VET Teacher / Trainer of the Year

Winner: Liam Fraser

Subject area: Construction
Employer: Batchelor Institute

Liam Fraser, 34, is a carpenter and senior lecturer at the Batchelor Institute where he leads an academic team in construction. He joined Batchelor Institute as a VET lecturer in 2013 after prison-based projects teaching and training inmates. He received on-the-job mentoring while teaching all 15 units in the Certificate II in Construction. Liam was promoted to senior lecturer in 2016.

Liam trains students, including inmates, across the Territory - in prison, on campuses, in classrooms and on building sites. All his students are Indigenous and many have experienced obstacles to education and confidence in learning. His challenge is to build confidence in students and gain their trust, enabling positive transformative learning experiences to occur.

In 2015, of 219 students enrolled in construction certificates at Batchelor Institute, 80% graduated. In the prison, 43 graduated with Certificate II (increasing from 25 in 2014).

Runner up: Tammy Healey

Subject areas: Business studies
Employer: Charles Darwin University

Tammy Healey joined CDU in Katherine as the VET business lecturer in April 2011. She has lived in the NT for 15 years - seven in Katherine.

Tammy delivers the Certificate II, III and IV in Business to students from both the public and private sector in the Katherine region. She also delivers the VETiS program to students from Katherine High School and St Joseph's College and the Indigenous Employment Program in conjunction with the NT Government.

Tammy’s most significant challenge was rebuilding the CDU business section in the region. With one student enrolled when she started her position, she now has a strong and diverse cohort of business students spread over large geographical area.

A firm advocate of employer engagement in work-based learning, Tammy works closely with many employers in her region to develop programs that help transfer learning in the workplace.