TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute (NSI) student, Heidi Scher has won the 2010 NSW Vocational Student of the Year Award at the annual NSW Training Awards.
NSW Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Verity Firth MP, presented the awards to the winners at a gala presentation dinner at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre on 16 September 2010.
Heidi said that although she wanted to win, she was completely shocked when her name was announced. “I felt like I had won an Oscar. I was very proud to receive the award. After gaining so much from my vocational training, I feel that I have won in more ways than one,” said Heidi. “NSI has changed my life,” she added.
The NSW Training Awards celebrate excellence in vocational education and training, and highlight the benefits of vocational qualifications for individuals, communities and industry.
Audette Benson, R/Associate Director, NSI said, “I am delighted that a Northern Sydney Institute student has won such a prestigious award. I congratulate Heidi for her outstanding achievement and also Susan Coleman and her teaching staff at Northern Beaches College for their ongoing commitment to excellence.”
The Northern Beaches College student received her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in 2009 whilst also studying a Diploma of Management. Heidi was able to mentor and train new managers in her workplace and, on completion of her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, she was promoted to a newly created position of Company Store Training Manager at Howards Storage World, Warringah Mall. Heidi has recently accepted a new position as Assistant Centre Manager at Westfield Bondi Junction and is now finishing the first year of the Master of Business Administration at UTS at credit and distinction level.
Verity Firth, Minister for Education and Training said, “To win a State Award is a tremendous achievement - these students and training organisations have graduated at the very top of their class.”
The NSW winners will now represent NSW at the Australian Training Awards, to be held in Sydney on 19 November 2010.