Meet the 2023 NSW Training Awards
Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors are a team of exceptional NSW Training Awards winners and finalists who together, highlight the opportunities, pathways and benefits offered in VET. They attend schools, award shows and career expos sharing their VET journey, helping spread the word about VET and the success that comes with it.
Jade Barrington
2022 NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
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Whilst studying her HSC, Jade undertook a school-based traineeship to support her entry into university.
With hopes of one day becoming a Primary School Teacher, Jade studied a Certificate II in Business Services and has gained invaluable knowledge, experience and confidence through working with the NSW Department of Education.
Volunteering in her own time to tutor younger students at the Wreck Bay Community Centre, Jade has an obvious passion for teaching and strives to be a role-model to the younger members of her community.
An exemplary student that applies herself to every task, Jade is a proud representative of her community, committed to bringing out the best in those under her care.
“I have had the opportunity to work in a caring and supportive environment while completing my HSC and working toward both a VET qualification and an ATAR pathway.”
Lachlan Butler
2022 NSW Apprentice of the Year
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Having grown up on a farm, Lachlan discovered a natural affinity for metal work and a love of working with his hands. Embarking on his Certificate III in Engineering Lachlan specialised in the fabrication trade.
Flourishing in his apprenticeship with BOSS Engineering, Lachlan quickly made himself invaluable, proving to be a dextrous team leader able to easily switch from one speciality to the next, all while managing complex family matters.
A passionate advocate for addressing the skills shortage in rural Australia, Lachlan is keen to encourage others to pursue a trade career through VET, finding the hands-on training VET provided to be world class.
“Skills training in Australia is extremely important. Our countries future is dependent on people like myself who have gone through an apprenticeship. Being involved in an apprenticeship allows you to create and be involved in an environment that is supportive and a community that is all inclusive.”
Stella Cox
2022 NSW VET in Schools Student of the Year
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Whilst fulfilling her duties as Vice-Captain of Strathfield Girls High School, Stella enrolled in a Certificate III in Health Services & Assistance with NSW Health.
Dedicated to completing the HSC, Stella saw VET in Schools as an opportunity to have the best of both worlds. VET allowed Stella to pursue an academic pathway, whilst benefiting from real-world experience and gaining a qualification in her chosen profession of nursing.
Stella, the third generation of her family to pursue a career in nursing, hopes to specialise in midwifery.
Despite the significant responsibility of caring for her wheelchair-dependant mother, Stella is unstoppable. She has displayed wisdom, maturity and determination.
“I have allowed my caring journey to not define my life but to shape it and help me use my passion for caring for others to channel it into a lifelong and rewarding career in the community.”
Casey Fox
2022 NSW Vocational Student of the Year
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When Casey found herself out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic, she boldly used the opportunity to pursue a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment with St George and Sutherland Community College (SGSCC).
Casey was able to balance being a stay at home mum of twins with studying to gain a nationally recognised qualification which gave her career a new lease of life.
Casey reconnected with her love of learning and was such an exceptional student that she was offered a permanent trainer position with SGSCC. She has since achieved 3 more qualifications, including her Diploma of Training and Assessment which now provides her with the opportunity to help others in joining the VET sector as trainers and assessor’s across a variety of much needed industries.
Casey believes in showing others how engaging with vocational education can reignite their love of learning, their career and their confidence, just like it did for her.
Clint Giddings
2022 NSW VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year
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Clint was a well-respected teacher of Construction at Blayney High School for 9 years, where he applied himself wholeheartedly to encouraging his students’ success. Not only an outstanding teacher, Clint is an inspirational ambassador for Vocational Education and Training (VET). He is now employed as a VET Curriculum Project Officer, which involves developing VET assessment materials for NSW DoE teachers and students.
Within his roles of SBAT coordinator, Careers Advisor and now VET Curriculum Project Officer, Clint works closely with VET stakeholders, helping improve and develop VET qualification attainment and pathways for students.
Amongst Clint’s many notable achievements, is devising and preparing a submission for his students to build a Construction Cottage training facility, under the supervision of a local builder, to improve Construction training delivery.
From conceptualising and delivering innovative learning initiatives, to implementing meaningful changes and improvements to the delivery of VET, Clint is unmistakably exceptional in his role as a VET teacher, making a positive difference in the lives of NSW students and their local communities.
Tahli Gleeson
2022 NSW School Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
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Nearing the end of her schooling, Tahli wanted to choose a career she was passionate about.
Farming and agriculture had always been a big part of Tahli’s life and she accepted a role as a school-based trainee with Local Land Services while enrolled in a Certificate II Agriculture qualification.
Throughout her traineeship, Tahli was exposed to numerous facets of agriculture and farming, both practical and operational.
Tahli displayed an outstanding work-ethic and a ‘get it done’ attitude, applying herself with gusto to both administration and practical farming tasks.
Now with an expanded resume and her Certificate II qualification in-hand, Tahli knows that VET was a great career choice for her.
“VET is such a practical training pathway and full of opportunities... I now have further job qualifications and a supportive group of work colleagues and industry mentors to help me on my career journey to achieve my goal of working in agriculture.”
Mellanie Sutton
2022 NSW Trainee of the Year
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“I wanted to embark on a career that would continually challenge me…”
Mellanie began her traineeship at Muswellbrook Shire Council (MSC) as a trainee Environmental Health Officer. Whilst acquiring a diverse set of skills, Mellanie used her traineeship to help keep the community safe and move confidently in the direction of her dream career.
Completing a Certificate IV in Local Government, specialising in Health & Environment, Mellanie found the mixture of skills required in this field to be exactly the right challenge.
Amongst the tasks within her traineeship, Mellanie identified businesses that were offering food service or skin penetration (such as acupuncture) to ensure their Government registration and compliance with health standards.
During her traineeship, Mellanie used existing software skills to help streamline processes within MSC and improve efficiency for a range of everyday procedures.