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Future culinary leaders and hospitality professionals enjoyed the first Hello Food Service’s ‘Tomorrow’s Chef’ Forum at the Northern Sydney Institute’s Ryde Campus on Wednesday 21 May.

This joint initiative between the Northern Sydney Institute, Le Cordon Bleu and Hello Food Service took the form of a discussion forum similar to the ABC Q&A program.

The forum showcased a large variety of current apprentices, students, executive chefs and professionals for a lively discussion on the future of the foodservice industry, touching on topics such as appropriate staff hours, the rise of the TV chef, the education of every apprentice and the changing nature of a chef’s career.

Andrea Poletti, Manager of Le Cordon Bleu Sydney Culinary Arts Institute said that it’s important that tomorrow’s generation of top quality chefs are able to express their views and have access to much knowledge as possible, so they can make the right decisions.

“The forum was a great starting point to bring everybody together under one roof and see some passionate ideas thrown around,” she said.

“Everybody was given the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns on the ever evolving hospitality industry and hopefully stimulate and share some innovative ideas for every attendee to takeaway.”

The filming of the event by Hello Food Service will ensure that anybody in the food service industry will be able to view the forum, with a new video every on their website every month exploring hot industry topics, going face to face with the experts, showcasing innovative products, and providing useful resources for up and coming chefs.

If you would like more information on apprenticeships or a career in commercial cooking, call 131 674.

For more information on Hello Food Service visit hellofoodservice.com

The Northern Sydney Institute is rolling out a new initiative in June, designed to help young people make informed decisions about which apprenticeship is right for them.

The five day ‘Trade Readiness’ program will give NSW senior school students and people who have left school a chance assess their suitability to undertake an apprenticeship.

The voluntary program consists of four days of intensive hands-on training and assessment, with a fifth day involving literacy and numeracy screening, exit interviews, career advice and counseling.

The program has been made available to young people interested in an apprenticeship in carpentry, plumbing and various automotive trade areas and will eventually be expanded to include many other trades-based occupations.

The ‘Trade Readiness’ program was developed by TAFE NSW – South Western Sydney (TAFE SWSi) in 2013, focusing on skills including initiative, attitude, trade literacy and numeracy, hands-on skills and coordination.

The Northern Sydney Institute’s Construction and Engineering Faculty Manager, Glenn Williamson said “this program is a win for those interested in an apprenticeship and employers.”

“This program will help young people in our community choose the right career path, and provide local employers with the opportunity to employ young people with the demonstrated skills and competence needed to excel in an apprenticeship,” said Mr Williamson.

Around 200 community members and families enjoyed the Northern Sydney Institute’s Ryde Campus and the City of Ryde’s free Sustainable Transport Open Day on Mother’s Day.

The event was run and planned by students studying the Advanced Diploma of Applied Environmental Management and showcased workshops, talks, displays, information stalls and a variety of different methods of sustainable transport you can use for a healthier, greener environment.

Phil Stewart, Organiser and Applied Environmental Management Teacher said that the day was a great opportunity for people to get a better understanding of the growing range of practical sustainable transport options.

“All of the workshops, displays and demonstrations really illustrated the different sustainable solutions we can implement to face the challenges of the future,” he said.

“It was great to see so many kids learning about bike maintenance and the adults receiving important information on anything from specific sustainable transport in Ryde to personal mobility devices.

“From skateboards to electric cars and bikes, and even unicycles, we encourage everyone to make a change so future generations can enjoy this wonderful country,” said Phil.

If you would like more information on a career in sustainability click on the link or phone 131 674.

The Northern Sydney Institute was delighted to host members of the Adult Multicultural Education Service (AMES) on Thursday 15 May, as they showcased their English language mobile app – World Wide English.

The app was designed by AMES to make learning English, flexible and fun while still being aligned to the Australian accredited Certificates I, II and III in Spoken and Written English.

