Today I attended the graduation ceremony for all 2013 VET Development Centre Specialist Scholars. The graduation ceremony was the final event for all recipients of this year’s Specialist Scholarship. The event featured an opening address and presentation of certificates and a gifts to all scholars from VET Development Centre CEO Denise Stevens.

The graduation ceremony also featured an amazing presentation from Terese McAleese, Director of Learning at Swinburne University of Technology. Terese spoke about her journey as an immigrant from 1980s Belfast to Melbourne as well as her journey in vocational education and training (VET), from a student to an administrator and teacher and finally to a professional responsible for designing learning experiences. Terese also spoke about the transformational nature of the VET sector and TAFE, a place where skills could be developed for the direct application in industry as well as a place for second chances or opportunities for education that might have been missed the first time. The chance for a new or better life.