News

Vacsal RTO Graduation 2015

Jan 06 2016

On the 11^th December 2015 VACSAL held its second graduation for 23 students. Three students completed their Certificate III in Community Services Work and 20 students completed their Certificate IV in Community Services Work.  VACSAL delivered both qualifications in 2015 with outstanding results. The students were offered 2 modes of delivery that included weekly workshops and workplace.  VACSAL recognises the enormous commitment the students and their families who support the students behind the scenes have made. The students are extremely keen to maintain or access employment in the community services sector so they can support their community.

Dr Alf Bamblett’s dream of VACSAL becoming a quality RTO is well and truly alive.  His legacy continues to inspire the students and staff.  His leadership and vision for the organisation he founded and lead and his passion for providing opportunities for his community is an integral teaching of the course.

Linda Bamblett (VACSAL’s EO) provided the graduands speech. Linda spoke briefly about her own impressive educational journey and could identify how challenging it is to be a student balancing family, community, work and life.  Linda acknowledged the students on their exceptional accomplishment and also thanked the RTO staff team for their hard work and commitment.

The graduation was one of mixed emotions of joy, achievement and also of deep sadness due to Uncle Alf’s passing earlier this year. Many students were directly affected by this enormous loss but they showed enormous resilience, courage and dedication to successfully complete the course.  

La Trobe University sponsored several educational awards in recognition of particular student’s outstanding achievements. They are as follows:

·         Mark Rose presented the ‘La Trobe University Award’ for further education to Jesse Williams. Jesse has enrolled with Deakin University to study a degree in social work.

·         The ‘Dr Alf Bamblett Achievement Award’ was awarded to Bailey Austin and Scott Krakouer for demonstrating outstanding strength in their ability to deal with difficult life challenges achieve outstanding educational success.

·         The ‘Aunty Bunta Patten Achievement Award’ was awarded to Casey Tennyson and Jessica Martin for demonstrating outstanding strength in their ability to deal with difficult life challenges and achieve outstanding educational success.

And finally the ‘Mentoring Award’ was presented to Julie Bamblett, Nazeree Dickerson and Jamara Maza for their excellence in mentoring. They demonstrated the ability to build and nurture relationships with students, provide encouragement and inspire participation. This award was in acknowledgment and appreciation for sharing their knowledge, advice and wisdom throughout the course.

Nazeree Dickerson and Jamara Maza provided the final word on behalf of the students and said “Our classroom here at VACSAL was not a traditional classroom setting. Our course material was delivered to us in more of an ‘Aboriginal’ way. There was storytelling, mind mapping and many of our units were achieved through group discussion and brainstorming on butcher’s paper. This flexible style of learning allowed us to draw on our own experiences as well as each other. It meant that no one was left behind. It wasn’t a one size fits all course. Our facilitators backed us all the way and it is as much a credit to them as it is to us that we are all here tonight.”

On behalf of VACSAL we congratulate all students on their excellent success and wish them well for their future endeavours.

Melinda Eason

RTO Manager