The focus is on communication skills for work, study and living in English speaking environments from the beginner (IELTS 1) to Intermediate (IELTS 5). Students use video, listening and reading activities to improve pronunciation and comprehension skills. The mobile app allows students to learn at their own pace, on their own device wherever they may be.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher Sophie Dyson and her class in Certificate II in Spoken and Written English were delighted to demonstrate the software’s capabilities.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the preparation and demonstration of this fantastic resource. Representing the Foundation Education Faculty and working with Nick Beswick and Anna Choongo from Adult Migrant English Services (AMES) was an invaluable experience,” Ms Dyson said.

In addition to the demonstration, AMES will facilitate a series of professional development sessions for AMEP teachers at Hornsby Campus, these sessions will concentrate on how to use the applications and software to best blend into classroom delivery. Students who participated in the demonstration each received a full term of free access to World Wide English.

Languages and Tertiary Entry Faculty Manager, Marina Kendal offered her thanks to the team at Hornsby Campus and to her Faculty.

“Thank you all for the organisation and delivery of an excellent presentation and demonstration lesson for the World Wide English program at Hornsby Campus. Our visitors were impressed with the program itself and its versatility, the participation and enthusiasm of the students, Sophie’s teaching, and Hornsby Campus’ hospitality,” said Ms Kendal.

The Northern Sydney Institute is proud to support AMES in providing scope for language and literacy education and in showcasing the capabilities of AMES/TAFE NSW Consortium in providing innovative English language learning opportunities.

To find out more about the variety of multicultural education services available at the Northern Sydney Institute visit, Multicultural Education or call us on 131 674.

Visit World Wide English to download the app for Android or iPhone.

NSI Ryde College recently hosted the Callebaut Chocolate Showpiece Competition.

Students from NSI’s Ryde College, Le Cordon Bleu and Hunter Institute competed for the title of best chocolate showpiece.

The group of 11 students created chocolate sculptures in an attempt to win a $500 voucher for the Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Melbourne.

Each competitor was required to create a chocolate sculpture that reflected an ocean theme, as well as incorporate excellent use of technical skills.

According to competition judge Gary Willis from Callebaut Chocolate, many of the chocolate sculptures took several days to complete.

“Some of the pieces are quite detailed – they were all of a very high standard. Some of the sculptures took over 15 hours to complete,” he said.

“When it comes to showpieces, what we want to be able to see is all the things they have learnt about chocolate. The ability to create a glossy finish, interesting detail with the chocolate and ensuring there is balance and movement through the sculpture is all very important.”

Fellow judge Sebastian Burot, Managing Director of Deshel Foods said that originality also played a key factor in creating a winning sculpture.

“It’s easy to make a tall structure and then add a fish to create an ocean theme - the same as it’s easy to create the same structure and add a flower meet the requirements of a floral theme,” he said.

“But what we are looking for is a piece that really captures the theme with its design.”

The winning sculpture, created by Le Cordon Bleu student Jason Tan, was chosen for its use of balance and use of complex skills.

Tall and elegant, the sculpture depicted aquatic flowers, bright coral and a purple seashell.

Jason said he was ecstatic to hear he had won first prize.

“I was elated! I put in a lot of effort,” he said.

“But I really enjoyed working towards the competition. I haven’t had a lot of experience with chocolate, but I’ve always enjoyed working with pastry and chocolate.”

“I’ve learnt a lot from this experience, especially receiving feedback from the judges and working with the teachers in the lead up to the competition.

“There were a few technical issues with the balance at first, but with help from my teachers I had the confidence to create a great sculpture.”

In addition to the $500 voucher for the Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Melbourne, Jason also received Le Cordon Bleu's latest publication the Chocolate Bible. All participants received a voucher for two to attend Le Cordon Bleu High Tea.

Recent Sydney Wine Academy graduate Leanne Altmann, has won the new Fine Wine Partners (FWP) Scholarship as the top Australian WSET Diploma graduate for the 2012/13 academic year.

