A single mother returning to education after 28 years, a self-driven hairdressing apprentice who moved from regional Victoria to Melbourne to pursue her dreams and an aspiring nurse who hopes to give back to her mob have been recognised amongst Kangan Institute’s top students.
More than 70 awards were presented at Kangan Institute’s annual Industry Excellence Awards Ceremony last night.
Kangan Institute CEO Sally Curtain said the ceremony was an opportunity to recognise the achievements, hard work and commitment of students and educators.
“On behalf of Kangan Institute, I congratulate our award winners and nominees who have demonstrated excellence and dedication within their respective fields,” she said.
“I acknowledge the role of Kangan Institute teachers and staff who have supported our award winners to achieve success.
“I also highlight the role of our industry partners and the Victorian Government. Their support enables our TAFE to focus on providing high quality training aligned to industry and community needs.”
The overall Student of the Year Award was presented to Certificate IV in Community Services (CHC42015) graduate Wanda Sheppard. A single mother with three children, Wanda’s studies at TAFE marked her first time back in formal education since graduating from secondary school in 1994.
“Returning to school was a very big step for myself and my three beautiful children. Together as a family, we faced many challenges and a lot of late nights working on assessments after my daughters had gone to bed,” she said.
“But together, we made it work. Studying and adult learning became part of our family life. My daughters began to help more with housework, and in turn their own self-confidence grew.
“I took advantage of apps that assist with keeping me on track with schedules and meeting deadlines. The most important thing was to communicate with each other within my family, listen and support one another - this is what gave our family its balance.”
Wanda is continuing to pursue education with the Diploma of Community Services while volunteering at her local primary school. She is also pursuing registration to work within peer support programs for those battling addiction.
“It's not easy for people to ask for help, especially if they are an adult. This is why I would like to study and work in community services; it speaks to my heart. I believe asking for help is the bravest thing a person can ever do, and I would be honoured to hold their hand and support them,” she said.
Wanda’s future goals are to work in family and children's services, with a focus on family violence, child protection, alcohol and other drugs and community development.
Other major awards presented at the event include:
Apprentice of the Year: | Sarah Purcell |
A work experience opportunity at a salon during Year 10 sparked Sarah's desire to work as a hairdresser. After secondary school, Sarah began a full-time apprenticeship and pursued the Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416). Last year, she moved away from her family in regional Victoria to move to Melbourne and further her hairdressing career. She attained a role at Joey Scandizzo Salon and took on opportunities to apply her hairdressing skills at state and national events including the Logies, Brownlow, Melbourne Fashion Week and Melbourne Cup. Now fully qualified, Sarah hopes to travel and work overseas. View video story here. | |
Uncle Norm Hunter Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year: | Alison Hafner |
Alison hopes to build a career in healthcare so that she can help remote Aboriginal communities, starting with her mother’s community, the Kalkadoon community in Mount Isa. She began working as an operating theatre technician, working with a surgeon specialising in facial and skull deformities in children. Through this, she gained experience in the field as well as inspiration to help children to access vital medical treatment and health care. Five years later, she received a scholarship with the Australian College of Nursing to pursue the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) with Kangan Institute. The scholarship enabled her to study full-time, while also caring for her mother-in-law who has dementia and her teenage son who has Autism. Learning academic terms and researching was challenging for Alison who also navigated anxiety and low self-confidence. Despite the challenges, Alison stayed committed to her goals and has recently completed her studies. She is looking forward to establishing her career as an enrolled nurse, while working towards becoming a registered nurse. Her long term goal is to become a diabetes educator and to use her skills and knowledge to give back to her mob. View video story here. | |
