Dapto High teacher Michael Pfeffer (second from left) receives his award for VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year. Photo: Supplied.
A Helensburgh female mechanical engineer and a Dapto High hospitality teacher have taken out top honours in the 2024 NSW Training Awards, highlighting the opportunities within trade-related career paths.
NSW State of Origin women’s rugby league player Rachael Pearson was named Apprentice of the Year, while former chef-turned-high school teacher Michael Pfeffer was named VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year at the 14 September awards.
Michael’s teaching style is grounded in practical applications at Dapto High, establishing a cafe within the school for his students to learn in, and incorporating excursions, industry speakers and interactive components.
He said while he was honoured to receive the award for his work in empowering hospitality students, he felt it was something that should be shared within the teaching team.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work in a school that’s very supportive of vocational education, and I think a lot of the things that we do, we do as a team, especially the other hospitality teachers,” he said.
As a former Dapto High student himself, Michael originally started as a chef, working in a la carte restaurants, cafes and hotels.
“During my time as a chef, I always tried to challenge myself a little bit, because I am passionate about hospitality and did a lot of competitions,” he said.
“They all led to opportunities that opened up doors that helped me get into teaching.”
During the past nine years at Dapto High, he helped establish an onsite cafe with fellow hospitality teacher Krisharna Leighton and created opportunities for students to cater for functions, such as swimming carnivals, a women in trade event and Red Cross high tea.
“A really important component in delivering the hospitality course in schools is to give them that industry experience as best we can,” he said.
“It’s not only working on those employability skills they can utilise afterwards, but it’s their personal growth as well.
“We’re seeing students when they finish a function, their sense of achievement is always higher because it’s a meaningful event.”
He said during his 10-minute interview for the state award, he prepared an “Opportunity Spritz” mocktail for the judges where every ingredient told a story – sugar representing sweet success and muddling fruit showing challenges faced.
“VET, through my career, whether it’s been in teaching or even before that, it’s opened up so many doors,” he said.
“I was trying to show the judges and people on the panel that VET can create opportunity for you, you’ve just got to take those opportunities as they come.
“We sometimes get students that are just so quiet, and then at the end of the course they’re serving customers and they’re taking food out to them and interacting within the team, and that personal growth is always great to see.”
Michael was a WorldSkills Australia competition regional winner during his own training, has been involved in WorldSkills at a school-based level as a lead judge for the regional competition and was a team ambassador leading the NSW WorldSkills Commercial Cookery team in 2023.
Meanwhile, the judging panel described Apprentice of the Year Rachael as a “multi-skilled, highly decorated individual and a shining example for what’s possible with vocational education”.
She excelled in a mechanical engineering apprenticeship and was awarded the 2022 Stan Gilmore Memorial Award for first in Stage 1 Fitting-Machining at TAFE and followed that up by being named the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) Women in Trade Apprentice of the Year in 2023.
The 31-year-old has put her career on hold to co-captain the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League Women’s competition but has every intention of getting “back on the tools” when her rugby league days are over.
“I am proof that if you are passionate about the trade, committed, dedicated and set realistic goals, you can have it all and most importantly you are paid to live this dream along the way,” she said.
“I feel so grateful to have my trade to come back to when I finish my NRLW career.”
Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister Steve Whan said winners like Rachael showcased that gender was no barrier to success in non-traditional careers and highlighted the importance that breaking down stereotypes would play in meeting skills shortages.
“We know the economic prosperity of our state depends on us growing a skilled workforce in areas of critical importance such as housing, aged and early childhood care and manufacturing,” Mr Whan said.
“The NSW Training Awards highlights the importance of our VET sector and the wonderful opportunities it offers for a rewarding and prosperous career.”
The 2024 National Training Awards will be held in Canberra on 6 December.
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