Leanne was awarded a $1,000 bursary towards further wine studies, a $1,000 cellar of specially selected wines from the outstanding FWP portfolio and an engraved Spiegelau decanter.

Clive Hartley, Course Director of the Sydney Wine Academy said the scholarship was an amazing accomplishment for Leanne.

“It’s always nice to see graduates of the Academy do well after the completion of their course and for Leanne to be recognised by Fine Wine Partners as the leading Australian graduate in the WSET Diploma, is testament to all her hard work,” said Clive.

“The Sydney Wine Academy has a great record of producing top quality graduates and Leanne is right up there with the best.”

Leanne completed her WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits at the Sydney Wine Academy’s Ryde Campus in 2013 and is currently working as an Assistant Sommelier at Cutler & Co. in Melbourne.

The WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits is the benchmark qualification for the global wine and spirit industry and as graduates of the Sydney Wine Academy program our students automatically become Associate Members of the Institute of Wines and Spirits.

For more information on the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits, go to sydneywineacademy.com.au or phone the Academy on 02 9 448 6369.

The Sydney Wine Academy and the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show are proud to announce that Michael John Van Vuuren is the 2014 winner of the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show’s Associate Judging Award.

The award is given to the graduate with the top practical grades in the WSET Level 4 Diploma of Wines and Spirits.

This impressive accolade was presented to Michael at the Diploma’s graduation dinner in Sydney by Chair of the Wine Show’s committee Lyndey Milan OAM.

Michael will now have the opportunity to act as an Associate Judge in the 2015 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show. Held annually, the show endorses the development of future judges by offering Associate Judging positions and attracts the industries finest winemakers and experienced judges.

Clive Hartley, Course Director of the Sydney Wine Academy said the prize is a great achievement and will provide Michael with a unique experience.

“Michael has proven himself to be outstanding in all facets of his Diploma but in particular, the practical,” said Clive.

“His reward of judging at one of Australia’s leading wine shows is an outstanding opportunity for himself and something that all of our students should be aiming for.”

For more information, go to www.sydneywineacademy.com.au or phone the Academy on 02 9 448 6369.

Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli has launched a new $2.4 million scholarship program named in honour of the NSW Apprenticeship Ambassador, Bert Evans AO. The new scholarships will assist apprentices who need additional financial support to complete their apprenticeship.

“Apprentices are vital to the economic growth and development of NSW. We recognise that some students need additional financial support to help them achieve their training qualification,” Mr Piccoli said.

The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships are worth $5,000 per year of study for up to three years and will be offered to 40 first year, 40 second year and 40 third year apprentices. In total, 120 new scholarships will be awarded this year to both metropolitan and country apprentices.

The scholarships will assist apprentices in NSW who have demonstrated:

hardship in their personal circumstances
aptitude for vocational education and training to lead to successfully completing their trade training
a positive attitude and application in the workplace and in off the job training.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible apprentices must:

be an Australian citizen or hold permanent resident status
be in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of their apprenticeship at the time of nominating
be resident in NSW for the term of the apprenticeship
be in a trade in a skill shortage category in NSW
be in one of the following equity groups:

                 - Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander apprentice
                 - apprentice with a disability
                 - female apprentice in a non-traditional trade for women.

Applications will be available from the State Training Services website from 10 June 2014 and will remain open until the 25 July 2014.

Information on the scholarships is available from State Training Services Regional Centres on 13 28 11 and on the State Training Services website.

The next generation of industry leaders were recognised at the Northern Sydney Institute 2014 Excellence Awards on Thursday 12 June.

Institute Director, Alison Wood, presented awards acknowledging high achievers in 14 categories across the five Institute faculties.

“These students will be future leaders in their chosen industries and represent the best of the 50,000 students enrolled at the Institute each year,” said Ms Wood.

Ms Wood, along with Keith Gomes, Chair of the Institute Advisory Council, proudly awarded the trophy for overall student of the year to Christopher Butts who was the category winner for Tourism, Hospitality and Horticulture.

