Western Sydney’s top TAFE achievers receive awards

Last night Ray Williams MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney and Member for Hawkesbury, recognised Western Sydney TAFE’s top graduates at the annual student awards ceremony held at Panthers World of Entertainment.

The Parliamentary Secretary praised the winners of the Institute’s 2011 Student Excellence Awards, the State Medal recipients and the Institute Medallist for their outstanding achievements.

State Medals are awarded to the students who have achieved first place in the highest qualification for their course area. Eighteen students from TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute who completed their courses in 2010 were awarded State Medals.

Relieving Deputy Director-General of TAFE and Community Education, Susan Hartigan said that: “This is a great result for each of these students and a great result for TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute, demonstrating the expertise of the Institute’s teachers.”

Institute Student Excellence Awards were presented to 20 students, selected for their outstanding efforts from among the Institute’s 100,000 students. These awards include the Institute’s Apprentice of the Year, Trainee of the Year, International Student of the Year, TAFE Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Student of the Year, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year.

Official guests included Michelle Rowland MP, Federal Member for Greenway and state members - Charles Casuscelli MP, Member for Strathfield; David Elliott MP, Member for Baulkham Hills; Bart Bassett MP, Member for Londonderry; Tanya Davies MP, Member for Mulgoa; and Kevin Conolly MP, Member for Riverstone.

Also present were senior industry representatives including those from Fuji Xerox, O-I Sydney, Cinevation and The Edge 96.One.

Relieving Institute Director, Francesca Saccaro, said: “Each graduate receiving an award has demonstrated amazing commitment, remarkable skills and exceptional achievements”.

The top honour of the evening, the Institute Medal, went to Steven Fogarty from Mount Druitt College.

“Steven is a real source of inspiration to me because of his advocacy for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, his ambassadorial skills for vocational education and training and his great academic achievements,” said Ms Saccaro.

The Student Excellence Awards showcased graduates from across a range of study areas including, but not limited to, the trades, the arts and many professional disciplines.

“Many graduates chose to study at TAFE because of the wide range of courses on offer and the flexibility of our study options, from face-to-face training at our colleges to distance education through the Open Training and Education Network,” Ms Saccaro said.

“In 2010, Western Sydney Institute was awarded the highest possible accolade for education and training - the Australian Large Training Provider of the Year. So our award winners have the satisfaction of knowing that they have excelled among the best of the best in Australia.”