Skills that are helping shape the region’s employment and business landscapes have been highlighted in the annual 2016 Hunter TAFE Awards.

Hunter TAFE presented 36 awards as part of its annual Awards at Crowne Plaza Terrigal in front of a crowd of more than 190 students, business and community leaders on Friday evening.

The Awards, which are supported by more than 19 industry and business partners, included the announcement of Industrial Design graduate, Oliver Bamford, from Mayfield as the winner of the 2016 Hunter TAFE Student of the Year Award and Medal of Excellence.

In 2015, Oliver completed the Advanced Diploma of Industrial Design. His passion for design and high-level application skills placed him at the top level of his cohort. Oliver has displayed great leadership and collaboration, working with fellow students to design and manufacture the 2015 Hunter TAFE trophy, which was presented at last year’s awards. He has also collaborated with fashion design students to apply industrial laser cutting techniques to cut garment fabrics.

Oliver is now completing the final year of the Industrial Design program at the University of Newcastle to gain his bachelor Degree and has secured employment with Robotic Systems in Newcastle where he is designing drone housing components.

The Alumni Awards included three categories:

• Contribution to Business
• Contribution to Community
• Emerging Talent

Dr Melanie Hayes was recognised for her contribution to business. She started her career in dentistry at Hunter TAFE completing a Certificate III in Dental Assisting. Melanie went onto complete her Bachelor, Honours and PhD in Oral Health at the University of Newcastle whilst working as a Dental Hygienists in practices across the Hunter. In 2009, Melanie began Lecturing at the University of Newcastle and in 2014, she took up a lecturing position as Lead Dental Hygiene Lead at the University of Melbourne. As one of only a small number of Dental Hygienists in Australia to hold a PhD, Melanie currently holds a number of prestigious positions including President of the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia, Editorial Member of the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, and has won countless academic awards.

Peter Ives, Site Foreman at North Construction, was announced as the winner of the Emerging Talent Award. Peter completed his Building and Construction Apprenticeship with North Construction on the Central Coast, graduating in 2015 with a Certificate IV in Building and Construction. A passionate and determined young tradesman, Peter excelled in his apprenticeship and represented Hunter TAFE in the WorldSkills Australia regional and national competitions winning Gold in the Building and Construction category in 2014. After winning gold he was identified as a young industry talent and received a place in the 2015 BBM Skilled Future leadership program, which took him to the UK. Upon returning from the UK with international work experience, Peter returned to his position at North Construction and was promoted to Site Foreman this year, here he is responsible for management of construction staff on projects. In April this year, Peter was awarded WorldSkills Australia’s Ern MacDonald Scholarship worth $10,000.

Andy Meier, Director of Strategic Minds Communications, was recognised as the winner of the Contribution to Community. Andy has more than 20 years’ experience working in design studios and advertising agencies nationally and internationally. His faith and passion for the not-for-profit sector lead him to a Creative Director role at Compassion Australia. During his five years with Compassion, Andy completed a Diploma of Management at Hunter TAFE developing best-practice skills that he implemented in his role managing a six person creative team. Andy now runs and operates his own business, Strategic Minds Communications where he develops innovative and integrated marketing strategies for Australian and international clients in the not-for-profit sector. He also contributes to a number of charities in a pro-bono capacity.

Hunter TAFE Institute Director, Christine Warrington, said that the 2016 Awards highlighted the value of industry relevant vocational education and training.

“The awards are a true representation of the diversity and breadth of skills learning, educational pathways and support services that are offered across our footprint both on the Central Coast and in the Hunter,” Christine said.

“Importantly these awards also recognise the way that our graduates are using the skills that they have learnt at Hunter TAFE to build the future business and economies for our regions.”

A full list of 2016 Hunter TAFE Award winners follows.