Mr Butts completed the Advanced Diploma of Hospitality at Ryde Campus and is now enrolled in the Bachelor of Business studies at Crows Nest Campus.

“It’s incredible to be named Student of the Year. The best part about it is being able to make everyone proud who has helped me along the way,” Mr Butts said.

“I hope to inspire other youth and want them to know that if you put your mind to it and you have enough passion and commitment, you can achieve anything.”

This year’s theme for the Excellence Awards event was “illuminate”, shining the spotlight on the Institute’s highest achievers who have a bright future ahead of them. This included recognising seven students who were named on the Charles Sturt University Executive Dean’s list for their exceptional academic performance. These students study degree programs at the Northern Sydney Institute which are delivered on behalf of the university.

The event was held at Ryde Campus, the largest hospitality training facility in the southern hemisphere. It was an opportunity to showcase the talent and creativity of the Institute’s event management, floristry, commercial cookery and hospitality students who played an integral part in making the Excellence Awards event a success.

“It’s testament to our hands-on approach that we are holding this event in a living classroom. At the Northern Sydney Institute we aim to unlock the potential of our students and empower each and every learner,” said Ms Wood.

“We congratulate all our winners and wish them every success in the future.”

The Northern Sydney Institute 2014 Excellence Award Winners

Northern Sydney Institute 2014 Student of the Year
Christopher Butts

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Graham Avery – Ryde Campus

Apprentice Student of the Year (joint winners)
Joshua Mason – Ryde Campus
Luke Piccolo – Northern Beaches Campus

Aspirational Student of the Year
Ryan Stibbard – Ryde Campus

Construction and Engineering Student of the Year
Joost de Greef – St Leonards Campus

Foundation Education Student of the Year
Riko Yaezaki – Meadowbank and Crows Nest Campus

Health and Community Services Student of the Year
James Watson – St Leonards Campus

Higher Education Student of the Year
Madeline Pryor – Crows Nest Campus

International Student of the Year
Brener Barone – Northern Beaches Campus

IT, Media & Business Student of the Year
Karina Baines – Northern Beaches Campus

TAFE Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Student of the Year
Max Wang – Meadowbank Campus

Tourism, Hospitality & Horticulture Student of the Year
Christopher Butts – Ryde Campus

Traineeships Student of the Year
Jade Paget – Crows Nest Campus

HSC Pathways Student of the Year
Sophie Braude – Bradfield Senior College

Sustainability Student of the Year
Vaughan Telfer – Ryde Campus

Major Sponsors for the Northern Sydney Excellence Awards

Silver sponsors:
Fuji Xerox, Only About Children, Northern Sydney Institute Campus Student Associations

Bronze sponsors:
State Training Services, De Bortoli Wines

Roxanne Forward
Graduate - Certificate IV Screen and Media, St Leonards Campus
Works at Fox Sports

1/ What inspired you to do this course?
I had heard good things about the Northern Sydney Institute, but I was out of the country and missed the deadline for enrolments. I emailed one of the teachers explaining what had happened and he agreed to meet me for an interview. Not long after, there was a last minute drop out from the course, making a spot available for me. It was fate!

2/ What did you enjoy most?
All the teachers I had during my year at the Institute were amazing, they all had industry knowledge and were very open about sharing their experiences and knowledge. My studies prepared me by giving me a taste of what to expect in the industry and allowed me to try out roles I never knew existed. The equipment was modern and up-to-date, with a massive studio, separate control room, audio and tapes room. Of course all technology is forever updating but we learnt on AVID for editing which is the Industry standard.

3/ How did you get into the industry?
I graduated in 2013. During my studies, I was an unpaid intern at Essential Media and Entertainment, acting as an assistant for a producer. After completing my Certificate I worked at Channel 10 as a freelancer in tapes during the 2014 Winter Olympics. I have also worked for Shine on “So You Think You Can Dance”, “The Voice” and “Voice Kids”. All of these jobs however low in the ranks have built up my experience, confidence and contacts in the industry. I now work full-time at Fox Sports.

