Passion for trade pays off
Noting success: GippsTAFE industry award winners. Front: Karryn Simpson, Heather Wilkinson, Nicole McFadzean and Tara Wallace. Middle: Lauren Netherway, Kirsty Buchan, Madeline Tuddenham, Aleisha Humphrey, Sarah Boasman, Nick Cambridge, and Nathan Ahmed. Back: Ian Dewar, Kara Schelling, Ashlie Talbot, Hayden Ferguson, Ellie-Jade Kelly, Thomas Sorrell and Sascha Voigt. Absent: Zoe Beckerleg.
TOP achieving TAFE students were celebrated at GippsTAFE’s Industry Awards Evening in Leongatha last Thursday.
Successful students were praised for their dedication to their studies and workplace performance, and employers and sponsors thanked for their contribution to training.
All award recipients study at GippsTAFE’s Leongatha campus.
Campus manager Stuart Cooper said the night recognised many.
“Tonight’s event takes place because of the efforts of a number of people: the students who will shortly be recognised for their outstanding achievements; family and friends who have supported those students; the employers and workplace supervisors; our individual award sponsors; the catering and venue staff; our special guests, our GippsTAFE teachers and administrative staff,” he said.
Mr Cooper said 2011 was a “significant year” for the Leongatha campus.
“Our on-campus, online and flexible student numbers were more than double the budgeted target. To those students, our teachers delivered around 306,000 funded contact hours, some 60,000 up from 2010 – a new record for Leongatha campus,” he said.
Mr Cooper said apprentice numbers in 2012 were pleasing.
“This is the first time we are going to offer second year hairdressing apprentice training this year,” he said.
“Last year, we had first year training because of the new facilities and so we will have two years of hairdressing apprentice training.”
Student numbers in first, second and third year cookery are solid.
“More and more employers have thought it timely to put apprentices on. It could be that people are committing to completing their apprenticeships and their employers have confidence in putting on first years,” Mr Cooper said.
Classes resume this week, including the VET in Schools program.
The TAFE last year celebrated receiving $7.7 million from the Federal Government to establish the South Gippsland Trade Training Centre.
The TAFE has been a long term member of the centre committee, which also includes government, Catholic and independent secondary colleges.
GippsTAFE CEO Dr Peter Whitley said enrolments for online courses at GippsTAFE had grown by 25 per cent.
In the last year, the institute opened the new Leongatha campus and a brand new location at Traralgon. The Chadstone campus is nearing completion.
Dr Whitley said training to enter a field in which one wanted to build a career was of great importance, as was having a job one enjoyed.
“What you do is quite pertinent in defining who we are as people and often enables us to do the things in life we enjoy such as travel, networking, sports and other hobbies,” he said.
Award winners: Tara Wallace, Outstanding Student Hospitality (Front of House); Nathan Ahmed, Outstanding Apprentice First Year, Commercial Cookery; Karryn Simpson, Outstanding Apprentice Second Year, Commercial Cookery; Lauren Netherway, Outstanding Apprentice Third Year, Commercial Cookery; Kara Schelling, Outstanding Student, Commercial Cookery; Nicole McFadzean, Outstanding VET in Schools Student, Hospitality.
Madeline Tuddenham, Outstanding VET in Schools Student, Hairdressing; Ellie-Jade Kelly, Outstanding First Year Apprentice, Hairdressing; Ashlie Talbot, Outstanding Student, Hairdressing; Aleisha Humphrey, Outstanding Student, Beauty; Sarah Boasman, Outstanding Student, Children’s Services (Out of School hours care); Zoe Beckerleg, Outstanding Student, Allied Health; Stefka Anderson, Outstanding Student, Aged Care; Kirsty Buchan, Outstanding Student, Disability; Ian Dewar, Outstanding Student, Alcohol, Other Drugs and Mental Health; Thomas Sorrell, Outstanding Student, Education Support; Heather Wilkinson, Outstanding Student, Business Studies; Hayden Ferguson, Outstanding First Year Apprentice, Automotive-Mechanical; Nick Cambridge, Outstanding Second Year Apprentice, Automotive-Mechanical; Sascha Voigt, Outstanding Third Year Apprentice, Automotive-Mechanical.
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