Welcome to the Ask an Envoy Site

Hi,  Welcome to the ask an envoy site.  My name is Paul and I am one of the student envoys asked to participate in this program.  I hope that I can help to answer any questions relating to TAFE that you have from my own experiences whilst studying.

To let you know a little about myself, I have studied at TAFE at different times, in different subjects.

After leaving school, I studied my trade to become a motor mechanic.  while working as a motor mechanic I studied many short courses at TAFE to advance my skills and knowledge.  After working as a motor mechanic for many years as well as owning my own successful workshop I felt I needed a change of career.  I then studied my carpentry trade at TAFE followed by the certificate 4 in Residential Building Studies, which has advanced my career to become projects supervisor.

TAFE has helped me throughout my working career with the knowledge I obtained though my study, and I am quite sure that I will revisit TAFE at some stage to complete further subjects, to adavnce my skills for my work.

I hope that you make use of this program, and I can share my knowledge of studing at TAFE.

Good Luck

Welcome to the Illawarra Institute’s ‘Student Envoy’ blog!

The Illawarra Institute Student Envoy Program was set up to provide some of our outstanding students with an opportunity to further develop their business skills such as networking and public speaking as well as promote the benefits of a TAFE qualification.

Who better to tell you about the ‘TAFE experience’ than someone who has benefited from it!

Our 2009 Student Envoys are Paul Battersby and Jessica Koot.

Paul completed a Certificate IV in Building Studies, Residential at our Nowra Campus and has achieved many great successes such as our 2007 Illawarra Institute Student of the Year; 2007 Faculty Award – Building & Construction and is the recipient of a TAFE NSW State Medal for achieving the highest average mark in the State of NSW for the course they completed.

Paul is now the Project Supervisor Residential and Commercial at his family’s construction company Batmac based in Nowra.

Jessica completed a Certificate IV in Business Administration at our Shellharbour Campus. She has also been a high achiever including winning a GOLD Regional WorldSkills Medal and going on to participate at a National level, winning a Big Brother Scholarship Winner were she travelled overseas and the 2007 Illawarra Faculty Award for Business & Administration.

Jessica now works at Kells the Lawyers in an administration role mainly in the area of property and commercial.

Ask an Envoy!

You now have the opportunity to ask our Student Envoys anything you may want to know about their TAFE experience, what their TAFE qualification has meant for them and where it has led them. Please note that these guys lead busy lives so it may take a few days to respond!

Ask away…. regards Liz Thomas, TAFE NSW – Illawarra Institute