4/ What does a typical day look like in your job?
At Fox Sports, on a typical day, I can have one of three different tasks:
1.       Looking after all the live news feeds, and any crosses that happen from outside broadcasts.
2.       Looking after the tapes and any media clips that come in, as well as monitoring all feeds.
3.       PREP which involves inputting data for programs going live that night or in a couple of days.

5/ What advice would you give to other students wanting to work in your industry?
If you are considering doing the Certificate IV in Screen and Media at the Northern Sydney Institute – DO IT!If you want to get into the film and television industry my advice is:

·         have self-confidence and believe in what you can do
·         don’t be intimidated if at first you don’t understand – don’t be afraid to ask questions and practice
·         get your “foot in the door” and be prepared to start at the bottom
·         connections are everything. Never burn a bridge, no matter what!

For one of my first assignments at the Institute, I had to interview someone within the industry. I interviewed this lovely man who I am still in contact with and consider him a good friend of mine. He put me onto the internship which I did during my year at the Northern Sydney Institute and then through my internship I made a connection with someone who worked on “The Voice”, which in turn connected me to “So you think you can dance”.

13/ Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
I’d like to be a Director Assistant. It’ll be a hard task but I am pretty determined. I would love to on reality programs or talk shows in the future, although I am open to anything really, everything is different in their own way and would be fun and interesting to work on. I would love to meet Chris Brown, Bondi Vet.

To find out how The Northern Sydney Institute, part of TAFE NSW can help progress your career in fim and TV, please visit nsi.edu.au or call 131 674.

Kevin Harris, the Northern Sydney Institute’s Director, 2000 – 2014, has been awarded the prestigious Public Service Medal for his outstanding contribution to the Australian community through Vocational Education and Training.

The Public Service Medal is the highest level of recognition for Australian employees across the Commonwealth, State, Territory and Local Governments. It is awarded to those who have exhibited outstanding levels of service excellence to the public.

Mr Harris has been in the vocational education and training sector since 1972 and has been a fully active member on several national boards and committees including WorldSkills Australia, where he is now Deputy-Chair. He is an outstanding leader, who has made a significant difference to the community and thousands of students, but also to the philosophy and direction of VET in Australia.

His contribution to VET using his connectivity with industry partners such as CISCO has earned accolades of recognition, and his strong commitment to VET through WorldSkills has resulted in higher visibility of VET nationally and internationally through the success of TAFE entrants.

Mr Harris said he was honoured to receive this award; especially to be recognised his contribution to vocational education and training.

“I have been fortunate to work in a sector I am passionate about,” said Mr Harris.

"I feel privileged to be recognised for my contributions to education, knowing that I have made a difference to the learning experiences and outcomes of students who choose to study at TAFE NSW,” said Mr Harris.

“Mr Harris has had a long and distinguished career resulting in enormously positive impacts on the lives of thousands of staff and students, not only in NSW but nationally and internationally,” said David Riordan, Director of Sydney Institute.

“He has been one of the most dedicated and passionate VET practitioners the VET sector in NSW has ever seen and his impact across the sector will be sadly missed,” said Mr Riordan.

It is the professional leadership and unwavering commitment to innovation by Mr Harris, that has been a critical force in driving quality and excellence. The Northern Sydney Institute congratulates Mr Harris on a legacy that will be felt within the Northern Sydney Institute and Australia for many years to come.

Three Northern Sydney Institute students have walked away from the Central and Northern Sydney Regional Training Awards held at Ryde Campus with prestigious awards.

Danielle Kunzle has continued her outstanding achievement in patisserie by picking up an Industry Excellence Award for Excellence in Trade Skills. Following on from her 2013 Northern Sydney Institute Apprentice of the Year award, Danielle has consistently demonstrated her capability at Sweetness the Patisserie and was recognised as a standout candidate.

