Each year the Australian Training Awards recognise and celebrate individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contributions to the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. This year, some of the Skills Impact team attended the awards, where they caught up with finalists and winners from the industries we work with, some of whom have been directly involved in projects to update skills standards in their sector. Read more about these amazing teachers, trainers, students and trainees below.
Sarah Ford
VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award Winner
Sarah Ford’s career has taken her some interesting places. Since training as a teacher she’s roamed all over NSW working with students in regional communities such as Lake Cargelligo, Broken Hill, Taree and Port Macquarie. It’s clear Sarah is deeply invested in her students and her community from the level of enthusiasm and commitment she brings to her current work at Richmond River High Campus in Lismore.
“I want to use this opportunity that I have been given as the NSW Vocational and Educational Teacher/Trainer ambassador to promote VET subjects,
especially in our schools.”
Pictured: Sarah Ford talking to a student at Richmond River High Campus in Lismore.
Stephen Witkowski
Trainee of the Year Winner
Completing a Certificate III in Aquaculture helped Stephen bridge the gap between the theoretical knowledge he already had and applying it to his role as a technical officer at Tassal. Stephen believes working in the salmon industry is the best way for him to elicit real change, pursuing his vision of a world where sustainability is paramount.
Skills Impact project team members for the Fishtech & Aquabotics Project met Stephen during a site visit earlier this year. He explained and demonstrated the skills required to use remotely controlled vehicles for environmental monitoring at Tassal.
“The training I had completed not only helped secure this position, but also equipped me with the skills and knowledge to combat the challenges of my new role.”
Pictured: Stephen Witkowski after being awarded Trainee of the Year.
Kristy McDermott
Vocational Student of the Year Award Runner-up
Kristy McDermott wanted to show her children that leaving high school in Year 9 didn’t prevent her from pursuing a fulfilling career. Kristy has proven this by being awarded the RA Wearne Award for Excellence in Learning at her graduation from a dual qualification in horticulture and landscape.
Kristy now works hand in hand with her partner, Dan (pictured right), with Kristy bringing landscape projects to life, and her partner offering his lawn mowing services to maintain them.
“Being nominated by my TAFE showed me how far I’d come. It’s been a challenge, but incredibly rewarding, to do things I didn’t think I could.”
Pictured: Kristy and her partner, Dan, at the Australian Training Awards.
Gina Dal Santo
VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award Finalist
Gina Dal Santo is a cheese enthusiast who’s made a career out of bringing that passion to others. A founding cheesemaker and lecturer at The Artisan Cheese Making Academy Australia (ACMAA), which operates as part of TAFE SA, Gina is also one of many industry volunteers who helped develop new qualifications in cheesemaking, brewing, distilling, and fermenting as part of the Artisanal Food and Beverage Project.
“I want to continue to grow the cheese education. I want to put SA on the map for cheese education.”
Pictured: Gina Dal Santo.
Darren Scott
VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award Finalist
From expert butcher to dedicated teacher, Darren Scott’s commitment to the skills development of Australia’s future butchery specialists has been recognised as part of the National Training Awards. Darren is passionate about the wellbeing and learning experience of his students, supporting not only their individual careers, but the future of the meat processing sector as a whole. With more than 30 years’ experience as a butchery specialist and more than 10 years’ teaching, he’s now head teacher of cookery at TasTAFE.
“I take pride in the fact that I have never let a student down, and that my word is true – and I would do what was required to get them completed at the level required.”
Pictured: Darren Scott and Skills Impact’s Geoff Barbaro at the Australian Training Awards.
Heidi Rasmussen
School-based Apprentice of The Year Runner-up
Heidi always knew she wanted to work with animals, beginning an apprenticeship while in Year 11, completing the Certificate III in Companion Animal Services.
She attained the highest level of achievement for a number of Year 11 subjects and was Trainee of the Year from The Gordon.
Heidi is taking the next step to becoming a vet by completing a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and plans to go on to university to do a degree in Veterinary Science.
Sophie Nuske
School-based Apprentice of The Year Finalist
Sophie’s ambition is to run her family farm in Sheringa one day. For now, she’s completing a school-based apprenticeship at Cleve Area School in SA, studying for a Certificate III in Agriculture.
Sophie is passionate about the merino wool industry, this year claiming first prize in the Merino Fleece Young Judges competition.