Inspirational Student of the Year: | Angus Cooper |
Angus grew up around trucks and has always loved them. Having struggled at school, Angus decided to look for work at the end of Year 9 and gained employment as an apprentice training in the Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology (AUR31120) at Kangan Institute. Angus has worked hard to pursue the reading and writing component of his training by seeking knowledge from service books, teachers and employer. He loves what he is doing now and is working to become fully qualified. View video story here. | |
Inclusivity and Accessibility Award: | Nathan Meyers |
Having always loved children, Nathan enrolled in the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121) so that he could pursue a future in the industry. Nathan has Asperger’s, which meant that he needed to work extra hard to comprehend course information and complete assessments. Committed to his goal, Nathan actively sought clarification and help from his teachers and support worker to stay on track with his studies. His hard work has now paid off, with Nathan offered a job at the childcare centre where he completed his work placement. View video story here. | |
Full List Of Awards And Sponsors: |
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY AWARDS
Automotive Pre-Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsor: Albert Park Rotary Club
Monique Kolyvas
Automotive Apprentice Rising Star: Auto Body
Sponsor: Saint-Gobain
Alastaire La Sala
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: School Based
Sponsor: Century Yuasa Batteries
Joachim Lopez-Valoa
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Agricultural
Sponsor: AGCO Australia
Daniel Hinds
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Parts Interpreting
Sponsor: mycar Tyre & Auto
Joshua Tabone
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Outdoor Power Equipment
Sponsor: Briggs and Stratton Australia
Benjamin Webb
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Electrical
Sponsor: NAPA Auto Parts
Noah Farrugia
Automotive Electrical Achievement Award
Sponsor: Training Systems Australia
Adrian Ferluga
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Motorcycle
Sponsor: Peter Stevens Motorcycles
Tom Saxon
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Refinishing Technology
Sponsor: PPG Industries
Kristian Bombaci
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Body Repair
Sponsor: 3M
Jack Henry
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Lionel Gell School of Instruction Award in Automotive
Sponsor: Sir Henry Royce Foundation
Jackson Marriott
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Light Vehicle (Key Client)
Sponsor: SP Tools
Mattaniah Richard Popovic
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Heavy Vehicle (Bus)
Sponsor: Truckline
Maninder Josan
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Heavy Vehicle (Key Client)
Sponsor: Westar Trucks
Sean Patton
The Lindsay Fox Heavy Vehicle Technician Excellence Award
Sponsor: Kangan Institute
Paris Maw
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Light Vehicle
Sponsor: Gates Australia
Ryan Chappell
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Marine Technology
Sponsor: Mercury Marine
Steven Foullas
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Body Repair (Key Client)
Sponsor: Sheen Group
Matthew Altimari
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Refinishing Technology (Key Client)
Sponsor: Sheen Group
Justin Macgill
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Heavy Vehicle
Sponsor: Viva Energy Shell Rimula
Jackson Marriott
Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Mobile Plant
Sponsor: William Adams
Coady Gorringe
A.R. (Dick) Jackson Award
Sponsor: Rotary Club of Coburg
Eamon Connor
Alice Anderson Award
Sponsor: Tradeswomen Australia
Thao Hong Thi Nguyen
Student of the Year: Motorsport
Sponsor: Walkinshaw Andretti United
Sylvester Tan
Inspirational Student of the Year: Automotive
Sponsor: WPC Group
Al Gonzalez
Sir Henry Royce Foundation Award for Excellence
Sponsor: Sir Henry Royce Foundation
Deakin Fegan
CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRIAL AWARDS
VETDSS Student of the Year: Carpentry
Sponsor: FXD
Leigh Cooke
VETDSS Student of the Year: Electrical
Sponsor: Middy’s Thomastown
Cooper Sirianni
VETDSS Student of the Year: Engineering
Sponsor: Rotary Club of Essendon
Anas Babaei
VETDSS Student of the Year: Plumbing
Sponsor: Gearwrench
Aaron Craker
VETDSS Student of the Year
Sponsor: Milwaukee Tools
Leigh Cooke
Pre-Apprentice of the Year: Carpentry
Sponsor: Elwood Workwear
Mackenzie Best
Pre-Apprentice of the Year: Electrical
Sponsor: Total Tools Bendigo
Simon Freeman
Pre-Apprentice of the Year: Engineering
Sponsor: Flexovit
Anthony Edwards
Pre-Apprentice of the Year: Plumbing
Sponsor: Reece Plumbing
Jack Skidmore
Pre-Apprentice of the Year: Construction and Industrial
Sponsor: Crescent Tools
Mackenzie Best
Outstanding Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
Sponsor: Crescent Tools
Marco Gangi
Outstanding Certificate III in Solid Plastering
Sponsor: Crescent Tools
Yakoub Taishouri
Outstanding Certificate III in Concreting
Sponsor: Apex Tools
Bradley Pais
Outstanding Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
Sponsor: Milwaukee Tools
Steven Hanna
Female Apprentice of the Year
Sponsor: Sheforce
Bonnie Pearson
Outstanding Workplace Based Student
Sponsor: McKay Training
Steven Hanna
Outstanding Certificate IV in Engineering
Sponsor: Gearwrench
James Jewell
Outstanding Certificate IV in Building and Construction
Sponsor: Crescent Tools
Bianca Foon
Student of the Year: Diploma of Building and Construction
Sponsor: Master Builders Victoria Foundation
Peter Trimbel
PROFESSIONAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AWARDS
Outstanding Certificate III in Barbering
Sponsor: Kings Domain
Julia Callaso
Inspirational Student of the Year: Professional
Sponsor: Kangan Institute
Cheryl East
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Apprentice of the Year: Barbering (In Salon)
Sponsor: Excellent Edges
Samson Ballard
Apprentice of the Year: Bricklaying/Blocklaying
Sponsor: Australian Brick and Block Training Foundation (ABBTF)
Thomas Cumbo
Apprentice of the Year: Construction
Sponsor: Milwaukee Tools
Bonnie Pearson
Apprentice of the Year: Construction and Industrial
Sponsor: Gearwrench
James Molini
Apprentice of the Year: Electrical
Sponsor: Energy Safe Victoria
James Marley
Apprentice of the Year: Engineering (Mechanical)
Sponsor: Hare and Forbes
Connal Schurmann
Apprentice of the Year: Engineering
Sponsor: Ai Group
James Molini
Apprentice of the Year: Barbering
Sponsor: Pivot Point
Sean Andrews
Apprentice of the Year: Hairdressing
Sponsor: Excellent Edges
Josephine Gullan
Apprentice of the Year: Hairdressing (In Salon)
Sponsor: Haircare Australia
Sarah Purcell
Apprentice of the Year: Landscape Construction
Sponsor: Landscaping Victoria
Brock Chircop
Apprentice of the Year: Wall and Ceiling Lining
Sponsor: Flexovit
Daniel Butera
·
Apprentice of the Year: Wall and Floor Tiling
Sponsor: Apex Tools
Jordan Mirabelli
STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Student of the Year: Bakery
Sponsor: Lombard
Jamal Falah
Student of the Year: Beauty Therapy
Sponsors: Algologie, Dermalogica, Lycon
Belinda Zuccolo
Student of the Year: Community
Sponsor: Link Community Transport
Wanda Sheppard
Student of the Year: Fashion (Diploma of Fashion)
Sponsor: M.Recht Accessories
Asher Blackburn
Student of the Year: Fashion (Advanced Diploma of Fashion)
Sponsor: Australian Fashion Council
Aaron Costa
Student of the Year: Food Processing
Sponsor: HPA
Timothy Hiscox
Student of the Year: Health
Sponsor: NorthLink
Ross Lowe
Student of the Year: Horticulture
Sponsor: Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria
Liam Perry
Student of the Year: Millinery
Sponsors: Millinery Association of Australia, Hat Blocks Australia
Sarah Mensforth
Student of the Year: Oasis Horticulture
Sponsor: Oasis Horticulture
Nicole Rose
Student of the Year: Veterinary Nursing
Sponsor: ZebraVet
Amy Addison
INSTITUTE AWARDS
Student of the Year
Sponsor: Department of the Future
Wanda Sheppard
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsor: Apprenticeship Employment Network
Sarah Purcell
Uncle Norm Hunter Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Sponsor: Kinaway Chamber of Commerce
Alison Hafner
Inspirational Student of the Year
Sponsor: Rotary Club of Essendon
Angus Cooper
Inclusivity and Accessibility Award
Sponsor: Precision Group
Nathan Meyers
