Mr Martins, who studied at Albury's National Environment Centre in Thurgoona, has worked with Amazonian tribes in his home country of Brazil for a decade. 

He enrolled in a Certificate IV in Permaculture to learn new techniques to bring back to the tribes to make their homes sustainable. 

Mr Martins was also named the Agribusiness Student of the Year.

He said he hoped to use the award as a platform to educating more people about permaculture - a system of design which aims to replicate and stimulate the patterns of nature for more sustainable design. 

"Hopefully these awards help open more doors," he said.

"If it helps promote the importance of permaculture, then I'm very happy."

Albury's Ms Jones is currently undertaking an apprenticeship at Michelin Star-rated restaurant Mume in Taiwan. 

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Last year she won the Oliver C Shaul Scholarship for being the 'most meritorious commercial cookery apprentice in the state', which funded her trip to Taiwan. 

As well being named Apprentice of the Year award she was also named the Experience Services Students of the Year.

While Ms Jones couldn't be there in person due to her overseas apprenticeship, she sent a video message to the Albury ceremony to say she was humbled and ecstatic to be honoured. 

"My experiences at TAFE NSW and working at La Maison restaurant have shaped me into the chef I am today," she said.

"I made a decision early on to take every opportunity that presented itself to me but I never dreamed it would lead me to where I am today."

Mr Martins and Ms Jones beat students at 29 campuses in southern NSW to take out the awards. 

TAFE regional general manager Kerry Penton said the winners inspired other students to achieve. 

"I have no doubt these students will go on to forge highly successful careers," she said.

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