UQ Skills director and CEO Dane Ivicevic for recognising my efforts and nominating me for the award, and Dianne Palmer and all UQ Skills staff for their guidance and support," he said.
"A big thanks also to the entire UQ Farriery, equine science, and veterinarian community for their assistance and feedback, and Emeritus Professor Chris Pollitt for being an ongoing source of inspiration throughout my career.
"Particularly his research and enthusiasm for advancing the knowledge of equine limb and hoof care."
