APTC students celebrate success

APTC students celebrate success

Hard work and sacrifice paid off for 48 students who graduated from the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC). The students attained qualifications in 10 specialised technical and vocational programs during the graduation ceremony at Novotel in Nadi on Friday, 17 April 2015.

The graduates successfully completed APTC programs to gain Australian-standard skills and training in Carpentry, Commercial Cookery, Early Childhood Education and Care, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Hospitality, Tourism, Disability, Youth Work, Training and Assessment, Fabrication.

APTC is a development initiative funded by the Australian Government to deliver training and to increase the supply of skilled workers in targeted sectors in the Pacific region. APTC has campuses in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations in Fiji, Honourable Jioji Konrote commended the graduates for their perseverance and dedication.

“You can return to the real world of a very competitive job market out there with a satisfying feeling of being rejuvenated, in fact, a sense of renewed accomplishment that with your new qualifications you would be in a much better position to compete with your peers, but more importantly to improve the level of productivity in your workplaces,” the Minister told graduates.

He commended APTC for its very significant contribution in producing experienced and suitably qualified personnel who are in great demand in the different labour sectors.

The Minister said that Fiji’s continued and steady economic growth over the last five years has resulted in a corresponding growth in the building industry and other sectors like hospitality and tourism, which lack suitably qualified and experienced semi-skilled personnel.

He added that the Government welcomes the invaluable contribution of an organisation like APTC in complementing its efforts in meeting Fiji’s labour requirements and demands.

Australian Government Counsellor for Regional Health, Education and Gender, Sheona McKenna assisted Minister Konrote with presenting the award certificates. Ms McKenna congratulated the graduates, wishing them well in contributing back to their families and communities.

More than 7000 students across the region have graduated from APTC since the college was established in 2007.

One of the graduates, Margaret Campbell, says she decided to pursue her studies at APTC to not only help her move further in her career as a special education teacher, but also to continue with her passion to serve people and children with disabilities.

Margaret, who has served as a special education teacher for the last 10 years, graduated with a Certificate IV in Disability Studies.

She said her training with APTC has helped her develop her knowledge and skills to learn how to better support people with disabilities.

Another graduate, Polly McGoon was excited to have achieved his Certificate IV in Youth Work. He fondly recalls his experience studying at APTC as a memorable one.

“APTC has given us the chance to not only have dreams and aspirations but to actually fulfil those dreams.”

Polly hopes to open a youth centre in the future that will facilitate programs for young people to help them deal with issues commonly faced by youth in Fiji.

APTC has over 2,101 graduates from Fiji alone. Of these, 844 graduates are women.

ENDS

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