2019 Victorian Training Awards

Patricia Neden is a highly regarded and respected leader of Victoria’s vocational education and training sector. She was the former Chief Executive Officer, Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) from 2008 to 2018 where she made a significant contribution to VET in Australia. At IBSA she championed government and ministerial reforms through the transition of training packages to new standards and ensured training products best supported industry needs.

Patricia's vast experience covers policy, intergovernmental negotiations, national systems implementation and purchasing arrangements with service providers. She has previously held senior positions in education and her career as a public servant has spanned across various Victorian Government departments, including Industry and Labour, Skills Victoria and the Office of Training and Tertiary Education.

In the latter role Patricia was instrumental in the policy development for Securing Jobs for your Future – Skills for Victoria to ensure Victorians a better vocational education and training system to create a sustainable state.

Congratulations Jake Carter

Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
Design and Build Electrical

On the verge of making a career change from finance to studying for an electrical pre-apprenticeship, Jake Carter discovered his partner was expecting their first child. Despite the drop in pay and unknown job prospects that would eventuate, Jake made the ‘big and risky’ decision to forge ahead. With his new responsibilities increasing his motivation and determination to succeed, Jake completed his studies in 3, rather than the customary 4 years.

Further accelerating his career while completing a Diploma of Electrical Project Management at Melbourne Polytechnic, Jake has started his own business while sub-contracting to Design and Build Electrical. He credits Holmesglen’s Futuretech for laying the foundation for his success.

Congratulations Daniela Feldman

Certificate III in Business
Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria

Less than a year after doing her traineeship Daniela Feldman has emerged as a young professional doing something she loves which enables her to work for, and have a positive impact on, the wider community. Daniela applied for a traineeship after finding that studying at university was not as challenging or stimulating as she’d expected. Her traineeship in the Human Resources area of the Department of Premier and Cabinet has refocused her goals and provided her with her most rewarding career experience to date. Having completed her training 2 months earlier than predicted, Daniela has now been offered an ongoing role with the department.

Rachael Hilder

Diploma of Community Services and Diploma of Justice
Trained at Kangan Institute

Having completed diplomas in Community Services and Justice while juggling commitments as a wife, primary carer and parent, Rachael Hilder rightly feels a great sense of achievement.

Returning to education at the age of 48, leaving school at Year 10 and never having completed a course, she relished the opportunity to use her brain and loved every moment of her studies, graduating with high distinctions and awarded Kangan’s 2018 Overall Student of the Year.

As a Corrections Officer at Ravenhall Correctional Centre, Rachael hopes to use her experience to encourage and motivate the prisoners she works with to take their first steps to building new and meaningful lives in society.

Heidi Liesel Rasmussen

Certificate III in Companion Animal Services
Attended Point Cook Senior Secondary College

From the moment she was knee high and could utter the word ‘vet’, Heidi Liesel Rasmussen knew it was the career path she not only wanted to go down, but had to.

Work placement in a veterinary clinic led to her determination to pursue formal qualifications which she commenced while in Year 11. With a number of awards already under her belt – for the highest level of achievement for a number of Year 11 subjects and Trainee of the Year from The Gordon, she’s extremely excited about what the future holds. She plans to expand her learning through TAFE for a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and university for a bachelor degree.

Tanya McDonald

Diploma of Community Services
South West Healthcare

Tanya McDonald finds it hard to believe she has come through a background of family violence and now has completed a Diploma of Community Services and gained a full-time job. But it’s all true, and in the process Tanya has overcome her self-doubt and gained immeasurably in confidence.

A strong advocate for her local Indigenous community, Tanya’s goals are to make a positive impact on their health needs and encourage young Indigenous people to further their education. Having faltered a couple of times in her studies and being forever grateful for her teacher’s encouragement to continue, Tanya believes that if she can inspire just one person to continue their studies that will be a great achievement.

Jodi Rechsteiner-Sanders

GOTAFE

Training was never on Jodi Rechsteiner-Sanders' radar as a career option. Raised in the education sector with teaching parents, step-parents and grandparents, she was determined to forge her own path.

It wasn’t until her mid-thirties, university and trade-qualified, that Jodi realised teaching might be a sensible career choice – allowing her to combine her skills as a qualified chef and her enjoyment of science amongst other subject areas.

