At the North Coast Region’s NSW Training Awards ceremony on 15 June, eight North Coast TAFE students won major awards and several other students and a staff member, along with employers and partner organisations who work with North Coast TAFE, were recognised as finalists.

The Awards are part of the state-wide Training Awards which reward high performing students, staff and training providers in the increasingly competitive vocational education and training industry in NSW.

“We congratulate all of the finalists and the winners for their success – there is no doubt that here on the North Coast we have many high-achieving individuals and enterprises, and we are proud of them and their contributions to the prosperity of our communities,” said the Director of North Coast TAFE, Ms Elizabeth McGregor.

Ms McGregor highlighted the efforts of Emerald Beach Plumbing Services and Columba Cottage (winner and finalist respectively of the Small Employer of the Year category) and Feros Care and Everson’s Food Processing (winner and finalist respectively of Large Employer of the Year category).

“I was delighted to see these organisations being recognised. We have partnerships with all four of them and would like to specifically acknowledge their efforts in these partnerships and congratulate them for these recent achievements,” said Ms McGregor.

“I’d also particularly like to congratulate the winner of the VET in Schools Excellence award, Newman Senior Technical College and finalist Mid Coast Group Training – they are great partners, too,” said Mc McGregor.

Ms McGregor also expressed particular pride in North Coast TAFE’s Community Pharmacy teacher Linda Johnston, who was a finalist in the VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year category.

The full list of winners and finalists from North Coast TAFE is as follows:

Achievement Award WINNER Joanne Astorini (Kempsey Campus) Certificate IV in Business Administration
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year WINNER: Matthew Beetson (Trenayr Campus) Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management
Apprentice of the Year WINNER: Andrew Penson (Port Macquarie Campus) Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician & Certificate IV in Industrial Electronics and Control FINALIST: Teri Jorgensen (Kingscliff Campus) Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)
Norm Beaton Memorial Award for Automotive Mechanical WINNER: Joel Crawford (Coffs Harbour Education Campus) Certificate III in Automotive (Light Vehicles)
School Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year WINNER: Ryan Ford (Port Macquarie Campus) Certificate III in Mechanical Engineering FINALISTS: Aaron Grose (Port Macquarie Campus) Certificate III in Carpentry     Julian Tydd (Port Macquarie/Westport High School) Certificate III in Health Services – Allied Health Assistance	One of Ryan Ford's teachers accepting on his behalf.
Trainee of the Year WINNER: Carmel Simpson (online through Coffs Harbour Campus) Certificate II in Community Pharmacy
VET in Schools Student of the Year WINNER: Nicholas Pigot (Coffs Harbour Education Campus) Statement of Attainment in Automotive Studies
Vocational Student of the Year WINNER: Megan Edwards (Port Macquarie Campus) Diploma of Community Services Work FINALISTS: Joanne Astorini (Kempsey Campus) Certificate IV in Business Administration Christian Thomas (Kingscliff Campus) Diploma of Remedial Massage