VOLUME 4, EDITION 2: DECEMBER 2015 APTC Alumni Receives Naonal Young Fijian of the Year Award “The road to success comes with it’s own challenges however, challenges should not stop one from moving forward.” These are the senments of Abhinesh Kumar who graduated from APTC with Cerficate III in Wall and Floor Tiling and Cerficate IV in Training and Assessment. APTC provided Abhinesh with the opportunity to further his skills and obtain an Australian qualificaon. Abhinesh is now a successful businessman and founder and co-owner of Quality Tile Seers. He now employs a number of APTC graduates. Abhinesh says he struggled a lot throughout his childhood days. He used to sell vegetables on the roadside and in the market. He came Abhinesh receiving the National Young Fijian of from a poor family and says he was “not good at studies.” the Year Award from the Minister for Youth and Sport Laisenia Tuitubou During these challenging mes, Abhinesh found something that brought happiness and inslled courage in him, it was sports. He realised that his true strength was in sports. Since then Abhinesh has been very acve in sports. He has parcipated in the Pacific Games and various internaonal championships, established various sporng clubs such as Jet Masada 7s rugby team, Jet Star Netball club, and Jet Runners club. Ten percent of his business profit goes towards the clubs for their expenses. Recently Abhinesh received two awards, the Naonal Young Fijian of the Year Award for his contribuon to sport in Fiji from the Minister for Youth and Sport Laisenia Tuitubou, and the 2015 Westpac Prime Minister's Exporter of the Year Awards - Winner of the Youth Entrepreneur Award. Abhinesh also strongly believes in community service. Abhinesh, with his friends have organised over 64 races through the Jet Runners Club and provided approximately 100 community services including free painng and ling in schools and hospitals, and cleaning of Nadi River and Nadi Hospital. Passion to Serve Passion to serve people and make a difference in their lives, has been a moo for Mohenesh Singh, who graduated with a Cerficate III in Chil- dren's Services and Cerficate IV in Training and Assessment from APTC. In October this year, Mohenesh’s passion and work was recognised when he was awarded the tle of Member of the Order of Fiji and re- ceived a medal from His Excellency, the President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailakau. The Order of Fiji is the highest honour of the Fijian honours system. The award was given to Mohenesh in recognion of his service to the coun- try in promong child rights, early childhood educaon and the teaching profession. He is the youngest person to receive this presgious award. Mohenesh furthered his studies aer graduang from APTC, by under- taking courses at the Fiji Naonal University (FNU). These included Ad- vance Counselling Tools for People Support and Enhancement and High- er Educaon Cerficate in Early Childhood Educaon. His commitment to his dues were also recognised by Naonal Sub- Mohenesh receiving medal from the Presi- stance Abuse Advisory Council last year. dent of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau APTC is once again very proud of the achievements of their Alumni. VOLUME 4, EDITION 2: DECEMBER 2015 Meet the Country Managers Recently APTC country managers have changed. We would like to introduce you to our new country managers. Patricia Vella, Samoa Country Manager Jonathan Todd, Fiji Country Manager Pat joined APTC with a strong record of Jonathan joined APTC with a wealth of leadership and management in technical experience in the TVET sector where he and vocaonal educaon and training has worked in various roles since 1999. (TVET) having an extensive career in Commencing as a trainer, Jonathan has TAFE NSW where she held the posion held management and leadership roles of Faculty Manager, Engineering and since 2004. His focus has been on edu- Transport. Her industry background is caonal leadership, change manage- predominantly in Community Services ment, staff development, program and Health. She started out as a Social planning, financial management, quality compliance, and stu- Worker and worked with youth crisis services, paediatric dent support and guidance. Jonathan has lectured in the VET health and developing programs and policy for working fam- and terary sectors in informaon technology, mulmedia ilies with the NSW Trade Unions. She has also managed a development and design, and delivered numerous in-house diverse range of vocaonal educaon delivery in large and training and capability building programs for staff. small metropolitan TAFE colleges in Sydney, Australia. Message to Alumni: Message to Alumni: “It is with absolute pleasure I say “Bula” to all of our alumni. “I am very excited to be working with our APTC Alumni in As APTC graduates you are unique; unique in having complet- Samoa this