2024: A year of excellence in education, students, and innovation at GOTAFE
Highlights from GOTAFE's 2024.
As 2024 draws to a close, GOTAFE has again made a significant impact.
The year has been filled with achievements, both big and small, showcasing students' talents, staff's dedication, and organisational growth.
Art and Design Exhibitions showcase local talent
One of the highlights of 2024 was the impressive work displayed by Certificate III in Design Fundamentals (CUA30720) students at local exhibitions in Wangaratta and Shepparton. Supported by the Rural City of Wangaratta and Stellar Café (Shepparton), these exhibitions provided a platform for students to gain confidence, recognition, and exposure. It was a fantastic opportunity for the budding designers to demonstrate their creative talents to the local community.
Volunteer Tutor Scheme empowering learners
In 2024, GOTAFE continued to run its Volunteer Tutor Scheme, celebrating the outstanding contributions of 17 dedicated tutors. These tutors played a pivotal role in supporting 54 students in the English Language Education program, helping them improve their language skills. The scheme’s success highlights the invaluable impact of volunteers on the educational journeys of learners, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds.
GOTAFE competes in WorldSkills competitions
GOTAFE students made a strong showing at the WorldSkills regional competitions held across various campuses. Eight students qualified for the National WorldSkills competition in Brisbane in 2025, competing in fields ranging from construction and welding to cyber security and graphic design. These students showcased their skills across numerous industries, and their achievements underscore the high calibre of education provided at GOTAFE.
Hands-On Trades Expo inspiring the next generation
In August 2024, GOTAFE took on the role of Gold Sponsor for the Hands-On Trades Career Expo, held at the Winton Motor Raceway. The event attracted 1500 students from the Goulburn-Ovens region, providing them with valuable insights into the trades industry. Students had the opportunity to engage with local employers and education providers, experiencing hands-on activities in various trades. GOTAFE's sponsorship helped expand the expo, offering more exhibitors and enriching experiences for all attendees.
Students highlighting impact of vocational education
In 2024, GOTAFE’s Student Ambassador program continued to grow, with four ambassadors representing the institute at a variety of events. Jono Chan, Kate Reid, Alanna Birch, and Tracey Patterson spoke at graduations, participated in industry events, and contributed to marketing activities. Their involvement has been essential in showcasing the diverse opportunities available to GOTAFE students and strengthening community ties.
Student stories
Hearing success stories from our students is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. Here are some of our favourites from this year:
Investing in the future
2024 also marked a year of significant sustainability efforts at GOTAFE, with several new projects completed and launched.
The Type A Gas Room at the Docker Street Campus was officially opened, thanks to funding from the Victorian Government and equipment donations from local suppliers. The room provides plumbing students with hands-on training in gas appliances commonly found in homes and workplaces.
The Future of Agriculture project, worth $1.99 million, came to fruition with the development of 10 new short courses and equipment for agriculture training. This project has seen a surge in interest and enrolments in GOTAFE’s agriculture courses, and students have been able to explore career paths through programs like the "Find Your Passion" event.
The completion of Archer Street Stage 2 at the Goulburn Murray Trades Skills Centre (GMTSC) marked a major milestone for GOTAFE. The $10.67 million expansion introduced a new state-of-the-art plumbing facility and additional training spaces, further enhancing GOTAFE’s capacity to deliver high-quality vocational education.
Connecting with community
GOTAFE’s Open Day events in August 2024 attracted over 800 attendees across campuses in Shepparton, Seymour, and Wangaratta. These events provided a fantastic opportunity for prospective students and their families to explore the diverse courses offered by GOTAFE, tour the campuses, and speak with trainers, assessors, careers advisors, and alumni. The strong turnout demonstrated the community’s growing interest in vocational education.
GOTAFE also hosted three industry connector events in 2024, which saw over 200 attendees. Building on the success of last year’s events, the theme for this year’s Industry Connector Events was: Accelerating our region’s workforce potential through workplace-based training. Workplace-based training, including apprenticeships and traineeships, plays a vital role in building our future workforce in our region. Facilitating events like these ensure employers have access to the information they need to make decisions about how best to meet their workforce needs.
Staff achievements
2024 has been a year of growth, achievement, and community connection at GOTAFE. From showcasing student talent at local exhibitions to celebrating alumni success and continuing sustainability efforts, GOTAFE remains committed to providing high-quality education that empowers people to succeed. As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited about the continued opportunities for learning, innovation, and community engagement.
