VET in Schools Student of the Year
Supported by
Catholic Schools NSW
Congratulations to the NSW Training Awards Finalists for 2024! You embody everything VET is about: aspiration, hard work, dedication, and excellence.
Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) has a leadership role as the peak representative body for 592 Catholic schools across NSW, encompassing both systemic and RI/MPJP schools. Catholic education offers varied learning opportunities from pre-school to post-secondary schooling and operates across NSW, from the inner city of Sydney to the bush.
Catholic schools have been an integral part of Australia’s education landscape for 200 years. They partner with families, the government, and the broader community to deliver high-quality education and training across NSW. Today, Catholic schools educate one in five children in NSW, with over 255,000 students in our care.
The Catholic sector delivers Vocational Education and Training in Catholic schools through the nine Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) managed by the diocesan offices. The RTOs offer a broad range of Certificate I to Certificate III qualifications, with the most popular being in hospitality, construction, business services, fitness, retail, information, digital media technology, automotive, and engineering.
Catholic schools engage with more than 13,000 students annually, with over 18,000 enrolments with diverse qualifications to meet local industry needs. Over one thousand students are combining the first year of their apprenticeship/traineeship with their HSC. Our Trade Training Centres have been developed to provide state-of-the-art training facilities using the latest technology and techniques required by industry.
Annalise Hansen
Qualification
Certificate II in Kitchen Operations
Trained by
Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst
School
MacKillop College
Region
Western NSW Region
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In her final year of high school, Annalise Hansen will graduate with a wealth of job-ready skills thanks to vocational education.
Taking on numerous VET qualifications to bolster her career prospects straight out of year 12, Annalise feels that this approach has set her up for life. She’s managed a Certificate II in Kitchen Operations, which she has supported with additional units in Hospitality, a Certificate II in Design Fundamentals and she also added qualifications as a Pool Lifeguard and Swim Teacher to her CV. Not to mention balancing the demands of school, work and extracurricular activities.
For Annalise, pursuing these pathways in tandem with schooling was a no-brainer. “By completing industry-recognised certificates I will have an edge over other high-school graduates.” Annalise credits the real-world learnings of her qualifications with bringing her out of her shell, creating a solid foundation of transferable skills. “My vocational pathways have boosted my confidence in my abilities and given me a clear perspective on career progression.”
Katie Johnson
Qualification
Certificate II in Agriculture
Trained by
Public Schools NSW, Tamworth
School
The Rivers Secondary College, Lismore High Campus
Region
North Coast & Mid North Coast Region
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Katie Johnson has big ambitions in the agriculture industry. With a vision to attend university and become a livestock vet, she has well and truly kick started her career with a Certificate II in Agriculture through her final years of high school.
Katie found the job-ready skills and the hands-on experience were a huge drawcard of pursuing her VET-in-schools qualification. To have real-world knowledge of managing plants and livestock as well as operating a wide range of industry-based machinery was the head start she was looking for to turn her dreams into a reality. The fact that she loves the subject matter is a bonus.
On track towards her goals, Katie is eager to encourage others to pursue vocational pathways. “My VET course has given me the targeted training I needed to succeed. It has set me up with the job-ready skills to get straight into the workforce,” says Katie.
Gabriella Ward
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.