Students and teachers after today’s graduation ceremony at Nurunderi TAFE College … both indigenous and non-indigenous students graduated in courses ranging from agriculture to massage, and from aged care to construction

December 11, 2012

Education is all about potential … the potential to be successful, to achieve outcomes, to gain qualifications, to improve life skills, to be happy and live life with a purpose.

This was the message behind the graduation ceremony held at Nurunderi TAFE college at Cherbourg today for more than 100 students.

Campus business co-ordinator Santina Schmocker said the teachers at the college were passionate about their jobs and saw potential in each and every student at the college.

“Today you will see students who have studied to leave our campus with a qualification, some who have completed skill sets, others who have come to TAFE to upgrade skills and those who have taken steps to improve their literacy and numeracy in order to go onto higher learning,” Mrs Schmocker said.

“Whatever their study was, I applaud every student for possessing the courage to walk through our doors, commit to their chosen field of study and walk away with the desired outcomes they sought.”

Mrs Schmocker singled out some of Nurunderi’s recent success stories including training 60 indigenous men in agriculture, construction and work safety; and retail training for the staff at Cherbourg’s new cafe.

“I would like to make special mention of a student who not only made the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE proud but also her friends, family and work colleagues,” Mrs Schmocker said.

“This special lady is Dallas Robinson. Dallas has studied at Nurunderi in the field of Diploma of Enrolled Nursing and Certificates III and IV in ATSI Primary Health Care.

“Dallas was one of many candidates nominated in the Darling Downs South West Regional Final Queensland Training Awards for 2012 for outstanding achievement by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student within the Queensland vocational education and training sector.

“I am very pleased to advise that Dallas won the award. We cannot be more proud of Dallas and her achievements.”

Certificate III in Business Administration graduate Chantal Harth behind her desk at CROW-FM in Wondai today; Chantal, from Murgon, began at the radio station as an indigenous trainee but took over the administration, sales and promotion role full-time in October
Diploma of Counselling graduate Elizabeth Kennell, (centre), from Murgon, is congratulated by her teachers Cassie Becker and Anne Smith; Elizabeth has been with South Burnett CTC as a support worker for three years, working with children who have witnessed domestic violence; she completed her three-year Diploma in a little over two years
Child, Youth and Family Intervention graduates (and South Burnett CTC employees) … Shaun Bliesner, Tia Poutama and Brenda Brown (Diploma) and Peta Henman (Certificate IV)
Working hard at Cherbourg’s new Yurri Muntha cafe … Certificate II in Retail graduates Nigel Williams, Irene Fisher, Latisha Murray, Leisha Button, James Hopkins and cafe manager Sheree Strauss 
Cherbourg farm mentor and supervisor Troy Fisher with Certificate II in Agriculture graduates Clem Graham, Victor King and Herbert Miller  (Photo: Marcus Priaulx)