Love of the outdoors wins state award

Former Wodonga TAFE student Kate Sheehan has won the AFL SportsReady Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year Sport and Recreation at the annual 2010 SpArt Awards.  The SpArt Awards are hosted by Verve, the industry training advisory board for the arts and culture and sport and recreation sectors in Victoria, Australia.  Kate accepted her award at the cocktail event held on 16 June in Melbourne.  ‘It was a great honour to be recognised by the industry at such an early stage of my career. It was an inspiring event, hearing of the success stories within the Sports and Arts industry and feel very privileged to have been a part of the ceremony’ said Ms Sheehan.

Originally from Sydney, Kate completed an integrated program which includes a Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation from Wodonga TAFE and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Adventure Ecotourism) from Charles Sturt University. 

Her love of the outdoors was evident when she first began her studies at Wodonga TAFE.  Outdoor Recreation Course Coordinator, Andrew Davis remembers Kate well. ‘Kate is extremely talented at what she does. She has the ability to quickly and thoroughly gain a high level of competences in activities. She always impressed instructors with her enthusiasm and nothing-gets-me-down attitude’, said Mr Davis. Kate was widely respected by her activity instructors and classroom lecturers. Her positive attitude and tireless ambition to pursue a career in the outdoors saw her achieve great results. 

Kate is now working as the Program Director of Southbound Adventures based on the south coast of NSW. She is involved in all aspects of staff management and recruitment as well as leading and coordinating outdoor programs for schools.  As Ms Sheehan states, ‘the thorough practical experience gained from the Wodonga TAFE training equipped me with the confidence and technical skills I now use regularly in my managerial and directive positions. I believe these technical skills can best be transferred through the personal delivery of vocational training at TAFE’.