Lauren Bowler from Bradfield Senior College was awarded VET in Schools Student of the Year. Lauren has now completed a Certificate II in Contemporary Visual Arts, a Certificate III in Employment and Training, and is currently undertaking a dual qualification in Certificate III in Entertainment and Certificate III in Screen and Media - all while studying traditional HSC subjects.

Aaron Gage of Meadowbank Campus took out the School-Based Apprentice/Trainee of the year, simultaneously completing his Higher School Certificate, Certificate III in Plumbing and working at Perfect Plumbing Solutions Pty Ltd.

All three awards are amazing achievements and the Institute is proud of each student.

As Regional Training Award winners, Lauren and Aaron will now go into the running for nominations in the annual NSW Training Awards held in September.

NSI in joint partnership with Scientific Management Associates (SMA) has been successful to win its third tender to train Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel for the next five to seven years in a variety of skilled areas essential to their jobs.

“NSI training offers our navy personnel opportunities to enhance personal career skills and gain civilian accreditations,” said Rick Cummings, Site Training Manager, Technical Training Support Services (East), Scientific Management Associates (Operations) Pty. Ltd.

“After completing these courses, sailors consolidate the skills and knowledge to the RAN work environment to meet the National Defence commitment to keep our RAN ships at sea,” he said.

“TAFE NSW and SMA have been a long time provider of such training which in turn reflects the professional abilities and commitment of our RAN personnel,” he added.

Audette Benson, Associate Director, Engineering Transport and Construction and Hornsby College Director, is proud of the continuing relationship.

“NSI has been providing customised training to the Australian Royal Navy for more than 14 years and will continue to deliver the high standard of nationally recognised training courses,” she said.

“Soon after the successful tender bid, NSI was appointed as training and assessment provider to deliver the welding Australian Standard (AS) 1554 to the RAN. Not previously delivered to RAN personnel, now those who complete the course will receive a qualification that is not only nationally recognised, but also meets Australian standards,” she added.

SMA has the contract and organises the delivery of specialist training to RAN with registered training organisations in different ports across Australia.

Two Northern Sydney Institute international students were recognised at the 2014 Excellence Awards.

Brener Barone from Brazil won the International Student of the Year category, while Riko Yaezaki was awarded Foundation Education Student of the Year. The pair were among 15 winners recognised for exceptional academic results and leadership qualities.

“The Northern Sydney Institute Excellence Awards are an annual tradition and we take pride in applauding the outstanding accomplishments of our highest achieving students,” said Virginia Williams, Manager of International Business.

“We congratulate our international students, Riko and Brener, on their awards and wish them every success in their future endeavours,” she said.

Brener Barone

2014 International Student of the Year

Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Northern Beaches Campus

Brener relocated to Sydney from Brazil in 2013 to follow his passion for cooking. He completed the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery at Northern Beaches Campus where his natural leadership and commitment to perfecting techniques saw him graduate with great results. His success continued in the workplace where he was promoted to Commis Chef at Q Station in Manly.
Brener loves to mix art with cuisine and is keen to continue his studies. His goal is to complete a Diploma of Hospitality and a Business Degree as he works towards his dream of owning his own restaurant.

“The Northern Sydney Institute is one of the best options for those who are looking for an improvement in their career,” Brener said.

Riko Yaezaki

2014 Foundation Education Student of the Year

Certificate III in Advanced English for Further Study & Certificate IV in English for Academic Purposes, Meadowbank Campus

Riko came to Australia from Japan with the goal of studying media at University. Her studies at the Northern Sydney Institute’s TAFE English Language Centre have helped her realise her dream and she is now completing the Diploma of Communication at the Sydney Institute of Business and Technology at Macquarie University.
Riko was a stand-out student and completed two English Language certificates in just 30 weeks. Her determination, academic rigour and leadership qualities will serve her well in her future career.
With a great love of film and family background in the industry, she hopes to work as a film buyer when she completes her qualification.

