WesTrac apprentice Dougal Murphy has been awarded the title of the 2026 Caterpillar Dealer Top Apprentice at the annual global Dealer Top Apprentice Program (DTAP).
Approaching its 50th anniversary, the Dealer Top Apprentice Program (DTAP) brings together leading apprentices from across the global Caterpillar dealer network, who are tested on their technical capability, diagnostic expertise and communication skills across a series of challenging assessments.
During the five-day program held in March, apprentices competed in practical, theoretical and presentation-based challenges to fight for the title of Caterpillar Dealer Top Apprentice.
The competition included the Skills Olympics, a series of stations designed to test everything from fundamental trade skills through to complex, specialised diagnostic tasks. Participants were also assessed through a technical theory examination and a presentation delivered to a panel of Caterpillar representatives.
Mr Murphy, representing Cat NSW/ACT, competed against seven other apprentices from Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, out skilling the competition to take first place. He was joined by fellow WesTrac apprentice Ethan Maddocks from WA, who also represented the business at the global event.
Speaking after the event, Mr Murphy said the experience was both demanding and rewarding, and a strong reflection of the training he has received at WesTrac.
“Competing alongside other apprentices from across the globe really highlighted the standard of the program, but it also showed me just how well prepared we are at WesTrac,” he said.
“The training and support you receive gives you confidence in your skills and pushes you to keep improving.”
As the 2026 Dealer Top Apprentice, Mr Murphy was awarded a two-week trip to North America, where he will complete Caterpillar training courses and tour Cat facilities, gaining further global industry exposure.
WesTrac NSW/ACT chief executive Adrian Howard said the result was a strong endorsement of WesTrac’s long-term investment in people and capability.
“Having WesTrac apprentices recognised at this level year after year shows we are not just keeping pace with global industry standards, we are setting them,” he said.
“This achievement is a testament to the quality of our training programs, the expertise of our educators and mentors, and the dedication of our apprentices.
“We are proud to be developing tradespeople who are both technically capable and equipped with the confidence and capability to lead our industry into the future.”
WesTrac delivers world-class training through its state-of-the-art facilities across NSW, the ACT and WA.
This includes the WesTrac Technology Experience Centre in Tomago, which features advanced remote and digital training capabilities, and the WesTrac Institute, providing industry-leading pre- and post-trade training across a range of technical disciplines
More than 280 apprentices are currently training at WesTrac’s facilities across regional and metropolitan Australia, gaining nationally recognised qualifications while earning and learning on the job.
WesTrac apprentices can complete trade qualifications as plant mechanics, auto electricians, boilermakers, fitter machinists, industrial spray painters and in selected cases, dual trades which enable graduates to build long-term, highly skilled careers within the business and across the broader industry.
