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Student excellence at TAFE awards by Tim Fitzsimmons 9 September 2013
T
AFE NSW – South Western Sydney Institute (SWSi) won high praise at the annual TAFE NSW Gili Awards in Sydney last night for its work in helping Aboriginal students to excel. The 23rd annual Gili Awards celebrated the outstanding achievement of Aboriginal students, staff and programs and the significant contribution training and education makes to communities. TAFE SWSi was the recipient of two prestigious awards: • The Youth Engagement Award – for its Hands On program which since 2008 has helped more than 400 young Aboriginal people living in south western Sydney complete school and find work • The Community Engagement Award – for its Signing Art program which teaches people from the Aboriginal deaf community how to communicate in Auslan, otherwise known as sign language. TAFE SWSi Institute Director, Peter Roberts said the awards highlighted the institute’s important contribution to the Aboriginal community. “Aboriginal people, like all Australians, have a lot to offer our community,” Mr Roberts said. “Our challenge is finding the best ways of helping everyone achieve their full potential through well designed education and training programs. “On behalf of TAFE SWSi, I
Above: Doug Bowers (TAFE SWSi Disability Consultant, Bader Haouam (TAFE SWSi Auslan teacher), David Roberts (TAFE SWSi Aboriginal Development Manager), Ken Weatherall (R/President of the AECG). Below: Dave Roberts (TAFE SWSi Aboriginal Development Manager), Romina Figuerola (TAFE SWSI Program Coordinator), Greg Prior (DDG Schools). Images: Amanda James
am proud of the small role we’ve played in helping people to unlock their potential and to discover new opportunities.” TAFE SWSi is one of Australia’s largest educational institutions,
delivering programs to more than 72,000 students every year in nine colleges across south western Sydney, in workplaces all over Australia and in partner colleges in China, and the Philippines. Page 1