STAFF WRITERS
TAFE Gippsland is celebrating its success at the Weld Australia 2023 Excellence Awards, after receiving two awards at the ceremony in Melbourne.
The institute won the Training and Education Organisation category.
Encompassing TAFEs, independent RTOs (Registered Training Organisation) and private companies in Victoria and Tasmania, the Training and Education Award recognises and honours the outstanding achievements of a STEM or vocational education and training (VET) provider.
TAFE Gippsland apprentice, Naomi Xuereb also received the Highly Commended for Young Trades Person of the Year (Under 25).
Naomi is a Gippslander who undertook her VDSS in Certificate II in Engineering before commencing her apprenticeship in Certificate III in Engineering Fabrication. She is employed on the Metro Tunnel rail project, while completing her apprenticeship.
TAFE Gippsland Director Educational Delivery, Linda Austin and Head of Department Emerging Industries and Trades, Alex Terranova attended the awards ceremony with a group of TAFE Gippsland Engineering Fabrication Educators at the Huntingdale Golf Club in Windsor.
Ms Austin said TAFE Gippsland was setting the benchmark for the delivery of industry recognised and required welding qualification and certification training in the region.
“It’s rewarding to be recognised across the sector for our excellence in this space, particularly in skilling industry with highly-regarded welding tickets and qualifying welding supervisors certified by Weld Australia,” Ms Austin said.
“With a growing portfolio of programs and purpose-built facilities in which to deliver these programs, we are Gippsland’s primary source of quality training that supports and inspires individuals, industries and communities across the region with a focus on skilling workers for the new energy sector.”
It has been a big year for TAFE Gippsland on the awards trail. The organisation recently took home the silver medal in the Large Training Provider of the Year category at the country’s highest accolade for vocational training organisations, the Australian Training Awards. This followed the announcement of TAFE Gippsland as Victoria’s 2023 Large Training Provider of the Year award at the Victorian Training Awards in September.
Wonderful welding: TAFE Gippsland engineering and fabrication team members Shayne Pavich, Joe Haley, Alex Terranova, Ian Potter, Jule Carroll, Dale Dye, Rob Vernon, Ben Johnstone, Linda Austin and Phil Backman with their award. Photographs supplied