year. The new execuves have some innovave ed an Australian qualificaon in a Pacific country, but also in ideas and projects to promote APTC throughout Samoa and having experienced a program of study that should open doors to try to engage more Alumni in our ongoing acvies. I en- for you and your career. Whether you choose to stay in your courage all Samoa alumni to be acve members of the Chap- country of birth, or travel internaonally, your APTC qualifica- ter.” on will be recognised as an industry applicable qualificaon. I have aended an Alumni meeng already in the me I have Nick Crosling, Vanuatu Country Manager been Country Manager in Fiji, and I look forward to catching Nick has worked in internaonal up with as many graduates as possible into the future.” development for Australian aid pro- grams for the last ten years oen as an adviser for TVET programs in- Pamela Morgan, Solomon Islands Country Manager cluding skill development projects Pamela came to APTC with an in the Philippines, Indonesia, and extensive experience in the VET Papua New Guinea where he was sector in Australia as an Instute the workforce development and Director, Manager, Advisor and TVET adviser to the Instute of Pub- Trainer. Recently she completed a lic Administraon and the Internal Revenue Commission. 2 year assignment in Kiriba with the TVET Sector Strengthening His public sector career has included a number of roles in Program as the Senior Manage- vocaonal educaon and training, including three years as ment Advisor. Pam has a great the Execuve Officer for Government Skills Australia. interest in Language Literacy and Numeracy and building the capacity of TVET praconers through ongoing professional Last year, he completed the six Vanuatu Provincial Skills learning. Plans for the TVET Program. Message to Alumni: Message to Alumni: “APTC Alumni Solomon Islands Chapter is a fantasc profes- “I encourage all APTC graduates to become acve members of the APTC Alumni, and join in with the benefits of being an sional network to be involved with, as it schedules interacve alumni member. This includes industry networking, profes- acvies throughout the year for its members. APTC gradu- sional development acvies and opportunies to mentor, ates in Solomon Islands are strongly encouraged to parcipate support and provide leadership to others seeking skill devel- in these acvies, share their experiences and stay connected opment as they join all of us who celebrate lifelong learn- to the College and fellow alumni.” ing.” VOLUME 4, EDITION 2: DECEMBER 2015 ‘No Pain No Gain’ “To be an athlete, you must be ready and willing to accept any challenges that come your way,” says APTC graduate of Cerficate III in Hospitality, Seini Adivu (also known as Nau Dakuiliga). It is Nau’s “never give up” atude that has resulted in her successful triathlon career. She first tried triathlon in 2007 when she was invited by a friend to parci- pate. With no prior training, Nau competed in her first triathlon and won the first place becoming the Naonal Champion. Through this great achievement, Nau was automacally selected in the Fiji Triathlon Squad. Since then, she has parcipated in various naonal and internaonal triathlon compeons. “Being an athlete is not easy. People have high expectaons of you, especially during game me. You will always have people who will cricise you, complain of Nau at the Paciic Game in PNG your performance, discriminate and ridicule you. Most mes, I would have to re- mind myself, why I love doing triathlons and compeng in sports,” says Nau. Nau recently represented Fiji at the Pacific Games in PNG this year, parcipang in triathlon in the sprint distance category (Swim 750m /Bike 20km /Run 5km). This is the second me she has represented her country in the Pacific Games. “Represenng Fiji is always an honour,” says Nau. “For me, represenng my country does not come easily every year, as qualificaon mes keep geng faster. In order for me to represent Fiji, I need to beat the qualifying me three mes, one each for Swim/Bike/Run,” she adds. Nau is passionate about triathlon. She plans to work her way towards becoming the President of Fiji Triathlon Associ- aon. Career-wise she would like to venture in the world of business and become an entrepreneur. HIGHLIGHTS Currently Nau is working at Mana Island Resort and Spa as their inaugural Life Guard. On her 6th day at the job, she was promoted to Supervisor of the newly renovated swimming pool. Nau’s advice to young people is, “to take of whatever challenges come their way. You never know what door of op- portunity will open for you.” ALUMNI Alumnus Nominated for Employee of the Quarter Award Judy Ambah is employed in the Housekeeping department at the Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa (Vanuatu) and has done an exceponal job from the moment she arrived says Nicole Taylor, Human Resources Manager of the Resort.