Kangan Batman TAFE's graduation and awards ceremonies
9 May 2008
Kangan Batman TAFE has just wrapped up its Graduation Ceremonies for this year.
The faculty oriented events celebrated the graduation of its 2007 students and recognised the Institute's top achievers of 2007.
Kangan Batman TAFE's award winners for 2007 that have been recognised at the Institute's graduation include:
Coralie Zelno - Student of the Year
Coralie has come a long way since she started a Certificate III in Business Administration 'while I worked out what I wanted to do for a career.' A work experience placement during that course led her to a job with a legal firm, and a change to Legal Practice studies.
Coralie praises the work and study environment at Kangan Batman TAFE, especially the ready access to teachers and the chance to put into practice at work what you learn at TAFE. 'It's a great learning environment. You can ask teachers and get rapid answers, the fees are affordable and everything seems so relevant,' she says. 'You learn something in the classroom, then you can apply it at work,' she says.
Despite having to commute from the country, studying at the Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice) at Kangan Batman has been a positive experience for Coralie, as well as a stepping stone to a future professional career.
Teacher Barbara Puttick describes Coralie as 'extremely hard working, diligent, responsible and highly motivated'. She consistently achieved High Distinctions, and her work showed in depth knowledge and understanding of legal work, according to Barbara. For her part, Coralie says Barbara and her other teachers were wonderful mentors, who encouraged her to achieve high standards in the TAFE course, then to contemplate taking on a university degree, and gave her the confidence to try. 'I've learned to persevere, and to aim high,' she says.
In 2008, Coralie will be studying part time for a degree in legal studies at Victoria University, while continuing to work part time in para-legal/secretarial work at a law firm. Her ten year goal is to be a qualified lawyer, working in the industry.
Antony Campbell - Apprentice of the Year
The biggest challenge in his chosen field of commercial cookery is 'being able to stand out in a strong field', says Apprentice of the Year, Antony Campbell. And Antony has certainly managed to do that. As a second year apprentice, he won two Awards in the State finals of the Victorian TAFE Apprentice Cook of the Year Awards, and beat off the competition from third year apprentices to win the overall trophy, for the 2006 Apprentice Cook of the Year.
Antony entered his third year studies still full of enthusiasm for his chosen career. His teachers praise his attention to detail, his innovative ideas and the amount of research he does. "He is tireless in his quest for the latest industry developments through his teachers, work colleagues, magazines and books," says Antony's nominator, Darryl Seltzer.
Antony came back to study at Kangan Batman TAFE after a period as a student at a much larger training organisation, saying that he appreciated the value of the 'really individual attention' students get in a smaller training atmosphere. 'Kangan Batman TAFE hospitality teachers are a great source of knowledge and helpful when it comes to essential networking in the industry,' says Antony. 'I also appreciate the personal touch you get at TAFE, compared to how impersonal it can be at university.'
Antony has chosen his workplaces carefully so he can access expert training from great chefs and the opportunity to work with quality ingredients in good commercial kitchens, even if this means less short term financial gain. In 2007, he successfully completed his third year studies and won a Gold Medal in a regional cookery competition. 'My aim is to push myself to higher levels, to evolve and learn from my experiences,' he says.
In 2008, Antony plans to travel to France to work for a year, then to London, and hopes to open his own restaurant once back in Australia.
Greg Kennedy - Trainee of the Year
Greg started in TAFE on a football scholarship, and had to move from a small country town to Melbourne. It was a hard start, he says, as he was homesick and not seeing things through. Then he discovered accounting studies, and hasn't looked back.
'I have just completed the Certificate III in Financial Services, following on from the Certificates II and III in Business, and I am more proud of that than any of my achievements in football,' he says. 'I have found out I can take responsibility and survive on my own at study and work,' he says.
Greg started his traineeship in Kangan Batman TAFE's corporate finance department in July 2006 and has successfully completed it. His teachers attribute his good results to his fighting qualities, increasing maturity and his willingness to work hard. Greg is motivated by his father who always encouraged him and pushed him to commit to his studies, he says.
Greg says he 'just clicked' with accounting, likes the feeling of getting accounts to balance and controlling financial records. He thinks study at Kangan Batman TAFE has been important to his success. 'It's a good environment, lots of hands on experience , which I appreciate, and you have the opportunity to work closely with the teachers,' he says. The on-the-job aspect of the traineeship was a big plus, giving him lots of feedback on how to implement the theory in practice, and making attending formal classes seem relevant to the job.
Currently, he is studying for an Advanced Diploma in Accounting at RMIT, and plans to use it as a pathway to degree studies. In ten years time, Greg wants to be working as a fully qualified accountant in a major accounting firm.
Robert Hindle - Adult Learner of the Year
If there was an award for sheer determination, Robert would win it every time. He is living testimony to the fact that, if you really love your work, you can face big challenges and overcome them all.
When Robert started the Certificate III in Vehicle Refinishing at ACE, he was a mature age students with a less than ideal work history, but a great love of vehicle restoration. As a teenager, he had painstaking restored an old Monaro except for the paint finish, which was too specialised for him. So, later in life when he discovered the TAFE course, Robert was determined to take up a career opportunity.
