CDU delighted to win major training award
Students, staff and Charles Darwin University as a collective have been acknowledged for educational excellence, collecting wins in six categories at the NT Training Awards presentation dinner in Darwin at the weekend.
Individual winners were Chrissy Zelley (VET teacher/trainer of the Year), Nathan Powell (Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year), Kimberly Brewster (Trainee of the Year), Sonny Malmerin-Fejo (Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year) and Jemma Young (VET in School Student of the Year).
CDU also won the prestigious Training Provider of the Year, an award that Pro Vice-Chancellor VET Christine Robertson said reflected the outstanding commitment and effort of staff, students and administrative support teams.
“It was a delight to receive the NT Training Provider of the Year Award for the second year in a row,” Ms Robertson said.
“I congratulate my VET colleagues for their continued professionalism, commitment and high levels of excellence. I also congratulate the category winners, the runners-up and indeed all finalists.”
Ms Robertson said it was exciting to see strong representation from the Territory’s regional and remote areas.
“I know staff at our Katherine campus will be celebrating with Chrissy Zelley, who covers an enormous expanse to deliver Certificate III and Diploma training in Early Childhood Education and Care.”
Indeed Ms Zelley’s student group spans 110,000 square kilometres encompassing Timber Creek, Kalkaringi, Mataranka, Ngukurr and Katherine.
“I have been fortunate to have had some special teaching moments where students have persevered with their studies to become qualified,” Ms Zelley said.
“It makes me feel extremely proud that we have really worked hard to reach the goal of completion.”
CDU students who were runners-up in individual categories were Amber Cadell (ATSI Student), Tannah Gould (VET in Schools) and Linh Do (International Vocational Student).
As Training Provider of the Year, CDU has the opportunity to compete to be a finalist at the Australian Training Awards, which will be presented in Sydney this November.