News at TAFE NSW Sydney Institute

Congratulations go to Teresa Papadoulos who has won a scholarship to study a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration at Design Centre Enmore.

This is the first time the Thomas Gillies scholarship has been granted and is in honour of the life and achievements of Thomas Gillies and his unique and outstanding contribution to the design industry.

The scholarship is sponsored by Radford Furnishings and the Director, James Marks, is pictured with Teresa at the official presentation.

Find out about interior design courses and other design disciplines.

Sydney Institute has given more than $20,000 to help rebuild a Samoan village after it was destroyed in the 2009 tsunami.

Raised at a silent auction at our 120th Anniversary Gala Showcase last year, the cheque for $20,870 was recently presented by Sydney Institute’s acting Director, Mark Howland, to Groundswell, a not-for-profit aid organisation which we have close links with.

Two members of our staff – Mark Hawkins and Reg Barton – helped set up Groundswell after one of their favourite surfing destinations on the Pacific island was devastated.  As part of their work to help the Poutasi Village get back on its feet, they have taken over a number of groups of carpentry and building apprentices to work on reconstruction projects.

Most recently, Randwick College apprentice Alex Ognjenovski sacrificed two weeks of annual leave to help out along with fellow students. Alex also got to meet National Rugby League legend Nigel Vagna and South Sydney Rabbitohs Captain, Roy Asostasi, at the cheque presentation as they are also big supporters of the project.

Would you like to know more about carpentry, building and construction?

Did you know Sydney Institute has an online careers service for students?

Careers Connect is a free online job vacancy and careers information service for all Sydney Institute students and recent graduates. More than 5,000 employers from a vast range of industries advertise with Careers Connect – so make sure you log on to get the job of your dreams!

Registered students can browse job opportunities, view career information sheets and make use of the online résumé builder. You can also make appointments with Careers Connect officers via the portal for help with writing a résumé, putting together applications for jobs and general advice for finding employment.

There are also free workshops at Gymea Campus and Randwick and Ultimo Colleges for students covering:

• résumé writing
• job search strategies
• writing cover letters
• selection criteria
• interview skills. 

Search all the hot new jobs and learn the latest interview techniques now!

More than 20 students have won scholarships to TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute.

Although the 22 scholars are various ages and at different stages in their lives, they all have one thing in common, they’re following their vocational dreams to change their lives forever.

From leaving home at 16 to make it as a chef in the city, to career changes later on in life, they share a passion for their chosen courses and have their own story to tell.

This year’s winners were acknowledged at an official ceremony this week at Ultimo College’s Muse building. Acting Sydney Institute Director, Mark Howland, congratulated the students on their success in front of their proud friends and family.

Now in its third year, Sydney Institute’s scholarship program has grown since it started to provide even more opportunities to deserving students. Sydney Institute funded ten of the scholarships with the rest supported by industry sponsors:

• Alina Galasso Trust (Fashion scholarships)
• Food Technology Association of Australia (Food Testing scholarship)
• Hospitality Training Network (Commercial Cookery scholarship)
• Innovation and Business Skills Australia (Accounting and Finance scholarship)
• Kimberley-Clark (Sterilisation Services scholarship)
• Master Plumbers Association of NSW (Plumbing scholarship)
• Oce Australia (Graphic Design scholarship)
• Fraser and Hughes (Patisserie and Baking scholarships)
• National Electrical and Communications Association (Electrical Engineering scholarship)

A state-of-the-art marine bridge simulator is the latest training tool to be launched by Sydney Institute to prepare students for the world of work.

It simulates a real-life ship and therefore has the potential to make you feel seasick but that didn’t put off special guests at the launch at Ultimo College this week. The NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli couldn’t wait to get aboard the facility which is the only one of its kind in Sydney and just one of two simulators in NSW approved by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the accreditation body for maritime training courses.

Matthew Bolton, Head Teacher of Maritime and Aviation Studies at Sydney Institute’s Ultimo College, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to send competent and confident people out into the workforce and the marine bridge simulator will assist us in producing graduates who are genuinely work ready. We currently have around 350 students working towards various qualifications, from Certificate II to Diploma, and it’s great to see the confidence grow in students as they have started to tackle the different scenarios the simulator is able to create.”

Mr Piccoli added: “I’m always pleased to attend new initiatives at TAFE NSW because it delivers outcomes that matter, giving people skills they need to enter the workforce or upskill those who are already working. This new training facility will ensure students are equipped with the practical skills and knowledge to gain employment in the maritime industry, from deck hand to ship’s captain.”

