Vocational Education and Training (VET) students and staff at St John’s Nowra continue their success, with a number of the school’s Year 12 Hospitality students recognised at the annual Workplace Learning Shoalhaven Excellence in Vocational Education and Training Awards.

The awards are a chance to showcase the many talented Year 12 HSC students in the Shoalhaven region, especially in an area as critical as Vocational Education and Training which is preparing students with the kind of future-ready skills needed in our changing world of work.

In recognition of their outstanding application to all areas of their chosen Vocational Education and Training course, St John’s Year 12 students Olivia Williams, Olivia Ritchie, Molly Davis, Amelia Stanislas and Sandralise Allotta received a Certificate of Excellence in Hospitality  at the awards.

The students were excited to be attending the Bomaderry Bowling Club for the evening, supported by their families, friends and St John’s staff – principal, Sandra Hogan, and VET teachers Nic Garner, Cathy Chittick and Leone Frank.

“Once again, St John’s was well represented at the Shoalhaven VET Awards. We had five students who were all very deserving of their Certificate of Excellence in Hospitality  awards,” St John’s VET Coordinator, Leone Frank said.

“The Certificate of Excellence awards recognise each of the five St John’s students’ high level of skill in both the training and workplace environments, and their ability to complete tasks competently and with the speed required in a busy workplace. All the students have exhibited outstanding employability skills and excellent work ethic” — Leone Frank, VET Coordinator, St John’s Nowra

A special congratulations to Hospitality student, Amelia Stanislas [pictured above] who also went on to receive the Judges’ Award for Outstanding VET Student in the Shoalhaven – a wonderful achievement!

Amelia said she was shocked to receive the Judges’ Award, but also “very proud”.

“I have enjoyed studying Hospitality at St John’s, as it has taught me living skills and the ability to meet and interact with people. It’s also taught me about working as a team and having good communication skills, which will help me with my future goals” — Amelia Stanislas, Year 12 student, St John’s Nowra

The St John’s school community was also very pleased to see Amelia receive this recognition.

“We were thrilled to see Amelia go on to receive the Judges’ Award!  She has always displayed a commitment to her learning and will transfer the skills she has learned to any workplace environment,” Mrs Frank said.

To be eligible for the Shoalhaven Excellence in VET Awards, students are nominated by their school, TAFE or the local employers who have hosted them on industry work placements. 

Workplace Learning Shoalhaven, the organisation that hosts the awards, arranges industry work placements with over 400 Shoalhaven employers for more than 800 local students each year.

The awards celebrate the great partnership between Shoalhaven industry and schools in facilitating these work placements which enable employers to provide real industry-based skills to students as part of the courses they are studying for their HSC.

Vocational Education and Training courses – offered at St John’s Nowra and across our CEDoW secondary schools – provide great scope for young people to obtain industry skills and an industry qualification while completing their HSC, serving as a great pathway for students’ careers ahead. Learn more about VET in our Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools here.

FEATURE IMAGE: St John’s staff with successful students at the Shoalhaven Excellence in VET Awards (L-R): Mr Nic Garner (Year 12 Coordinator); Sandralise; Amelia; Molly; Mrs Leone Frank (VET Coordinator); Olivia R; Olivia W; Mrs Cathy Chittick (Hospitality teacher); and Sandra Hogan (Principal).