In this podcast I talk to Wendy Blight, A VET trainer and Workplace Assessor at Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Alice Springs. She recently learned she is one of the Northern Territory's four finalists competing for the Trainer of the Year Award, with the national winner announced on September 18.

Wendy teaches subjects including accounting, business, retail and occupational health and safety at CDU, and says that her students are a diverse group of Vet in School students, Year 12 graduates and mature-age students who might be looking to "upskill or sideskill" in their careers. Her students, who are not only culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD), also exhibit vastly different ability levels, which her colleagues identify as one of her Wendy's strengths in training. 

The CDU trainer said school was not "her happy place", disliking both the "atmosphere and social aspect". For her, VET is a great alternative and competency-based learning is a "beautiful way to learn".

VET can offer so many benefits to a wide range of students, she says, as well as preparing students early with the skills and attributes for the workplace. Wendy also emphasised that vocational studies is a less overwhelming and a little more flexible, benefitting many mature-age students who may not have studied for some time. She also highlighted that VET can provide the building blocks to eventually complete tertiary qualifications, if that's what a student wants. 

In this podcast I talk to Wendy Blight, A VET trainer and Workplace Assessor at Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Alice Springs. She recently learned she is one of the Northern Territory's four finalists competing for the Trainer of the Year Award, with the national winner announced on September 18.
Wendy teaches subjects including accounting, business, retail and occupational health and safety at CDU, and says that her students are a diverse group of Vet in School students, Year 12 graduates and mature-age students who might be looking to "upskill or sideskill" in their careers. Her students, who are not only culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD), also exhibit vastly different ability levels, which her colleagues identify as one of her Wendy's strengths in training.&nbsp;
The CDU trainer said school was not "her happy place", disliking both the "atmosphere and social aspect". For her, VET is a great alternative and competency-based learning is a "beautiful way to learn".
VET can offer so many benefits to a wide range of students, she says, as well as preparing students early with the skills and attributes for the workplace. Wendy also emphasised that vocational studies is a less overwhelming and a little more flexible, benefitting many mature-age students who may not have studied for some time. She also highlighted that VET can provide the building blocks to eventually complete tertiary qualifications, if that's what a student wants.&nbsp;

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