Time to shine for GOTAFE graduates
Students with inspiring stories will share the stage with national celebrities at three GOTAFE graduations over the course of March.
2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott will be the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremonies, which will also feature Emcee Tim Campbell and nurse-turned-comedian Georgie Carroll.
They will be joined by graduate students from across the GOTAFE footprint, who will share their stories on stage.
The first of three graduations will be held this Wednesday (1 March) at Trawool Estate, where students from GOTAFE’s Seymour and Wallan campuses will graduate. Benalla and Wangaratta students will celebrate at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre (WPACC) on 15 March and Shepparton students will get their chance at the GV Hotel on 22 March.
Dylan Alcott is one of the nation’s most successful Paralympians and was named Australian of the Year in 2022. He is the only male in any form of tennis to win the ‘Golden Slam’ by taking out the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open Championships along with a gold medal from the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021.
Dylan previously spoke at the GOTAFE Staff Development Day in September last year, raising awareness of what it’s like living with a disability.
Joining Dylan as guest speaker is nurse-turned-comedian Georgie Carroll. Georgie was the most requested when students were surveyed on who they would like to see at graduations. She has had sell-out shows at major comedy festivals, with performances drawing on her 18 years of Emergency and Intensive Care Nursing, as well as her family life.
Tim Campbell, one of Australia’s most versatile and much-loved entertainers will once again be emceeing the events.
Dylan Alcott is one of the nation’s most successful Paralympians and was named Australian of the Year in 2022. He is the only male in any form of tennis to win the ‘Golden Slam’ by taking out the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open Championships along with a gold medal from the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021.
Dylan previously spoke at the GOTAFE Staff Development Day in September last year, raising awareness of what it’s like living with a disability.
Joining Dylan as guest speaker is nurse-turned-comedian Georgie Carroll. Georgie was the most requested when students were surveyed on who they would like to see at graduations. She has had sell-out shows at major comedy festivals, with performances drawing on her 18 years of Emergency and Intensive Care Nursing, as well as her family life.
"“the graduation ceremonies are an important opportunity to celebrate the success of our students and their family, friends, peers and trainers who have supported them throughout their studies. We are incredibly proud to have a such a high calibre of guest speakers to inspire and motivate the graduating students as they enter the workforce and begin their professional journeys”."
Quotes relevant to Seymour/Wallan Graduation at Trawool Estate on Wednesday, 1 March at 6:00 pm
Buxton local Mischa Toll, who is graduating with a Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315) will be speaking at the Seymour and Wallan Graduation, taking place at Trawool Estate on Wednesday, 1 March.
"“The reason I chose to do that course, was because of my own experience with mental illness in the past and the supports that I had to help me, get through that and on the road to recovery. It’s something that I've wanted to do for a long time”."
Mischa overcame many personal struggles during her studies. "Most of us that are studying those sorts of courses, we're not kids and we've got families and just trying to balance everything is pretty hard,” Mischa said. “I would not have even finished the course if it wasn't for my trainer encouraging me and pushing me through it," she added.
“The most rewarding part was the fact that I finished it and I’ve actually got two jobs now from doing that course,” she said. Mischa is now working at a not-for-profit organisation, giving back to the community and using her own personal experiences to help other people with their mental health.
Quotes relevant to Wangaratta/Benalla graduation at Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Wednesday, 15 March @6pm
Yarrawonga mother-daughter duo Shelley and Emma Souter will speak at the Wangaratta and Benalla Graduation, sharing their story of completing a Diploma of Nursing at GOTAFE’s Docker St, Wangaratta campus.
Shelley was a stay-at-home mum and operating her own beauty business for 15 years. When COVID struck, she knew it was time for a career change.
"“I was in the beauty industry, and it shut down with COVID and I thought wanted a career that won't happen to me again. At the time my dad was also terminally ill with cancer. So, I thought well, nursing is a good avenue to go down”."
Emma was studying teaching at university but didn’t feel it was the right fit for her. She decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and enrol the Diploma of Nursing at GOTAFE. “She just did it because I was and then she ended up loving it too,” Shelley said.
Shelley and Emma supported each other through their studies.
“I couldn't have got through it without her,” Shelley said.
“Our approach to studying and completing work was very different. The way we read things was different too, like there could be one question and I would read it one way and she'd read it another,” she added.
Shelley is now working as an Enrolled Nurse (EN) at an aged care facility and Emma is working as an EN at Albury Wodonga Health.
Quotes relevant for Shepparton Graduation at GV Hotel on Wednesday, 22 March 6:00pm
Speaking at the Shepparton event, which is taking place at the GV Hotel on Wednesday 22nd March, is GOTAFE graduate Jay-Leigh Hillebrand. Each Monday, Jay-Leigh would travel an hour and twenty minutes to Shepparton from Kilmore to complete her studies in a Certificate III in Business (BSB30120).
She dedicated her time to achieving a qualification while juggling her young family and employment in Craigieburn. “The hardest part of studying and trying to juggle studying, work, family and life was probably trying to find the common ground and balance between all of them. I was very, very lucky though that Julie, my trainer, was able to allow me to do some days from home to take care of my children or whatever was needed,” she said.
"“I had a great support network while studying. I had my mum, my dad, my partner, my friends, pretty much everyone around me was super helpful and supportive while I was doing it. Taking care of my children, picking them up from school until I got home. I am super excited to graduate because I didn't think I would. I thought that I would struggle and fall behind. But I was lucky enough to never get to that point, and I always had help so I was able to achieve the goals that I wanted and now I get to celebrate it.”"
To find out more about the 2023 graduation ceremonies, please visit our website or call 1800 GOTAFE (468 233).