Media Centre

Many hands make light work and strong families. Moss Vale’s Harkness family is building a bricklaying dynasty. Three brothers, Bruce, Barry and Max, train at TAFE NSW while working alongside their dad, Jobe, in the family business.

Cody Donovan, 27, worked a range of labouring jobs before being drawn to the rare mix of physicality and job satisfaction offered by bricklaying. Studying at TAFE NSW Bathurst, he’s now a 4th year mature-aged apprentice at TAFE NSW Bathurst.

Dhurga Aboriginal language students at TAFE NSW Moruya are set to benefit from a suite of new resources developed by a local Aboriginal choir to help preserve the language.

Shelley Knight, former Border winery owner, events coordinator and one-time nurse has made a radical career shift to plumbing. She’s part of a small but growing band of women “tapping into” the male-dominated industry.

Stroke survivor Laurence Tockuss nurtured his recovery and gained new purpose studying a Certificate III in Horticulture at TAFE NSW Tamworth.

TAFE NSW Miller stonemasonry apprentices have been given a priceless glimpse into the intricacies of the ancient trade during a visit to the largest cemetery in the Southern Hemisphere.

TAFE NSW Moss Vale students in hair, beauty and design hosted a pamper and photography session for local women. Not only did the makeovers and headshots help boost confidence but students gained experience working with real clients in a team environment.

TAFE NSW has helped a Coffs Harbour mum make a radical career pivot, ditching the corporate world to take on a plumbing apprenticeship.

TAFE Digital helped Jan Ellis reinvent as a building designer following a 20-year career as a writer and actor in South Africa. Jan enrolled in a Diploma of Building Design at TAFE Digital drawn to the flexible, self-paced nature of the online course.

A former Central Coast furniture salesman has made a dramatic career detour, swapping selling couches for a career project managing the construction of “mega-highways” and other major infrastructure projects.

Cessnock’s James Barry has won top vocational training awards and is soaring with Australia’s only Indigenous-run ballooning company. Discover how TAFE NSW helped him turn passion into purpose.

Casino local Alex Synott has been named TAFE NSW Student of the Year after progressing from a Certificate III in Information Technology to a Diploma of Nursing.

Tom Carter, a proud Wiradjuri man who has built a promising career despite leaving school in year 9. He has urged other young locals to consider entering the trades.

Eleven Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) students at TAFE NSW Orange have celebrated a major milestone, graduating from the Stepping Up into Kitchen Operations program by preparing and serving classic Australian dishes for their families.

A chance encounter with the ancient trade of stonemasonry has grown into a full-blown obsession. With the help of TAFE NSW, Travis, an Armidale father-of-two, has built himself a promising career.

Thirteen Bathurst locals are carving out fresh futures thanks to the Certificate II in Career Preparation – a TAFE NSW course that gave them essential skills to pursue further education or employment.

Fifteen AMEP students have celebrated their graduation from TAFE NSW’s Stepping Up into Kitchen Operations course - serving up skills, confidence, and classic Aussie meals.

Dunghutti teen Aliarna turns her passion into a beauty business, all while studying at TAFE NSW and overcoming major life challenges.

TAFE NSW Nyngan students celebrate culture by burning traditional symbols and personal stories onto kangaroo skins. In doing so, they’ve created heirlooms that honour heritage and identity.

Healthcare Heroes is part of TAFE NSW Start Your Future, an initiative of the Educational Pathways Program. This helps year 10 high school students identify potential career pathways through vocational tasters in a wide range of industries.

A former high performance and youth sports coach has made an unlikely career sidestep to stonemasonry, with the help of TAFE NSW Miller.

A group of Corowa High School Year 10 students have laid the foundation for a potential career in bricklaying. This was part of a unique taster program held at TAFE NSW Corowa.

Samira Haidary, a young Afghan refugee with vision impairment, is gaining confidence and skills through English studies at TAFE NSW Lidcombe.

Sixteen proud Indigenous students celebrated a major milestone this week, graduating from the IPROWD (Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery) program – a key step towards potential careers in law enforcement.

TAFE NSW Mount Druitt students competed at the WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships. Held in Brisbane, students Charlie Vella and Samuel Shedden brought home bronze.

Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retail Butcher) student, Tyler Walters, competed at the WorldSkills Australia 2025 National Championships. Held in Brisbane from 12–14 June, Tyler brought home a Medallion for Excellence.

At 19, TAFE NSW graduate Zeke Smith is proving practical training and determination can lead to a successful and rewarding career. With the help of TAFE NSW, Zeke’s Ballina barbershop is taking off.

TAFE NSW student Walaa Al Laham has been named CRISP Newcomer Volunteer of the Year for helping new families settle in Northern NSW.

Students from two Gunnedah high schools have rolled up their sleeves and dived into the world of construction. This is part of a taster program aimed at increasing the number of women entering the industry.

The sky’s the limit! A taster program is shaping the next generation of tradies in Tamworth, teaching students essential skills and connecting them to career pathways.

Hunter region TAFE NSW students took home medals at the WorldSkills 2025 Nationals, showcasing their talent and dedication in trades from baking to business.

TAFE NSW Hamilton baker Connor Beisler is heading to Brisbane to compete at the WorldSkills Australia 2025 Nationals, showcasing his passion and talent on a national stage.

TAFE NSW Mount Druitt student Callahan Smith is set to compete in the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships. Callahan will represent Western Sydney in Light Automotive Mechanical, following his regional gold win.

Ulladulla High School students are getting practical experience in trades through the TAFE NSW ‘Girls Can Too’ program, designed to inspire young women to explore careers in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Blaze Taylor, a proud Wailwan man and TAFE NSW IPROWD graduate, has been named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year for his leadership in justice reform.

A Wagga teen female apprentice bricklayer from Wagga has urged other young women to consider studying the trade. TAFE NSW lays the foundations for a rewarding career.

Griffith students step into the world of building and construction, thanks to a TAFE NSW program that provides practical skills and a unique taste of what it is like to pursue a trade-based career.

More than 150 Riverina high school students explored practical workshops and cutting-edge careers at the TAFE NSW Ag Industry Day. It offered opportunities to engage with local industry experts and learn about the latest innovations shaping the future of agriculture.

A group of migrant students at TAFE NSW Wollongong are studying the Certificate IV in Mental Health. They’re improving their language skills while gaining essential qualifications for the sector.

TAFE NSW Goulburn’s Career Preparation course is helping young people gain confidence, skills and direction for their future.

TAFE NSW Newcastle students are using their new digital skills to run a food donation drive. Students are gaining confidence while given back to local charity Soul Hub.

From passion to profession, the TAFE NSW stonemasonry course has helped Shane McKay shape a new career. It’s opened the door to new opportunities and a fresh outlook on his future.

A TAFE NSW program has given Albury high school students a taste of the construction world. Learning essential skills and career pathways for a rewarding future in the industry.

TAFE NSW has been answering the call for more skilled accountants in the production industry. To help our community, we’ve been connecting our accounting graduates with local production companies.

Northern Sydney locals are being encouraged to explore TAFE NSW Ryde as new data shows one in three plan to switch jobs. In doing so, TAFE NSW is ‘supercharging’ the careers of locals.

TAFE NSW floristry students brightened the day of residents at Finley Regional Care last week, making and delivering 40 stunning handmade floral arrangements just in time for Mother’s Day.

A TAFE NSW taster course has helped a Sylvania Waters teen land an apprenticeship in the male-dominated plumbing trade. Kate embraced the ‘Girls can too’ program and has turned her pipe dream into a reality.

TAFE NSW guides a mid‑career professional through tailored aged care training, equipping them with practical expertise to meet Australia’s growing demand for compassionate carers.

Students in the bricklaying program at our Granville campus are building essential skills and structures to bolster the industry. This is all thanks to an innovative, practical, testing initiative.

New Statement of Attainment in Pre-Apprenticeship in Construction course has been launched to boost the construction workforce. The course sets students up for an apprenticeship and future employment by teaching practical skills and basic theory.

A TAFE NSW hospitality expert shares top tips for hosting a sustainable Easter celebration, with practical ways to reduce food waste ahead of Zero Food Waste Day on 30 April.

An innovative TAFE NSW program is giving Wagga Wagga school-aged students a taste of a career in construction, teaching hands-on skills and providing career guidance so they can become the next generation of
tradies.

