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July 13, 2026

TAFE students sweep regional training awards

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Apprentice of the Year Mark Hardy and Woman in a Non-Traditional Trade, Kelcie Fraser at last week's award ceremony.
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Despite widespread privatisation of the post-secondary training sector, TAFEs are continuing to perform at a high level if the results of the recent North Coast Region’s NSW Training Awards are to go by.

North Coast TAFE students took out six of the thirteen categories and were seen onstage throughout the night picking up awards at the presentations at Lismore City Hall last weekend.

The awards are part of the statewide Training Awards which reward high performing students, staff, employers and training providers in the increasingly competitive vocational education and training industry in NSW.

North Coast TAFE director Elizabeth McGregor said the success reflected both on the graduates and the quality of the training they had received.

‘I congratulate all of the finalists and the winners for their achievements – there is no doubt that here on the north Ccoast we have many successful individuals and enterprises, and we are proud of them and their contributions to the prosperity of our communities,’ said Ms McGregor.

A number of the winning students now move on to the state-wide Training Awards in Sydney in September.

North Coast TAFE Automotive teacher from Wollongbar Campus, Mr Kirk Trease, received the Vocational and Educational (VET) Trainer/Teacher of the Year

Full list of winners from North Coast:

Apprentice of the Year

Mark Hardy, Port Macquarie Campus, Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician, Employer: Mackie Electric and Refrigeration, Taree

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year

Sally Avery, Port Macquarie Campus, Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled Nursing – Category 2)

VET in Schools Student of the Year

Shannon Clayworth-Condon, Wollongbar Campus/Ballina High School, Certificate II in Applied Fashion Design and Technology andStatement of Attainment in Fashion Design

Vocational Student of the Year

Brandon Gifford, Lismore Campus, Certificate II and III in Animal Studies

Special Achievement Award

Susan Allum Port Macquarie Campus), Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation

Special award for a Woman in a Non-traditional Trade – North Coast Region nominee

Kelcie Fraser Wollongbar Campus, Certificate III in Carpentry



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