Meet our VET Champions
Our VET Champions are available to attend your local school or industry event and talk about their VET experiences.
Jessica Blakeley – Education Support Officer
Jessica completed a school-based traineeship, now she works as an education support officer supporting young people with a disability.
Ashley Belteky – Diesel mechanic
Ashley got the second-highest ATAR at her school, but chose an apprenticeship, and her career thrived.
Liaqat Ahmadi – Student attraction officer
Liaqat completed a school-based business traineeship just a few years after arriving in Australia.
Lewis Brown – Reconciliation advisor
Lewis completed a Community Services traineeship, now he’s a reconciliation advisor leading institutional change.
Tara Kelly – Apprentice cabinet maker
VET Champion Tara Kelly tried a few trades before finding her love of joinery and is now an apprentice cabinet maker.
BennyGregs – Video, music and events professional
BennyGregs swapped his school holidays and weekends for work experience, now he’s the Executive Producer and Content Creator of a successful events, music and digital media company.
Chris Mallon – General manager
VET Champion Chris Mallon completed a motor mechanic apprenticeship and now he’s a national manager.
Hannah Valenti – Youth wellbeing worker
Hannah completed a school-based traineeship, now she works as a Youth Wellbeing Worker supporting young Victorians with their mental health.
Christine Basco – Nurse
Christine found her passion in a VCE VET subject, now she has a rewarding career as a nurse.
Pat Janes – Metal fabricator
VET Champion Pat Janes did an engineering apprenticeship, and now he’s a metal fabricator with his own company.
Jake Carter – Project supervisor
Jake left his finance background to try an apprenticeship, now he’s doing what he loves as a project supervisor.
Pat Cummins – Electrician and company director
VET Champion Pat Cummins completed an electrotechnology apprenticeship and now runs his own company with 14 staff. Read more about his story.
Kiera America – Education support and animal attendant
Kiera studied VET Certificates in Animal Studies, Agriculture, Horticulture and Training and Assessment, now she applies those skills at Padua College supporting students to study VET.
Nominate a VET Champion
Do you know a high-achieving role model in your community ready to inspire local students to pursue VET?
For more information, email the VET Champions team: championing.industry@education.vic.gov.au
Privacy statement
This privacy statement explains how the Department of Education (the department) will be handling your personal information as part of the VET Champions initiative.
Applicable laws and policies
The department will handle your personal information in accordance with the department’s Privacy Policy, the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic.), and the Public Records Act 1973 (Vic.).
What information will be collected about me and how will it be handled?
How will my personal information be handled?
The department will store your personal information on departmental systems and Monday.com in Australia. You can find further information about how the department or Monday handle your information by visiting the respective privacy policies.
If you are making a nomination or requesting a booking for a VET Champion using the department’s online form, your information will also be processed through Monday which stores information in the United States and Germany. You can find further information about how Monday handles your information by visiting their Privacy Policy.
Unless otherwise required or authorised by law, only departmental staff and those providing technical support will have access to your personal information.
Further information
If you have questions or wish to gain access to or correct your information, please email championing.industry@education.vic.gov.au
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