Professionals in the booming construction sector will gain a valuable glimpse into how they can “level up” their careers as part of a unique industry networking event.

Local high school students will get the chance to ‘tap’ into a plumbing career with a new pre-apprenticeship taster course at TAFE NSW Moruya.

The MUSE Gallery at TAFE NSW Ultimo is buzzing with creativity as emerging curators present the 2025 TAFE Art Grad Show, showcasing fresh talent in visual arts, graphic design, ceramics, and photography.

TAFE NSW Nowra is offering the Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care. On completion, the students will take their skills to local communities helping to reduce the risk of illness.

A TAFE NSW Goulburn student, one of few female plumbers in the region, has returned from a life-changing trip to Cambodia, where she volunteered to improve sanitation in some of the country's poorest villages.

To mark Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day, female TAFE NSW students across the state are urging other women to consider a career in the trades, amid a widening skills gap.

TAFE NSW has helped a Stanmore man with a rich pedigree in thoroughbred racing get a “leg up” to his dream career.

A new collaboration between TAFE NSW Bathurst and Charles Sturt University is helping to provide a more inclusive student experience for the deaf and hard of hearing community.

TAFE Digital has helped a former aspiring fashion designer make an unlikely career pivot to vet nursing and take part in an epic excursion to the wilds of Africa.

Former police officer finds a fierce new career path after studying a Certificate II in Animal Studies and Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Talia Dunning credits TAFE NSW with providing her with the right mix of skills to excel in the industry and is thriving with the variety that comes with working on boats.

Find fun, creative ideas for kids these holidays shared by TAFE NSW Visual Art teacher, Heidi Freihaut. Be engaged and get inspired.

Want to make beer for a living? Discover how TAFE NSW can help you turn your homebrew passion into a professional brewing career.

Beat the heat with expert gardening tips from TAFE NSW Horticulture Head Teacher, Anna Richards. Learn how to keep your plants thriving this summer.

TAFE NSW Wollongong West hairdressers, barbers, and beauticians can extend their skillset to start a potentially life-saving conversation about suspicious skin spots.

Elizabeth Poller is one step closer to achieving her goals of working in a career in IT or cyber security. She has enrolled in a Certificate IV Information Technology at TAFE NSW after completing a tertiary preparation course without the HSC.

A cancer survivor inspired by the love and companionship shown by her family pets has made an unlikely career switch to vet nursing, with the help of TAFE NSW.

HSC results are in, and 50 TAFE NSW graduates are celebrating success in a university preparation course that offers entry without the HSC.

Brendan Bates is one of 50 high-scoring TAFE NSW graduates celebrating their success in a university preparation course that provides access to universities without the HSC.

Eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from southwest Sydney are breaking down the barriers in the health and community services sector.

Choosing to boost the number of male nurses, 20-year-old Caleb Sturges has just graduated from the TAFE NSW Kingswood Diploma of Nursing.

TAFE NSW and BAE Systems Australia apprentices are building a to-scale aircraft at TAFE NSW Newcastle, training the next generation of defence workers.

TAFE NSW's Stepping Up Kitchen Operations Program is helping Armidale migrants build English skills, gain hospitality experience and create new career opportunities.

TAFE NSW Bathurst is helping students to develop essential skills by providing alternative education pathways outside of the traditional high school setting.

17-year-old Josephine Bradbury has secured a place studying a Bachelor of Health and Medical Science at Charles Sturt University without the HSC.

With the support of TAFE NSW, a Mudgee teen has overcome challenges at home to pursue a rewarding new career in childcare. Now Natteisha is back on the path to success.

A Batehaven man who starred in ABC’s hit TV show The Assembly, gives credit to TAFE NSW for equipping him with the skills and learning support to earn two qualifications while living with autism and a mild intellectual disability.

A TAFE NSW surveying graduate is quickly finding success in the industry using his modern technology expertise and practical skills to enhance Sydney's transport infrastructure.

Berowra local Rebecca Healy left her public service role to launch Boxhead Plastics, a recycling charity tackling automotive plastic waste. With support from TAFE NSW, she’s creating a more sustainable future.

Darling Point housing coordinator Tamileigh Chirgwin, praises TAFE NSW’s Diploma of Sustainable Practice. It helped her secure nearly $400,000 in funding for a cultural garden and a future family heritage centre