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Top students celebrated at Bendigo TAFE's night of nights

An elite athlete, an engineering mastermind, an Indigenous community leader and a neuro-diverse learner have been recognised among Bendigo TAFE’s top performing students.

A total of 50 vocational students and apprentices were honoured at the 2024 Bendigo TAFE Industry Excellence Awards held last night.

Meet some of our student award winners:

Bendigo TAFE Student of the Year: Kiara Dean

Award Sponsor: City of Greater Bendigo

Elite athlete and Echuca resident Kiara Dean has surprised herself by adding another accolade to her swathe of successes, this time in the classroom.

Kiara has been recognised for her remarkable achievements completing a Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing (ACM40418) while juggling work and a rigorous national and international training and competition schedule in clay target shooting.

“The majority of my time outside of work is spent training and competing,” said Kiara.

“While I’ve studied at Bendigo TAFE I’ve been fairly successful, I’ve won multiple medals internationally... and a Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany.”

For Kiara, working with animals was a life-long ambition she had to put on hold during the pandemic, deferring a vet nursing course at university after six months and unsure when she would be able to return.

Kiara chose to enrol at TAFE and overcame potential barriers to her success balancing her demanding competition schedule.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to work in the veterinary industry. Working with them (animals) is a dream come true. I really love it,” said Kiara.

“Everything I know about veterinary nursing, I know through TAFE. The facilities there are world class, you are working in clinics. The education was very hands-on, you are working with animals but you’re also working with people.

“My sport and my studying working together was a real challenge for me. Last year and the year before I’ve been to 12 different countries competing.

“My teachers were really understanding and really willing to go out of their way to accommodate me. I could not have done it without them.

“This for me ... acknowledges that everything I am doing is right.”

In addition to the Bendigo TAFE student of the year, Kiara was also awarded:

· Student of the Year: Veterinary Nursing, sponsored by Apiam Animal Health

View Kiara’s story: Kiara Dean - Student of The Year, Bendigo TAFE 2024 - YouTube

Apprentice of the Year: Thomas Heather

Award Sponsor: Rotary Club of Bendigo South

For Thomas Heather, engineering was in his blood and from a very young age he found himself out in the shed with his Dad.

“He (Dad) just said one day, jump on the lathe and give it a go, and that’s where it all started,” said Thomas.

“I’ve definitely grown up working in his (Dad’s) workshop at home. I loved it from the moment I put my hands on the dials of the lathe, and ever since then I’ve had a fascination with doing a trade.”

Thomas began his formal engineering studies at secondary school where he was one of the top 10 students in the state, before embarking on a Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (MEM30219) apprenticeship through Bendigo TAFE.

“I did look at doing a university degree in engineering, but I don’t think that was for me, I'm not a sit-behind-desk type of person, I’m hands on which is why Bendigo TAFE was fantastic,” said Thomas.

While studying, Thomas balanced multiple volunteering commitments with the Lockwood CFA, where he is a 3rd lieutenant and part of the Oscar 1 specialist mine rescue team, as well as with the Bendigo Motorcycle Group.

Thomas is currently working for locally based Industrial Conveying (Aust) Pty Ltd and has recently been deployed to Sydney to work on an innovative project to build an automated robot system that packs pallets for a major warehouse.

“I definitely think Bendigo TAFE has prepared me for the workforce and what’s to come. Their recent addition of 21st century machines is preparing for the future. I don’t just believe that, I know that the facilities here are unmatched”, said Thomas.

“Being at TAFE was one of the best experiences I've had.”

In addition to Apprentice of the Year, Thomas was also awarded:

• Apprentice of the Year: Trade Skills Centre, sponsored by Total Tools Bendigo.

• Luke Farrar Memorial Award – Apprentice of the Year: Engineering (Mechanical), sponsored by the Farrar family*.

*This is one of two awards in memory of Luke's passion, drive and can-do attitude and hopes to inspire future young men and women in the engineering field.

