Regional talent dominates WA Training Awards, with three individual finalists hailing from Greater Geraldton

Twenty-one regional students, trainees, apprentices and lecturers have dominated the field of 32 finalists for the WA Training Awards, with three nominees hailing from Greater Geraldton. The WA Training Awards showcase the best of the State’s vocational education and training, as well as celebrates the hard work and achievements of individual students, apprentices and trainees from WA’s current and future workforce. Sharita Croft (Diploma of Nursing) from Rangeway, and Kalirra Tesling (Diploma of Beauty Therapy) from Woorree, are finalists in the WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category and both studied at Central Regional TAFE. Greenough woman Renee Garrett (Diploma of Leadership and Management) is vying for WA Vocational Student of the Year. Ms Croft began her nursing journey in 2023 with a Certificate IV and progressed to a Diploma of Nursing after achieving a perfect score on her language, literacy and numeracy test. She was a recipient of both the Puggy Hunter Memorial and Mitsui E/&P scholarships and plans to pursue work placements in Perth and Geraldton, with the goal of working in remote Aboriginal Health. Ms Tesling, a proud Nyamal Martu woman from Port Hedland, found her calling in beauty therapy through the VET Delivered to Secondary Students program. After completing her diploma at Central Regional TAFE, she has been recognised for several awards including Central Regional TAFE’s Aboriginal Student of the Year. She now works at Pure Skin and Beauty Geraldton. After stepping into the mining industry six years ago, Ms Garrett decided to formalise her experience by completing her diploma. While juggling FIFO work, a food van, and family responsibilities, she was recognised with the Rio Tinto Outstanding Achievement Award and was nominated for the Emerging Leaders program. Winners will be announced in September, and recipients will take home a $3000 cash prize and will become ambassadors for WA’s vocational training sector. “This year’s individual finalists are fantastic ambassadors for vocational training, with their unique stories representative of the many ways vocational training transforms lives,” Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said. “I’m especially thrilled to see that regional Western Australians represent 21 out of the 32 individual finalists, highlighting the important role our regional WA TAFEs play in providing affordable and accessible training in their local communities.”