2007 National Trade Teacher of Year
Marion Fitzpatrick
Marion was a chef for many years before becoming a teacher. She is currently Head Teacher of Commercial Cookery at Northern Sydney Institute, Ryde College.
She actively promotes and develops excellence in cookery students, especially through competitions and awards. She mentors applicants in local, state, national training awards and competitions, many of whom win medals and awards. Over the years, she has also had a high level of involvement in Worldskills events and has assumed various roles.
Some career highlights include: Expert and Judge for Australia at the Worldskills International Cooking Competition (Worldskills Australia selects one expert from a large pool of professionals to represent Australia and recognizes them as a leader in the field of cooking and training), WSA regional and national designer, judge, TAFE NSW Skills Development designer, judge, TAFE NSW New Zealand National Competition Judge, Northern Sydney Institute Worldskills Coordinator, Judge for the Restaurant and Catering Awards for excellence in catering.
Developmental Project: Marion's project that will identify, record and share best practice models in flexible delivery of commercial cookery training programs around Australia.
Mineral Resources Industry Trade Teacher of the Year
Lesley Wemyss
Has written various papers on the unique requirements of delivering training in a mining setting.
Specialises in innovative delivery of training. Features include interactive activities, mentoring, small group work and assessment specifically tailored to trainees’ work roles and which allows for achievement of excellence.
Has run highly successful pre-employment programs for Indigenous Australians in North Western Queensland. Training
outcomes are linked to Century Zinc Mine. In working with the local Indigenous population, she has seen firsthand an increase in their confidence and abilities and their career goals being met and exceeded. Has conducted Reframing the Future projects to facilitate professional development for trainers and assessors working in the Mining industries in regional Qld. Through workshops she encourages trainers to rise above their current situation and to reflect, ‘think smarter’, value the skills in their workplace, and work with other practitioners to improve training and assessment methodologies and develop more innovative strategies.
Developmental Project: E-learning tool for ‘working at heights’ and ‘working in confined spaces’ tied to RPL, with critical safety competencies to enable more efficient and more cost effective use of training in the industry.