In 2009 destiny got the upper hand and she joined GOTAFE, teaching in the Hospitality and VCAL departments. Jodi has an unwavering passion for achieving outcomes for all her students, ensuring her program delivery, resources and their format are all governed by what works best for her them.

Swan Plumbing Supplies

Swan Plumbing Supplies is a family-owned business that's been in operation for 66 years. It grew from a small shop front to 35 branches across Australia employing more than 200 team members. Its client list includes 3,500 plumbers who work in retail and industrial environments. Each week, 50% of Swan team members are engaged in training across every aspect of the business, from the warehouse to the shop floor.

Central to Swan's management pillars is to train and develop employees to the highest standards of excellence. Community links are strong. During the Victorian bushfires, Swan supported staff who were CFA volunteers so they could battle the blazes whilst receiving full pay. They also donated considerable amounts of product to restore services at Kinglake in 2008. Just as important is offering students from local school's work experience opportunities, which can take place in all areas of the business.

Winner – SuniTAFE Aged Care Leadership Development Collaboration

Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and Chaffey Aged Care

It was a great day for the aged care sector when Sunraysia Institute of TAFE (SuniTAFE) and four aged care providers in the Sunraysia region joined forces in a collaborative partnership to upskill its workforce and set new standards for leadership in aged care.

Princes Court (Mildura), Chaffey Aged Care (Merbein), Jacaranda Village (Red Cliffs) and Murray House (Wentworth) provide aged care services collectively to 325 residents and employ nearly 400 staff. SuniTAFE worked with these four providers to identify common problems across the sector. What emerged was a familiar story across the business – staff were elevated to senior roles as a result of tenure even though they were under-qualified to meet operational and industrial requirements in-line with current standards.

The collaborators co-designed the entire project and developed a training solution that directly addressed leadership issues. The project creates an improved environment for aged residents requiring care within the community. This is of benefit to their wellbeing, families and friends, who are assured of consistency and quality.

Cire Services

At community-based Cire Services, you can even try before you buy with programs such as Try a Trade tasters, run in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology. It’s so successful that over 75% of participants enrol in pre-apprenticeships. Cire’s range of accredited and pre-accredited training opportunities, delivered across the Yarra Ranges, reflect student aspirations.

They combine practicality and entrepreneurship with subjects including cooking, literacy, computer skills and financial literacy. The Women’s Warehouse program empowers long-term jobless women and 70 % have achieved employment. Agility is key to assisting the many cohorts experiencing disadvantage and over the past 3 years, Cire’s pre-accredited enrolments have doubled.

These inspiring programs have an impact far beyond the classroom.

Victoria University Polytechnic

The general student population of Victoria University Polytechnic feel fortunate to learn in a setting where there’s a rich representation of cultures and all levels of ability, but it’s not without its challenges. VU Polytechnic’s catchment includes areas of extreme disadvantage with associated chronic mental and physical health issues, however students with disability are fully accommodated to realise their academic merit.

The 2018 pilot sport and work education program saw aspiring athletes with intellectual disability play competitive sport and gain a certificate for work-readiness. All participants transitioned into the Certificate II in Work Education Sport.

By participating in work experience and transition programs, students develop independence, and the skills to perform jobs professionally.

Ringwood Training

The enormous success of Ringwood Training (RT) is no fabrication. Set on a dedicated campus at Ringwood Secondary College, RT delivers a unique, government school training model with blended learning in the vital industry areas of automotive and engineering fabrication trades, and information communication technology.

RT’s industry partnerships have been a source of creativity and innovation when it comes to course development, and the acquisition of cutting-edge technology for the engineering fabrication department and an automotive workshop stocked with varieties of vehicles and automotive systems further enhance the course offering.

Students appreciate being able to work at rates that suit their other commitments and many transition from school-based programs to take further qualifications.

Sunraysia Institute of TAFE

As the Mallee region experiences strong population and economic growth, SuniTAFE (Sunraysia Institute of TAFE) responds to regional needs. As a leading provider of vocational education in NW Victoria, SuniTAFE has 2 main campuses and a 30-hectare SMART farm near Mildura.

Technologically innovative SMART farm programs have attracted international attention and align students and industry to meet growing horticultural demand. In 2018, a Diploma of Nursing was launched, as well as a Certificate III in Transport and Logistics, in response to an urgent need for freight drivers.

SuniTAFE’s cultivating success with above-average completion rates of 95% accompanied by strong job outcomes, and the increase in new commencements in 2018 being the highest in Victoria.