The VET Development Centre is the proud sponsor of the Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award at the Annual Victorian Training Awards, a sponsorship that VDC has been involved in since the mid-2000s.
Held on Friday 30 August at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, winners of the 70th Annual Victorian Training Awards were announced at a Gala, celebrating the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in the Victorian vocational education sector.
The prestigious Victorian Training Awards bring together apprentices, trainees, students, teachers, training providers, employers, and industry representatives, sharing in a high-quality training system that meets the needs of all Victorians. Winners go on to compete at the Australian Training Awards in December.
The winner of the VDC sponsored Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award was Dr Adam Bignold, from Federation TAFE, who delivers a Certificate IV in Cyber Security, and a Certificate III in Information Technology.
While teaching simultaneously at university and in VET, Adam noticed a stark contrast between theory-based higher education and hands-on VET. Subsequently VET became his preferred path to share the wonders and infinite possibilities of STEM and technologies where Adam’s students at Federation TAFE are now well prepared for the modern workplace being trained in real life scenarios such as hacking and other practical applications.
Adam was also concerned with the low levels of female participation and challenges for neurodiverse students, so he developed an adaptive, practical curriculum specifically for – diverse learners, English as a second language students, and females. This resulted in doubling female enrolments, a three-fold increase in learner engagement, and a two-fold increase in neurodiverse attendance.
Congratulations also to Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award Finalists:
Megan Dodd, GOTAFE, delivering Certificate III in Agriculture, Certificate III in Dairy Production, Certificate IV in Agriculture, Artificial insemination and fertility management in cattle.
Will Sharpe, Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, delivering Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology, Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology, Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology, Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology.