The simulator’s sophisticated technology can simulate the wind, waves, tides, time of day, current, visibility and vessel traffic in a computer-generated area, creating a huge variety of scenarios as students navigate around virtual docks such as Sydney Harbour and the ports of Brisbane, Botany and Newcastle as well as Suva in Fiji.

With the growth in offshore oil and gas projects and current worldwide shortage of ships’ officers, mariners are currently in high demand and the courses at TAFE – some of which start in July – are designed in line with the industry to help fill the gap and produce a high standard of new recruits who are genuinely work ready.

The simulator is a joint venture between TAFE NSW Sydney and Western Sydney Institutes.

Information on maritime courses.

Now’s your chance to kickstart your career in financial planning or accounting with a TAFE NSW degree.

Start studying one of our new degree courses from July:

• The Bachelor of Applied Finance (Financial Planning) will prepare you for employment in the financial services industry. This includes areas such as superannuation, funds management and investment banking.

This course is offered at St George College on a full-time or part-time basis.

• The Associate Degree of Accounting will get you work ready or provide a pathway to an accounting degree at one of our partner universities. You will gain a broad knowledge of the accounting industry and develop strong technical skills.

This course is offered at St George College on a full-time or part-time basis and at Ultimo College on a full-time basis only.

Both courses are based on international best practice and provide students with opportunities to undertake internships while studying, so you can apply what you’re leaning in a real workplace.

TAFE graduates will be offered a seamless pathway onto the courses, with credit transfers available subject to relevant study.

Find out more at one of our information sessions:

• Monday 7 May at 10am or 6.30pm at St George College
Booking is essential – call Vicki on 9598 6245

• Tuesday 15 May at 12pm or 6.30pm at Ultimo College
Booking is essential – call Alicia on 9217 3819

• Tuesday 22 May at 6.30pm at St George College
Booking is essential – call Vicki on 9598 6245

Six Sydney Institute graduates will be showcasing their designs in front of the biggest names in fashion at the Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week on Thursday 3 May.

Ultimo College Fashion Design Studio is the only design school in Australia to take part in the prominent event, a sign that it is one of the premier fashion design schools in the country.

Nicholas Huxley, Head Teacher of Sydney Institute’s Fashion Design Studio, said: “Each year the task of selecting the students to showcase at ‘The Innovators’ show is both exciting and daunting. Previously we’ve put forward four graduates, but the class of 2011 produced such outstanding talent that we have selected six students to showcase their work. Each one has proven themselves to be worthy of the chance to present their finished works to the world on Australia’s most prestigious fashion stage.”

Many former students of Sydney Institute have already hit the big time, including Akira Isogawa, Alex Perry, Lisa Ho, Nicky Zimmerman, Romance Was Born’s Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett and Dion Lee.

But who will be the next big thing?! The six graduates showing at Fashion Week in ‘The Innovators’ show are Kaylene Milner, Christopher Baldwin, Carlie Waterman, Cynthia Thai, Stephanie Goerlach and Yuliy Gershinksy.

After the show, Kaylene will be flying to New York to start an internship with Diane Von Furstenberg as the first ever winner of the Fashion Futures Mentor Program. She will be joining Hayley Watkins, a fellow graduate from St George College, who has also won an internship with the famous designer through a special partnership with Sydney Institute.

‘The Innovators’ show takes place on Thursday, 3 May, at 2pm at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Alex Perry, Sydney Institute graduate, Ambassador and leading international fashion designer was featured in a cover story in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend. The article named him the Gown Prince in recognition of the way he is revered by Australia’s fashion elite.

Check out the Alex Perry article sent to us by editors at Good Weekend and if you are a fashion student at Sydney Institute – read on! You too could be in a feature article one day!

For more information on Fashion Design courses offered at Sydney Institute.

Congratulations to Ultimo College hospitality student Theresa Tran on winning gold at the 2012 Callebaut Chocolate showpiece competition.

Held at Le Cordon Bleu in Ryde, the competition aims to give hospitality students studying at TAFE and Le Cordon Bleu an opportunity to further develop their skills in chocolate showpiece making.

Theresa who is a fourth year patisserie apprentice produced a beautiful piece inspired by the 'year of the dragon'. Her intricate work and clean finish impressed the judges no end and has inspired the student to go on and do more showpiece work in chocolate and sugar in the near future.

 Ken Train, Hospitality Head Teacher at Ultimo College said, “The judges were very impressed with the overall standard of work presented by students in the competition and reflected student training and preparation.

I would like to thank all our participants from Certificate II through to Certificate IV, who stepped up to compete, often upholding study and work commitments alongside the competition. We are looking forward to next year’s competition.”

For more information on Hospitalitycourses at Sydney Institute.