3 March 2017

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training

2016 TasTAFE Student Excellence Awards

Tonight’s TasTAFE Student Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of TasTAFE students, and their commitment in pursuing additional qualifications in their chosen field of expertise. I would like to congratulate all of the finalists and winners on their talent and dedication to their training.

The Hodgman Liberal Government has a goal to create a job-ready generation of young Tasmanians, and to achieve this we need to upskill the workforce and meet their training needs to Build Tasmania’s Future.

This Government understands the need for vocational training to strengthen Tasmanian business into the future, which provides economic growth and prosperity based on real skills for real jobs.

We also know that investing in training opportunities repays our state many times over, which is why we invest more than $100 million per year in the Tasmanian training sector.

Tonight’s TasTAFE Student Excellence Awards in Hobart show there is a brighter future for our next generation of employees, and highlight the best and brightest in the State.

I would personally like to congratulate Jai North, winner of the Minister for Education and Training’s Award as the overall TasTAFE Student of the Year, chosen from winners across 20 award categories.

Jai is a 22 year old North-West butcher and small business owner, completing a Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retail Butcher) at TasTAFE.

In their second year, the TasTAFE Student Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of TasTAFE’s 2016 students across 20 categories and industry areas, recognising students who have not only excelled academically, but also personally, within the workplace and in the community.

As Tasmania’s public training provider and the state’s largest training provider TasTAFE plays an important part in helping the Government achieve its job creation goals.

I would once again like to thank all finalists and winners on their outstanding achievements, and wish them all the best for the future.

TasTAFE Student Excellence Awards Finalists and Winners (Winners names are embargoed until 9pm, 3 March 2017)

THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING’S TASTAFE STUDENT OF THE YEAR

(This award was chosen from finalists across all award categories.  It recognises an outstanding student who has demonstrated a commitment and passion for learning and continues to be driven and motivated in their training).

Finalists:

• Damon Addison (Latrobe) - Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery
• Daniel Mulder (Margate) - Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery
• Jai North (Shearwater) - Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retail Butcher)

WINNER: Jai North

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

(These awards recognise outstanding individual achievement and commitment to training.)

The Premier’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award

Finalists: 

• Jessica Farley (Ravenswood) -Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
• Cheryl Ransom (Somerset) - Certificate III in Aged Care, Certificate III in Home and Community Care
• Stephen Wadley (Nunamara) - Certificate II in Engineering Pathways

WINNER:  Cheryl Ransom

Colony 47 Access and Equity Student of the Year Award

Finalists:

• Michelle Czyzowicz and Jarran Harris (Moonah) – joint nomination - Certificate IV in Fitness
• Tahereh Fazeli  (Moonah) - Certificate III in Employment and Training
• Arop Majok (Hobart) - Certificate III in Aged Care and Disability Support

WINNER: Arop Majok

TICT International Student of the Year Award

Finalists:

• Kah Lye Khoo (New Town) - Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)
• Barbara Pogelschek (South Hobart) - Certificate IV in Travel and Tourism
• Lai Ha Li (Hadspen) - Certificate IV in Business

WINNER: Barbara Pogelschek

RACT Special Achievement Award

Finalists:

• Lachlan Bovill (Legana) -Certificate III in Horticulture
• Deborah Gyles (Devonport) - Certificate III in Community Services
• Caress Jeffrey (Ulverstone) - Certificate IV in Community Services Work
• Troy Sara (Maydena) - Certificate IV in Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs.

WINNER: Deborah Gyles

TasTAFE Trainee of the Year Award

Finalists:

• Elliot Baxter (Battery Point) - Certificate IV in Information Technology
• Zachary Pearce (Ravenswood) - Certificate IV in Information Technology Support
• Shanelle Percy (Bagdad) Certificate III in Hospitality

WINNER: Shanelle Percy

INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

(These awards recognise and celebrate students who have not only excelled academically but have demonstrated a high level of skill and commitment in their particular industry areas).

