Dapto High student Talia Walters is a finalist in the prestigious VET in Schools Student of the Year category. The winners will be announced at the 2025 Illawarra and South East NSW Regional Training Awards on Friday. Photo: Joel Burnett.
Dapto High School student Talia Walters has big dreams of building her own construction company – and she’s already laying a solid foundation.
Talia was named a finalist in the prestigious vocational education and training (VET) in Schools Student of the Year category, with winners to be announced at the 2025 Illawarra and South East NSW Regional Training Awards on Friday (13 June).
It recognises the most accomplished and passionate learners and teachers who have made outstanding contributions to their workplaces and industries, with winners going through to the 70th anniversary of the NSW Training Awards in September.
With the number of young females entering construction still low, Talia already has a wealth of experience under her belt, working on a Certificate II in Construction and a Certificate III in Business Services, and undertaking numerous work placements.
Talia said she was excited to take on the opportunity and be announced as a finalist.
“It recognises the hard work I’ve been putting into both my studies and my hands-on training,” she said.
“As well as that, I’m really passionate about sharing my story with others.”
Talia’s trades story starts at age 12, when she gained her first taste of construction work thanks to her dad.
“All my family are very construction-minded, and I’ve been helping dad renovate our house from a very young age,” she said.
“I’d work with him to work out measurements for concreting, and putting together a deck.
“Having an early passion in construction, I knew when I was doing my senior studies that I wanted to choose a vocational education training course that was in construction.”
Already she’s completed work experience with architectural firm Edmiston Jones as part of her Certificate III in Business Services.
“It was a good workplace to work at because I’ve had my end goal of starting a construction business for my family,” she said.
“I chose to do my Cert III in Business at an architecture firm because I could see the plans and get my mind around the invoices based on a construction business.”
Talia has also completed 70 hours’ work placement for her Certificate II in Construction through two separate trade companies, learning how to read plans and safety procedures, use tools and see how different trades collaborate.
“I was able to see how my skills that I’ve worked on in the classroom have translated onto a job site and how I work alongside different trades, like plumbers and electricians,” she said.
“My end goal is to complete both my certifications in construction and business to gain insights into the business and construction side of a company.”
For Talia, it’s a step towards reaching her ultimate goal of opening a construction firm with her family one day.
She’s doing all this while working towards her HSC, but admits it’s not difficult when you love what you do.
“I have a strong passion for construction, so I like completing all the work and I enjoy learning about different things,” she said.
Talia is also passionate about the VET industry and encourages her peers to take the VET pathway to gain theoretical and hands-on experience.
“I would encourage other students to explore a vocational education as part of their schooling because the course I’m doing provides different styles of learning, both hands-on and theory, but it’s based on something you’re interested in learning about,” she said.
Principal Joel Burnett said the school was proud of what Talia had achieved.
“Not just in terms of her drive and knowing what she wants, but the way she goes about it every day,” Mr Burnett said.
“She’s here, working hard, she’s no fuss and just takes everything in her stride.”
He said having had Dapto High teacher Michael Pfeffer take out top honours in the awards last year, he knew the calibre of talent the competition attracted.
“She’s a wonderful young person, and we’re very excited for Friday night,” he said.
“Win, lose or draw on Friday night, we’re very proud of her regardless.”
Talia was nominated by her technology and applied science teacher Rikki McCann.
Winners from the event will go on to represent the Illawarra and South East NSW community in their respective categories at the 2025 NSW Training Awards in September, presented by the Department of Education’s Training Services.
