DROMANA engineering apprentice, Callum Robertson, was named Apprentice of the Year at the 10th annual Chisholm Award on Tuesday 25 June for his work with STEG Engineering and his mechanical engineering studies at TAFE’s Dandenong campus.
Robertson’s TAFE teachers said he had a passion for engineering, always tried to achieve and had invented some engineering tools to solve problems. They described his technical skills and proficiency with machinery as excellent.
“I just go about doing what I’m trained to do … but if I’m going to do a job, I’ll give it my best shot,” Robertson said.
Chisholm communications spokesperson Allison Troth said Robertson’s advice to students thinking of taking up a trade was – “give it a go … what have you got to lose. There’s so much trade work around at the moment, you’ve got to have a try”. Robertson had already clinched the bronze medal after attaining the highest score in Victoria at the annual National World Skills Awards.
Year 12 student and budding engineer Aiden Beckinsale of Tyabb has won the Secondary Student of the Year award at the annual Chisholm awards. Beckinsale combined his school based apprenticeship at Flinders Community Christian College with practical work at GT and JA Jones Engineering in Dandenong South, during his engineering studies at Chisholm TAFE.
He will complete his year 12 vocational major this year but has still found the time between study and work to volunteer for community fundraisers and mentor fellow students who are not quite sure what direction to take.
Chisholm spokesperson Allison Troth said the TAFE considered Beckinsale an ambassador for the future of TAFE education.
“A student wanting to try something different beyond traditional high school, to learn a specific skill in a practical setting, and to make the most of it,” she said. “He forgot to tell his parents he’d been nominated for the award and has big dreams for a practical engineering career in the renewable energy sector.”
Only 10 out of 28,000 students are chosen by Chisholm TAFE lecturers to receive awards, which showcase students who have overcome self doubt or adversity to flourish in further education. The criteria to be chosen included the students’ commitment, ability to overcome challenges, course engagement, study innovation and community building. Student nominees included refugees, courageous older students studying further education for the first time and women who had been told they would never study or had succeeded in non-traditional trades or industries.
First published in the Mornington News – 2 July 2024