Bell Bay Aluminium Metal Trades Award

Finalists:

• Mitchell Evans (Claremont) - Certificate IV in Engineering
• Stephen Wadley (Nunamara) - Certificate II in Engineering Pathways
• Ben Wells (Birralee) - Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication

WINNER: Ben Wells

TACC Automotive Award

Finalists:

• Bray Austin (Launceston) - Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
• Benjamin Holmes (Otago) - Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
• David Oxley (Kingston) - Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology

WINNER: Bray Austin

MEGT Business Administration and Management Award

Finalists:

• Cassandra Brown (Devonport) - Certificate IV in Accounting
• Pete Jones (Claremont) - Diploma of Workplace Health and Safety
• Natasha Mouat (Miandetta) - Diploma of Human Resource Management

WINNER: Natasha Mouat

DHHS Community and Children’s Services Award

Finalists:

• Peta Corkery (Newstead) - Certificate III in Education Support
• Caress Jeffrey (Ulverstone) - Certificate IV in Community Services Work
• Marcus Pattie (Legana) - Certificate III in Community Services Work

WINNER: Caress Jeffrey

TBCITB Construction and Allied Trades Award

Finalists:

• Damon Addison (Latrobe) - Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery
• Marcel Anstie (Launceston) - Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery
• Daniel Mulder (Margate) - Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery

WINNER: Damon Addison

Mercury Walch Creative Industries Award

Finalists:

• Mellissa Dolliver (Melrose) - Diploma of Visual Arts
• Thomas Gray (Relbia) - Diploma of Graphic Design
• Natulka Wade (Newstead) - Diploma of Screen and Media

WINNER: Natulka Wade

THA Drysdale (Tourism, Hospitality and Cookery) Award

Finalists:

• Julie King (Granton) - Advanced Diploma of Hospitality, Advanced Diploma of Events Management
• David Lane (Sandy Bay) - Certificate III in Guiding
• Jai Nort (Shearwater) - Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retail Butcher)

WINNER: David Lane

Hydro Tasmania Electrotechnology and Instrumentation Award

Finalists:

• Samuel Buxton (Moonah) - Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician
• Andrew Riley (Burnie) - Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician
• Matthew Stagg (Dover) - Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician

WINNER: Andrew Riley

Schwarzkopf Hair and Beauty Award

Finalists:

• Ellen Berry (Acton Park) - Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy
• Rebekah West (Latrobe) - Certificate III in Beauty Services
• Kendall Shaw (Riverside) - Certificate III in Beauty Services

WINNER: Kendall Shaw

Classic Holidays and Volunteering Services Australia Health, Aged Care and Disability Services Award

Finalists:

• Anthony Graham (Prospect Vale) - Certificate III in Individual Support
• Sarah Kubank (Ulverstone) - Certificate III in Aged Care
• Victoria Woollcott (Greens Beach) - Diploma of Nursing

WINNER: Sarah Kubank

CSC Information and Communication Technology Award

Finalists:

• Elliot Baxter (Battery Point) - Certificate IV in Information Technology
• Benjamin Standen (West Hobart) - Diploma in Information Technology
• Samuel Yomataris (Lenah Valley) - Certificate IV in Information Technology

WINNER: Samuel Yomataris

AMCA Plumbing and Refrigeration Award

Finalists:

• Shannon Cooper (Kingston) - Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Joshua Waters (Invermay) - Certificate III in Plumbing
• Luke Wakefield (Relbia) - Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

WINNER: Luke Wakefield

Primary Employers Tasmania Primary Industries and Science Award

Finalists

• Paul Casburn (Gravelly Beach) - Certificate III in Horticulture
• Dean Hughes (Swan Bay) - Certificate IV in Food Processing
• Gary Simmons (Cradoc) - Certificate II in Production Horticulture

WINNER: Dean Hughes

TasTAFE Vocational Preparation and English Language Services Award

Finalists:

• Tahereh Fazeli (Moonah) - Certificate III in Employment and Training
• Jeremy Lucas (Hobart) - Certificate III in Employment and Training
• Joel Weeding (Launceston) - Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation

WINNER: Tahereh Fazeli

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