• 2016 Hunter TAFE Award and Medal of Excellence

Awarded to Oliver Bamford

• 2016 Highly Commended Award

Awarded to Samuel Munt

• 2016 Apprentice of the Year Award

Awarded to Cejay Alsop of Silverwater, Lake Macquarie

• 2016 Trainee of the Year Award

Awarded to Katherine Roworth from Warners Bay, Lake Macquarie (Katherine also won the Children’s Services Award)

• 2016 Industry Partnership Award

Awarded to the Central Coast Local Health District

2016 Alumni Award Winners

• Emerging Talent Award

Peter Ives, Site Foreman, North Construction, Central Coast

• Contribution to Business

Dr Melanie Hayes, Dental Hygiene Lead Lecturer, the University of Melbourne

• Contribution to Community

Andy Meier, Director, Strategic Minds Communications

2016 Industry Excellence Awards

• Design Award sponsored by Out of the Square media

Awarded to Oliver Bamford of Mayfield, Newcastle (Oliver was named the 2015 Student of The Year and Medal of Excellence Award Winner)

• Education for Careers and Further Study Award

Awarded to Thomas Goodwin from Valentine, Lake Macquarie

• Business Award

Awarded to Roslyn Daly from Summerland Point, Lake Macquarie

• Information Technology Award

Awarded to Benjamin Corrigan from Toronto, Lake Macquarie

• Children’s Services Award sponsored by Lake Macquarie Family Day Care

Awarded to Katherine Roworth from Warners Bay, Lake Macquarie (Katherine also won the 2016 Hunter TAFE Trainee of The Year Award)

• Community Health and Well Being Award sponsored by Hunter New England Health

Awarded to Sharon Furby from Hamilton, Newcastle

• Creative Industries, Fashion and Media Award sponsored by the Newcastle Herald

Awarded to Samuel Munt of Lake Munmorah, Central Coast (Sam was also awarded the 2016 Highly Commended Award)

• Hair and Beauty Award sponsored by Joico

Awarded to Alex Brown from Floraville, Lake Macquarie

• Food Services and Hospitality Award sponsored by Crowne Plaza

Awarded to Zoe Saunders from Toronto, Lake Macquarie (Zoe was also awarded a TAFE NSW Ambassador Scholarship)

• Tourism, Events and Outdoor Recreation Award sponsored by The Wests Group

Awarded to Shari Nichol of Cameron Park, Lake Macquarie

• Animal Studies Award

Awarded to Holly Smith of Metford, Maitland

• Environment and Agriculture Award sponsored by Port Waratah Coal Services

Awarded to Neil Ramsay of Winston Hills, Sydney

• Building Industries Award sponsored by The Master Builders Apprentices

Awarded to Nathan Jones of Mayfield, Newcastle

• Science Award sponsored by Origin Energy

Awarded to Ferran Thornycroft of Point Clare, Central Coast

• Maritime and Marine Award sponsored by Port Authority of NSW

Awarded to Simon Blackmore of Currimundi, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

• Manufacturing and Engineering Award sponsored by HunterNet

Awarded to Dylan Bolch of Woodrising, Lake Macquarie

• Plant and Heavy Vehicle Award sponsored by Komatsu

Awarded to Aaron Fogarty of Singleton, Upper Hunter

• Paint and Panel Award sponsored by PPG Industries

Awarded to Lachlan Richards of Belmont, Lake Macquarie

2016 Institute Excellence Awards

• Cultural Diversity Award sponsored by Northern Settlement Services

Awarded to Khadijeh Ebrahimi of Jesmond, Newcastle

• Aboriginal Learning Circle Amplify Award sponsored by Hunter TAFE Foundation

Awarded to Venus Schey of Marks Point, Lake Macquarie

• International Student Award

Awarded to Tatiana Shepeleva of Warners Bay, Lake Macquarie

• Higher Education Award sponsored by TAFE NSW Higher Education

Awarded to Sam Lightfoot of Tenambit, Maitland

• Together Today Award sponsored by Together Today

Awarded to Benjamin Saxon of New Lambton

TAFE NSW Ambassador Prizes

Zoe Saunders of Toronto, Lake Macquarie (Zoe was also awarded the Food Services and Hospitality Award)

Bradley Burgoyne of Wallsend, Newcastle

Jodie Flanagan of Hamilton South, Newcastle

2016 Statewide Awards and Medals

• Statewide Medal – Environmental Monitoring Technology – Diploma

Neil Ramsay of Winston Hills, Sydney

• State-wide Medal – Laboratory Technology (Chemical & Forensic Testing) – Diploma

Ferran Thornycroft of Point Clare, Central Coast