Achievement: Panel MC Paris Zachariou (centre) with graduating students (from left) Jono Chan, Kate Reid, Tracey Peterson and Alana Birch. Photos: Faith Macale
Photo by
Faith Macale
On Thursday, March 7, GOTAFE students gathered at the Seymour Community Arts Centre for their graduation.
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There were 33 graduates hailing from different parts of Victoria.
Among the graduates was Jono Chan, the co-owner of Elsewhere at SAM, a café at Shepparton Art Museum.
He graduated with a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.
“It is surreal that I’m here,” he said.
“I’ve had a couple of challenges that were in my own doing and very, very lucky to be able to finish off my course.”
Mr Chan said he was grateful for his trainers, who accommodated his other commitments during the two-year course.
“I missed a lot of class, and it’s just been a lot of juggling both with TAFE and co-owning a business,” he said.
To those who want to upskill or learn something new with GOTAFE, Mr Chan has a message.
“Trying something with GOTAFE was super easy. It was a no-brainer,” he said.
“The advice that we give someone wanting to venture into ... business while studying at TAFE is make sure that you are making enough time to sleep.
“No matter how determined you are and no matter how ambitious you are, if you are not sleeping well, you won’t be able to juggle both.
“It takes a lot of commitment, but it is very achievable.”
After graduating, Mr Chan plans to take Elsewhere at SAM to a new level.
Multitask master: Catherine McInerney is a trainer and assessor in early childhood and was among the students who graduated on Thursday, March 7.
Photo by
Faith Macale
Another graduate was Catherine McInerney, who not only graduated with a Certificate in Training and Assessment but was also one of GOTAFE’s trainers and assessors for early childhood.
When she was employed at GOTAFE, she didn’t have a certificate for it, but the program helped her achieve that and continue with her passion for working in early childhood.
Ms McInerney said teaching and pursuing the course simultaneously was enjoyable.
“Obviously, there were difficult times but, you know, I’ve got the support of my co-ordinator,” she said.
“If I said to her, ‘I’ve really got to get this done’, she would make sure that I had the time.
“I have an awesome early childhood team, so I’m really lucky ... (I) have great mentors, so it made my training with GOTAFE easier.”
Wise words: Students deliver a panel discussion about their journey with GOTAFE.
Photo by
Faith Macale
One of her students in early childhood training also graduated with her and was one of the students who took part in a panel discussion during her graduation.
That student was Euroa resident Alana Birch. She completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care with GOTAFE and is currently studying for her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
“It’s just awesome,” Ms McInerney said.
Ms Birch said she had always adored children and knew at a young age that she wanted to pursue a career involving them.
“It is important to provide children with a safe sense of security and belonging in a warm, welcoming, encouraging and stimulating environment for the learning and development to have the best impact on the lives of our future generation,” she said.
“I wanted to be like a role model for young children to be their voice and help teach a generation.”
Among other graduating students were Kate Reid, a busy mum of two who finished her Diploma in Nursing, and Tracey Peterson, a student ambassador who completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.
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