'It was really hard to find a job, with my age and a hand disability going against me,' says Robert. But with the help of the VACC and a far-sighted employer who put Robert's enthusiasm ahead of other factors, he was given a chance at a new career.
Both his employer and Kangan Batman have good reason to be pleased at Robert's progress. He works long hours and has to travel for three hours to work and training. He is a perfectionist, an essential attribute in this trade, and has never let his hand disability get in his way, say his teachers, who have helped by designing special stands to assist him. In fact, the whole vehicle finishing department nominated Robert for 'his exceptional team work and motivation.'
'Robert developed as a team leader and a role model within his group, performing all tasks without exception or excuses, and his determination is an inspiration to everyone,' says teacher Livio Tomas
Robert's ambition is 'to be the best vehicle finisher in the world', and he is well on his way.
'I can't be prefect, but I can make something perfect', he says.
Robert hopes, when he finishes his studies and has some further experience, to own his own vehicle refinishing shop.
Kerrianne Spriggs-Ridding - Uncle Norm Hunter Award
Studying through the Indigenous Education Centre (IEC) at Kangan Batman has been the key to Kerrianne's success, she says. 'I dropped out of secondary school early, to look after my sister-in-law's children and didn't have much confidence when I tried to restart my education after four years,' she says. 'I was going to drop out again, when someone suggested I try the IEC at Kangan Batman TAFE instead.'
It was a decision that worked for Kerrianne, who is proud of her Aboriginal family, and wants to be a role model for her niece and nephew. 'I had to challenge myself and I had to tell my family that I needed to improve my life and commit to finishing my course,' she says.
Her teachers and mentors at the IEC have seen that Kerrianne has what it takes when it comes to commitment. 'She completed both a Certificate II and III in Business in one year, and this was certainly a great achievement. Her attendance was exemplary, even though she had a long commute to Kangan Batman from the southern suburbs,' said nominator Terry Kildea. Flexible learning can be an advantage to students, but it requires strong commitment, and Kerrianne was able to work flexibly without supervision.
Doing the work experience part of her course was 'scary', says Kerrianne. 'But once I got there, I found it all came naturally, I knew exactly what I had to do and I loved it.' The confidence she gained has encouraged her into further studies in 2008.
Originally thinking she would like to work as a receptionist, now Kerrianne has discovered an interest in Aged Care, and is planning on giving herself the maximum employment opportunities with Certificates in Aged Care, IT and Security on her busy agenda.
'I want to one day work in a hospital and help people like I hav been helped at the indigenous Education Centre. I could not have completed my studies with out the help of Uncle Terry Kildea, Aunty Barb Williams, all her teachers and her loving Nan, Mark and Peach,' Kerrianne said.
Najlaa Albatat - Harold Richards Award
Najlaa's achievements as a student at TAFE are impressive. She started at Craigieburn in 2004 at the Flexible Learning Centre, two years after she arrived as a refugee from Iran. In the following three years, Najlaa achieved Certificates II and IV in Multimedia, then a Diploma in Multimedia completed in 2007. At the same time, she completed several Language and IT units, and a Certificate from RMIT in second language teaching methodology for teachers in ethnic schools.
Speaking and writing English was her greatest challenge when she started, and Najlaa acknowledges the help she got at Kangan Batman to improve her understanding. Animation is Najlaa's strength, and she sees it as an efficient way to communicate with children, and to teach in the community. She wants to bridge the communication gap between migrant mothers and their children who are growing up in a different culture.
"Najlaa has been determined to use education to enhance her life and that of others," says nominator David McLean. 'She is an excellent communicator, good at group work and always keen to assist other students.'
Najlaa says TAFE has changed her life, and students and her teachers 'have accepted me and treated me equally' despite being her wheelchair bound. She has moved from self-pity to being strong in mind. 'I am very determined to be self reliant and strong. Nothing is going to stop me getting ahead,' she says.
Najlaa hopes to continue her multimedia studies at university, to continue her teaching work in various centres including an Islamic community centre and to become 'the best teacher I can be.'
Karen Lovett - Arnold Davis Scholarship
When Karen started her course in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts, the hardest thing she had to do was just to turn up. Karen suffers from agoraphobia, so it is tribute to Kangan Batman's Indigenous Education Centre that she can say 'I feel safe coming to TAFE, I feel accepted here because others are trying just like me.'
Karen could have made plenty of excuses why completing her study would be too hard. She is a member of the Stolen Generation, has major health problems and is a single parent of four children.
'Karen has consciously channelled her conflicts and emotions into determination to succeed,' says nominator Brian Martin. 'Her artwork is a way to retain her Indigenous identity, and she is an enthusiastic participator and a very positive example to the group.'
Karen says her art work only developed when she acknowledged her Aboriginality, and recent exhibitions and good sales have given her more confidence. 'I wanted to do the course so I could work out why I painted and where the inspiration came from,' she says. She was proud to donate a painting to the Salvation Army who brought her up, and has an exemplary record of attendance and completion of assignments for her course.
Karen has come a long way from when she just hoped to be a survivor, and now she hopes to take on a positive role in teaching others what she has learned. He teachers are confident she is well on her way to a career goal of opening her own arts-related business.
