Career coup for TAFE’s finest

13 March 2009

Career advisor Kerryn Laurance is the ‘talk of the town’ at West Coast TAFE having just become the only Western Australian TAFE employee to receive a $5,000 study scholarship for her work in career services.

Awarded by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard as part of an Australian Government initiative to promote best practice in career advisory services, 96 recipients were awarded the 2009 Career Adviser Study Scholarship with Kerryn the only TAFE representative and one of only five recipients across WA.

Taking time out from her busy working day helping students map out their careers, Kerryn said she has plans on using the $5,000 scholarship to further develop her own career.

“This scholarship will allow me to undertake post graduate studies at university that will equip me with skill sets to provide my students with more comprehensive services, particularly in the area of employment referrals,” said Kerryn.

Kerryn also plans to establish a committee of career development practitioners and other interested parties within the College’s catchment area to encourage the sharing of ideas and consistency across the career development spectrum.

Niki Gibson, Career Practitioner and VET Coordinator of St Stephen’s School in Carramar has sought advice for her students from Kerryn for the past 5 years and said she was not surprised that she had been awarded this prestigious scholarship in the field.

“Kerryn not only has a crystal clear view of the TAFE system,” said Niki.  “She is aware of every other post-school option and therefore has the ability to provide students and parents with broad, independent advice to guide them in the right direction.”

Meeting Kerryn in the front seat of a careers seminar many years ago, Niki described it as the best seat she’s ever chosen due to the strong and long-standing professional relationship that prevailed.

“For myself and St Stephen’s School, Kerryn has been a confidant.  For West Coast TAFE, she is a true advocate.”