CQU's leader of vocational education receives accolade from TAFE Directors Australia

CQUniversity Deputy Vice-President for VET Peter Heilbuth's dedication to vocational education and training leadership was recognised by TAFE Directors Australia at a ceremony in Adelaide recently.

Mr Heilbuth was awarded silver in the Education Leader Award category at the event' which was held as part of the 2022 TAFE Directors Australia Convention.

Mr Heilbuth' who has overseen CQU's VET from delivery from Rockhampton since 2016 and previously led three separate regional TAFE institutes - two in Victoria and one in NSW' said he was very humbled to have received the TDA's recognition.

"I am delighted to have received this award'" he said.

"Ultimately any training award is only as good as the people who you work with because we are involved in a people business and achievements in our industry come to those who focus on working in partnership with others' and who understand that the sum of output is always greater than the individual.

"I am extremely fortunate to work with fabulous people at CQUniversity who provide tireless support to our TAFE students. My thanks to all my colleagues who work to support these students and our region' every day."

He said after many years of working in vocational education' his mantra had always been the same.

"The benefit of vocational education is simple: this is an area that I have dedicated my working life to because it is so clearly a massive enabler of people's' and our region's' future wellbeing'" he said.

"People often say 'choose a career in an area you are passionate about'. While this is true' I always add '... and choose a career where you make a difference to people's lives'. This is what continues to bring me work every day. I am proud to say' 'I work for TAFE at CQUni.'"

He said he was also proud of the fact that CQU stood apart from other regional training providers.

"As a dual sector' CQUniversity's edge is that we can (and do) offer our region' its employers and our students the proverbial 'one stop shop' for education beyond school'" he said.

"We provide training from Certificate I to post-doctoral level and we work hard to make these opportunities accessible to our students."

The Education Leader Award gold was awarded to North Metropolitan TAFE's Holly Gudsell' while the bronze went to the Canberra Institute of Technology's' Amy Nussio.