Meet the 2025 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.
Lachlan Carey
2024 Trainee of the Year
Qualification Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Trained by Atkinson Training & Development
Employed by A Magical Time Childrens Centre
Region Hunter & Central Coast Region
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Lachlan Carey is driven to make a difference in the lives of children. Facing his fair share of challenges for someone so young, he’s been inspired to pay forward the acts of kindness he received by enrolling in a Certificate III in Early Childhood and Care. Suffering two strokes in year 10 that required multiple surgeries and lengthy recovery times, Lachlan was unable to return to school and decided to pursue his passion for educating kids. Bringing his fun, nurturing and patient nature to every interaction in his traineeship, he was immediately adored by colleagues, families and, most importantly, the children in his care. As someone with dyslexia, Lachlan found the pace and style of learning game changing. “My VET training was perfect for me,” he says. “The course requirements were clear, and I could link the theory and the practical together to gain confidence in my studies.” Now tackling a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, Lachlan has a future he’ll forever be grateful for.
Dascha Harrison
2024 School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Qualification Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Trained by TAFE NSW
Employed by Hunter New England Local Health District
School Newcastle High School
Region Hunter & Central Coast Region
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Soon to complete year 12 with a school-based traineeship, Dascha Harrison will seamlessly progress in the healthcare industry thanks to her determination and acquired skills. Pursuing a Certificate III in Health Assistance Services was a natural choice for Dascha after experiencing the power of holistic care firsthand as a teenager. She knew a traineeship was the fast track to her dream career as it aligns perfectly with her long-term goal of becoming a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dascha has hit her goals throughout her qualification while also achieving in the classroom, on the sports field and in her part-time job. She’s the editor of her school’s fortnightly newsletter, represents her region in hockey and cross country and is writing a systematic review focusing on the effectiveness of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy in the treatment of Anorexia nervosa in adolescents. The sky’s the limit for Dascha and she hopes to inspire others to consider an SBAT pathway.
Rachael Pearson
2024 Apprentice of the Year
Qualification Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology
Trained by TAFE NSW
Employed by Newmont
Region Western NSW Region
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Rachael Pearson is a multi-skilled, highly decorated individual with a big future ahead of her. Gaining an apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering and co-captaining the Parramatta Eels NRL/W team, she’s a shining example for what’s possible with vocational education. Enrolling in a Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade) apprenticeship in mining, Rachael headed to Wollongong to pursue her passions. While undertaking her apprenticeship she played for the St George Illawarra Dragons’ NRL/W team and was selected in the NSW Women’s State of Origin team in 2022 – going on to win the series. Gaining competency-based completion of her apprenticeship, she is now able to focus on her career as a professional athlete, safe in the knowledge that she will have her trade to come back to after her sporting career ends. She’s a role model, particularly to young girls who want to play rugby and/or pursue a trade.
Michael Pfeffer
2024 Teacher/Trainer of the Year
Field of study Hospitality
Employed by Public Schools NSW, Wagga Wagga
Region Illawarra & South East NSW Region
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Leveraging his previous career as a chef, Michael Pfeffer is dedicated to empowering budding hospitality stars in his charge. Grounding his teaching style in practical application, Michael has managed to ignite his students’ passion for the industry – one that mirrors his own. His success as a Hospitality educator partly comes down to his comprehensive CV. He worked in fine-dining restaurants, cafés and hotels for 10 years before gaining a Bachelor of Education Technology and Applied Studies at university. Described by his colleagues at Dapto High School as a beacon of positivity and encouragement, Michael’s ability to inspire can also be attributed to a passion for what he does. But it’s his readiness to prioritise real-world learning that sees Michael exceed expectations. He’s established a cafe in the school grounds for his students to learn in, led the NSW WorldSkills Commercial Cookery team in 2023 and incorporates excursions, industry speakers and interactive components to his teaching wherever possible.
Gabriella Ward
2024 VET in Schools Student of the Year
Qualification Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Trained by TAFE NSW
School Peel High School
Region New England Region
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For as long as she can remember, Gabriella Ward has dreamed of working in healthcare. Inspired by the doctors and nurses that treated her as a child, Gabriella started her healthcare career journey in year 10 thanks to a VET-in-schools pathway. Now completing year 12 and a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance, she will gain a qualification that allows her to work in an acute-care environment. Unfortunately, Gabriella experienced severe anxiety during high school, resulting in a profound disconnect with the environment as a whole, but VET commenced a pivotal shift in her learning journey and, ultimately, her life. The anxiety was still there but Gabriella was charged with a new sense of purpose. “Possibly for the first time ever, I felt secure about my future.” The qualification has helped her overcome anxiety and reconnected her with school. The fact that she will also graduate with an ATAR is a testament to how far she’s come.
Baylun Williams-Pinkie
2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Qualification Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
Trained by TAFE NSW
Region Central & Northern Sydney Region
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With a dream to complete a trade and create a better future, Baylun Williams-Pinkie got everything he was hoping for through his vocational pathway. And, as a proud Mirring and Wiradjuri man, he’s dedicated to seeing his own successes mirrored by others in his community. Taking on a Certificate III in Electrotechnology through Dyirranga, an Indigenous-owned not-for-profit that supports First Nations youth through electrical apprenticeships, Baylun quickly got a sense of just how many opportunities his trade would open for him. He also gained so much support and confidence from the team of Indigenous men and women around him. Now, balancing his work as a fully qualified electrician with the Indigenous dance group he runs and cultural teaching opportunities, he frequently takes time to advocate for this pathway, in the hope that other First Nations people find the life-changing career he did through vocational education.
Samantha Zannes
2024 Vocational Student of the Year
Qualification Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Trained by ECTARC
Employed by Jenny's Kindergarten and Early Learning Centre – Bathurst
Region Western NSW Region
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Driven to tailor education to children with additional needs, Samantha Zannes pursued a vocational pathway to become an Early Childhood Teacher. Initially trained as a Primary School Special Education Teacher, Samantha took time away to raise her own children. After a 10-year hiatus, she was ready to return to the profession, but wanted to connect with an approach that mirrored her personal education philosophy. Samantha knew the importance of early intervention for students with additional needs and therefore set her focus on obtaining a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. Completing the qualification in just over 12 months, Samantha was then recognised within the teaching profession as an Early Childhood Teacher. Now, as the Assistant Director and Educational Leader of an early learning centre, Samatha feels that her pathway was the perfect avenue to success.