Winners and finalists

Megan Feaver

Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

Trained at South Metropolitan TAFE

Employed by Western Power

After years of searching for her career, and with interests in electronics, Megan decided to undertake a pre-apprenticeship in the electrical trade. Megan has excelled since, securing a coveted Western Power apprenticeship, winning Western Power's Apprentice of the Year and discovered a joy for solving mathematical equations to successfully complete the Capstone assessment. Megan aspires to lead and encourage women into trades. She is already actively involved with the Women in Male Dominated Occupations and Industries network to achieve this goal.

Soleil White

Certificate IV in Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care

Trained at Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services and North Regional TAFE

Employed by Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service

Soleil recently completed a Certificate IV in Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care and is now undertaking a Diploma of Nursing.  Her training has given her the confidence to be an advocate for Aboriginal health care and undertake further studies. As the mother of a two year old, she is extremely motivated to create a better quality of life for future generations. Soleil is doing her part to close the gap for Aboriginal people to provide and assist them with high quality care and take a holistic approach to physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

William Bol

Diploma of Security and Risk Management

Trained at International Academy of Law Enforcement and Security at North Metropolitan TAFE

At 11 years of age, William was taken from his village in Sudan to be trained as a child soldier in Ethiopia. When the Ethiopian Government was overthrown he walked thousands of kilometres alone to South Sudan, with little food and shelter, where he collected firewood to pay his school fees. For years William worked as a labourer by day and studied by night while championing education and training opportunities to family, friends and troubled youths. Eventually William’s journey brought him to Australia where he married, worked as a security guard and studied both a Certificate III in English and Diploma in Security and Risk Management. He is a respected leader in the local African community and plans to continue his training pathway to study a Bachelor Degree of Counter Terrorism Security and Intelligence.

Ananda Paiva

Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

Trained at North Metropolitan TAFE

Ananda decided to transform her passion for cooking into a career. Eager to get ahead Ananda volunteered at a City Beach restaurant to combine her training with industry experience. Ananda now works as a chef at the renowned Must Wine Bar and has even inspired her mother back in Brazil to go to cooking school. Ananda has plans to travel to Mozambique, where her father does missionary work, to teach the community about food wastage saving money.

Crystal Challinger

Trains in Creative Industries

Employed by Canning Vale College

The Canning Vale College teacher champions VET programs for secondary students throughout Western Australia and has been heavily involved in training other VET school based trainers. Crystle taught other teachers about using virtual and augmented reality programs to engage students creatively and students using digital evidence collection for presentations. As an Indigenous Australian, Crystle believes in providing structured alternatives to traditional learning to meet the individual needs of a student.

Roy Hill

Roy Hill is an integrated iron ore mining, rail and port operation in the Pilbara region. The business relies on an efficient, flexible, cost-effective and well trained workforce to meet business needs. In the past 12 months over 150 traineeships and apprenticeships were commenced at Roy Hill. The organisation is driven to give back to the community by offering genuine training and employment opportunities to Western Australians with limited or no mining experience, while upskilling existing employees.

Central Regional TAFE's - Integrating Training and Biodiversity Conservation

Central Regional TAFE in collaboration with several environmental conservation stakeholders is working to protect and restore key ecosystems in the Mid West region. The collaboration focusses on restoring habitats at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and managing invasive aquatic species. With integrated nationally recognised training programs, students gain real world experience on high priority environmental conservation projects, which also impacts employers, the community and the environment.

Collaboration partners include Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, City of Greater Geraldton, and Western Australian Museum.

Mental Health Commission - Strong Spirit Strong Mind Aboriginal Programs

The Mental Health Commission’s Strong Spirit Strong Mind Aboriginal Programs offers culturally secure training in community services to support Aboriginal communities to address issues associated with alcohol and drug use. These programs are developed by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people. More than 250 Aboriginal health workers have completed community services qualifications through the program since it’s commencement in 2003, contributing to a sustainable Aboriginal health workforce in WA.

North Metropolitan TAFE

North Metropolitan TAFE leverages its knowledge and understanding of changing business models and contemporary training techniques to provide solutions to meet the current and future skill requirements of individuals, enterprise and the community. Delivering 40 per cent of WA's publicly funded Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications and taking an active role in delivering priority industry qualifications is all part of this TAFE's planning for a skilled workforce.