“My experience at the Northern Sydney Institute was the best. I can confidently recommend to others that this is where to start your career,” Riko said.

To find out how the Northern Sydney Institute can progress your career as an international student through a range of vocational courses

The Northern Sydney Institute celebrated the success of international student graduates in June.
Forty-eight international students were recognised at graduation ceremonies at Ryde and St Leonards Campuses in study areas ranging from commercial cookery, events, tourism and horticulture to marketing, accounting, information technology, nursing and screen and media.

“We organise these special events every semester for our international students as they are not usually available for our local graduation ceremonies. It’s important that all their hard work and commitment is acknowledged formally in front of family and friends,” said Peter Freeman, Manager, International Student Services.

Endeavour Scholarship recipient, Sherwin Jay Ian Manalang from the Philippines completed a dual qualification, graduating with a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and a Diploma of Hospitality. He spoke at the Ryde Campus graduation on behalf of the students and thanked the International Business Unit and International Student Services for their ongoing support for international students during their studies.

“The Northern Sydney Institute is world-class, having outstanding facilities and awesome support systems,” Mr Manalang said.

Mr Manalang has turned down an internship offer from the United States to apply for skilled migration to Australia. His work experience at the Institute’s Ambassador Restaurant and part-time work in the industry will support his application.

Russian student, Ms Vasilisa Grebneva, who completed a Certificate III in Events and a Diploma of Events, also addressed the group.

“The people here are wonderful, starting with the teachers who are highly professional and student oriented; and my classmates who are all so different, yet most encouraging and inspiring, she said.

Ms Grebneva is now pursuing work in the events industry.

The Northern Sydney Institute has been recognised for its ongoing commitment to Aboriginal education and training with a TAFE NSW Gili Award. Recent graduate, Skye Day has won an achievement award for student excellence.

“I am proud to be recognised for my achievements and would like to acknowledge the great support from the Aboriginal Education and Training Unit, Gamarada at Meadowbank Campus which helped me succeed in my studies,” she said.

Skye completed her Certificate IV in Marketing in 2013 and continued her studies in 2014, completing a Diploma of Marketing and a Diploma of Advertising. As a result of her qualifications and skills, Skye was promoted to sales and marketing coordinator in her workplace.

A proud descendant of the Aboriginal Wiradjuri Nation from the Dabee Clan, Skye was also supported by the Institute’s Aboriginal Education and Training Unit in a recent educational trip to China as part of her studies.

In June 2014, ten of the Institute’s business students from Meadowbank Campus travelled to the Shunde Polytechnic College in China to enhance their classroom studies.

“The experience was amazing! We were immersed in another country and culture and in return I was able to give the students some information about my history and about the history of the Aboriginal people,” Skye said.

Skye will be presented with her Gili award at a ceremony on Thursday 28 August in Sydney.

To find out how The Northern Sydney Institute, part of TAFE NSW can help progress your career call 131 674.

The Northern Sydney Institute’s Claire Finch was awarded a 2014 Endeavour Executive Fellowship and will spend the next three months in Indonesia researching the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system.

Ms Finch, Faculty Manager of Offshore Programs at the Institute, will be hosted by Bandung State Polytechnic (POLBAN) where she will meet with educational staff and gain an understanding of the local curriculum and learning style. She will also travel to Jakarta to meet with Ministry of Education and Business Council officials.

Ms Finch aims to explore opportunities in Indonesia with a long term view to expand the Northern Sydney Institute’s Offshore Program. Currently the Institute has a strong footprint in China where it has been running collaborative programs with six Chinese polytechnics and universities for more than eight years.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the training market in Indonesia and look forward to identifying collaborative project opportunities in the VET sector,” said Ms Finch.

The Endeavour Executive Fellowships offer professional development opportunities of up to four months for high achievers. They are internationally competitive, merit-based scholarships provided by the Australian Government to support study, research and professional development programs in Australia and overseas.

Studying at the Northern Sydney Institute isn’t confined within the four walls of a classroom.

