Olivia overcomes language barrier to win top student award
5 May 2004
Kangan Batman TAFE's Student of the Year Award winner, Olivia Janevski, was struggling to write in English when she decided to enrol in an Advanced Diploma of Business (Advertising) at Kangan Batman TAFE Essendon campus.
Olivia, 26, from St Albans, spent several weeks writing her assignments in Macedonian and translating her work back into English, which she found incredibly time consuming. It was this that convinced her she would have to learn to write fluently in English if she was to be successful at her studies.
This quietly determined young lady had only been in Australia with her husband for six months when she decided further education in advertising would be necessary to reach her goal of one day becoming an art director for a top advertising agency.
Despite the language barrier studying in a second language presented, Olivia's determination to succeed ensured she became the Business School's Gold Medal Award winner for 2003 with outstanding academic results and leadership skills.
Olivia's teachers describe how she led by example with her commitment, supportive nature, creativity and diligence to her studies. "Olivia is an effective team player who is committed to team goals and outcomes and put every effort into achieving for the team," said Christine Fyfe.
She has been a leader of group assignments at TAFE, among other things developing a television advert for Channel 31, taking on the creative visuals for the project.
As part of the industry project component of her advertising course, Olivia had a 10 day placement in an advertising related organisation called the Promotion Shop which she says gave her valuable insight into the industry.
"Advertising isn't just about being creative, I also learnt about the hard sell of the business and having to stick to budgets," said Olivia. Asked to develop a promotional strategy with two other staff for the Australian Cricket Team (Travelex is a sponsor) Olivia rose to the challenge and represented the company in a product placement session.
Olivia is enroled this year in a degree in Marketing at RMIT, for which she obtained credits from her TAFE course, and hopes to realise her dream of working at a top advertising agency at the end of her studies, and even winning an award at the Cannes Festival.
"There is a definite advantage with TAFE as a starting point for this type of work, it would have been difficult going into a degree without it," said Olivia.
Olivia says she found the TAFE environment a great one in which to learn. "TAFE is more organised, more friendly, the training is more personal, it is face-to-face training, and the staff are more approachable," she said.
She says the TAFE training was highly relevant in an area which is very fast moving. "There is a lot of change in the industry related to the technology available with the internet, sms and direct marketing."
Olivia's teachers commended her support of other students in the course, often taking notes for those away sick and going over them with the person later to make sure they understood the work.
"She was always willing to assist other students with assignments and understanding of concepts on both an individual and group basis," said Christine Fyfe.
She achieved high results throughout her course, and even with a very heavy workload in second year, showed significant planning skills and outstanding goal setting ability.
Olivia had attended a school for young artists since the age of 12 in her native Macedonia and also developed an interest in book clubs, fashion and photography as well has learning Greek at summer school.
Kangan Batman TAFE has 24,000 students across its seven campuses in Broadmeadows, Moreland, Richmond, Craigieburn, Coburg, Avondale Heights and Essendon.
Each year in May, Kangan Batman TAFE conducts two graduation ceremonies at the Moonee Valley Racecourse to accommodate all of its graduates and award-winning students.
The first ceremony, at which Olivia will receive her award, will be held on Friday 7 May 2004. Hume City Council is major sponsor of the ceremony, while the Broadmeadows Town Centre is supporting sponsor.