View Thomas’ story: Thomas Heather – Apprentice of the Year, Bendigo TAFE 2024 (youtube.com)

Aunty Melva Johnson Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year: Angelika Fevaleaki

Award Sponsor: Alkina Edwards (Aunty Melva Johnson’s Great Granddaughter)

When Angelika Fevaleaki finished high school she was the first of her family and only one of her siblings to do so.

With dreams of becoming a youth worker Angelika, a Mutthi Mutthi woman, enrolled at university to continue her education journey but felt she needed some life experience first.

“I felt like uni wasn’t for me at the time, that I needed more life experience to get a better understanding of the work”, said Angelika.

Fast forward a few years and the Robinvale resident, revisited her passion with plenty of life experience to draw on including extensive employment, further study and a family of her own.

Angelika enrolled in the Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015) in Mildura which was delivered by Bendigo TAFE and customised for Mallee District Aboriginal Services.

“The course was facilitated through the Bendigo TAFE teacher coming to Mildura, on Latji Latji Land, each month for two to three days,” said Angelika.

“My passion and my drive would have to be my life experiences and my understanding of growing up and seeing my relatives that weren’t given an opportunity or the support to be better and be great.

“My grandparents weren’t given the right to be able to have an education so I think it’s just beyond amazing that I had the opportunity to do so and do it freely.”

Angelika works for McKillop Family Services representing her mob.

“I work in family preservation and reunification response in the hope that families can strengthen their bond and their relationship,” she said.

“I’m pretty proud of myself and proud of being a person to stand there for all Aboriginal people across the nation.

“It’s always good to be that role model for my children so then they can be something that they want to be.”

This prestigious award is in honour of Aunty Melva Johnson a Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba Elder, and a champion of Aboriginal education and health.

View Angelika’s story: Angelika Fevaleaki - Aunty Melva Johnson Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year (youtube.com)

Inspirational Student of the Year: Elliot Foster

Award Sponsor: Rotary Club of Bendigo South

After struggling to continue education in mainstream school, Elliot Foster found a place to combine his learning journey with his passion in caring for animals at TAFE.

A neuro-diverse learner, Elliot began in the Certificate II in Animal Care (ACM20121) and advanced to the Certificate III in Animal Care Services (ACM30122) where he quickly progressed with some customised support in place.

Gradually Elliot’s confidence and independence grew.

“We organised with the TAFE to do a kind of split course. My mum would always drive me and stay in the car park, and I would always go and sit with her for lunch,” said Elliot.

“It was not easy to integrate myself but then eventually I did start to break out of my shell a bit and I was able to catch public transport on my own.

“I’ve always loved animals since I was young, the way that they behave, the way that they can understand us and the connection we can have with them.

“That’s why I chose to come here and do Animal Studies at Bendigo TAFE and throughout the year, I knew that I could start taking the next step.

“I kind of wanted to do something that helps other people through animals, they’ve helped me with my anxiety and keep me very grounded and centred and give me a lot more confidence as well.”

Elliot is a Kyneton local and currently works with Farmer Darryl, a mobile animal farm based in Kyneton, assisting with caring for animals and setting up for various events across Victoria.

In addition to Inspirational Student of the Year, Elliot was also awarded:

• Student of the Year Animal Studies, Sponsored by Fish ‘n’ Feathers

View Elliot’s story: Elliot Foster - Inspirational Student of the Year, Bendigo TAFE 2024 (youtube.com)

Comments for attributing

Sally Curtain, Chief Executive Officer Bendigo TAFE:

Bendigo TAFE Chief Executive Officer Sally Curtain congratulated the students and reflected on the vital role of TAFE in enabling students to achieve success in critical skill shortage areas.

"Bendigo TAFE plays an integral role in supporting the region to develop skills and training for successful careers while meeting critical skill needs,” Sally said.

“Vocational education and training is absolutely critical right now. Government and industries are relying on TAFE to equip students with the in-demand skills of the future.

“There is no better evidence of that than in our award winners who have worked hard to excel and are now well-positioned to help employers take their business to the next level!

“I acknowledge our industry collaborators and the Victorian Government for their support including Free TAFE, which enables us to deliver training that aligns with the demands of industry, the economy and the community.”

Institute wide awards

Student of the Year