Already this year, business and event management students have had the opportunity to travel to Asia on study tours with the support and financial contributions from the Australian Government Department of Education.

Diploma of Marketing student and TAFE NSW Gili Award winner, Skye Day was one of the ten students chosen to participate in a recent trip to China to visit a partner college of the Institute.

“The experience was amazing! We were immersed in another country, another culture, and in return, I was able to give the students some information about the history of the Aboriginal people and my family,” Ms Day said.

“As a thank you for having us at their college, my grandmother, an Elder of the Dabee Clan of the Wiradjuri nation, hand-made some beanies, headbands and copies of her artwork for me to hand out as gifts,” she said.

Ms Day was part of the Meadowbank Campus Business Services Faculty group comprising students from marketing, management, human resources and international business. The group spent 14 days in China, visiting Shunde Polytechnic where they toured the campus and spent time in class with Chinese students. They also had the opportunity to experience the culture and sights of the country. The tour was structured so students gained credit towards one of their study units.

Accompanying teacher, Carin Hurwitz said outbound student mobility programs such as this are a great opportunity to expand students’ educational experiences.

“I believe our students are more aware of relationship building and the complexities of teams and participation therein where there is significant cultural variation,” she said.

“Our students felt this was an opportunity to really understand the culture better, as there were experiences which could not be replicated if travelling to China for other purposes other than Outbound Mobility.”

The Northern Sydney Institute is planning two more Outbound Mobility trips later in 2014 for early childhood students and tourism and hospitality students.

A group of 27 NSI students graduated from the newly introduced Vocational Graduate Certificate in Community Services Practice (Statutory Child Protection) on 12 September 2011.

Funded by the Federal Government and the Department of Family and Community Services, the Vocational Graduate Certificate is part of a workforce development initiative introduced in response to the Justice Wood Commission recommendations.

The new qualification will ensure that all casework managers obtain a tertiary qualification and receive management training. This is the second group of NSI students to graduate from the course this year.

The graduates include Indigenous Australian caseworkers currently working in NSW.

Mandy Brown, Acting Casework Manager for Family and Community Service, Mount Druitt Community Service Centre was one of the 27 graduates.

Mandy had worked with Family and Community Services for 29 years before undertaking the qualification.

Like many of the graduates, Mandy received recognition of prior learning for the knowledge she had already gained working as a case worker and casework manager. In particular, Mandy has always had a particular interest in out of home care.

“The course really recognised our skills and the content was very relevant to me; I couldn’t speak more highly about it,” said Mandy.

“Completing the course has opened up a lot of doors for me; I’m now eligible to work as a substantive manager.”

NSI Director, Kevin Harris, said he was excited that NSI students were undertaking the new qualification with enthusiasm.

“It’s fantastic to see those already working in the field take the opportunity to gain this new qualification,” he said.

“Each graduate has added to their overall capability by completing the course, ensuring the child protection sector remains equipped with highly trained child protection professionals.”

TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute (NSI) has delivered the first Certificate I in Construction specifically contextualised for the blind and awning industry.

Newly introduced legislation requires those within the blind and awning industry to complete the Certificate I in Construction.

NSI recently trained a group of eight Aluxor Awning Systems employees and retail distributors, focusing on content specifically relevant to the blind and awning industry such as fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment, joinery skills, repairing damaged gyprock, glass cutting, accurate measuring and cutting.

Aluxor is a leading manufacturer of sun-shade systems in Australia.

Marcus McAdam, Director of Aluxor Awning Systems said NSI provided an excellent course, tailored to meet Aluxor’s particular business needs.

“NSI provided a course that was the right level for our participants.

"It not only met the new legislative requirements but was tailored to address specific industry issues we had,” said Marcus.

“Whilst it was a standard course, it was tailored to recognise the pre-learning and existing knowledge many of the participants had.

“There was also a high degree of flexibility with NSI.”

For more information on building and construction courses at NSI click here.

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