Talented regional students training in early childhood education and care recognised for their achievements.
The WA Training Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals in skills training, as well as the valuable contributions made by employers and training providers to the State’s workforce.
Vocational education continues to demonstrate its value by offering practical, hands-on experience that equips students with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in their chosen career paths.
Early childhood education and care training shone in two categories, with Elisajane Thompson from Toodyay taking out the WA Trainee of the Year and Anelie Libalib from Kalgoorlie recognised as the WA International Student of the Year. Both Elisajane and Anelie were trained by Central Regional TAFE, completing the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care while employed at local childcare centres in their region.
The strong representation of Central Regional TAFE students with eight finalists in five categories in the WA Training Awards is testament to the valuable role TAFE plays in making access to outstanding vocational training opportunities a reality for regional Western Australians.
WA Trainee of the Year Elisajane was thrilled after the event "It feels phenomenal I'm so, so happy. Every single day I get to watch the children I work with thrive and be happy, that just makes me really proud, and I know I'm doing my job properly. Anyone thinking of training at Central Regional TAFE I could not recommend them more, they’ve been so accommodating to me, and I've never felt so smart or so accomplished as I have training there.”
Managing Director Jo Payne is thrilled for the award winners and proud of Central Regional TAFE’s commitment to outstanding hands-on industry training. “Central Regional TAFE is part of the communities we live and work in, helping people achieve their aspirations and ensuring industry has access to the skilled workers they need to thrive. We believe that living in regional WA doesn’t diminish the range or quality of training you receive or limit the heights that you can reach in your career, and every day our amazing students show us that this is the case. Congratulations to all the finalists and a special well done to Elisajane and Anelie, we’re all so proud of you.”
Individual recipients receive a $3,000 cash prize, with Elisajane Thompson going on to represent WA at the Australian Training Awards in Darwin in December 2025. “I’ll head off to the Australian Training Awards and hopefully do well there but otherwise I just want to make some leeway in my sector, make some change.”
We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of all our students, especially the 8 out of 21 regional finalists who trained at Central Regional TAFE campuses across the Midwest, Gascoyne, Wheatbelt, and Goldfields. We also recognise Lisette Monsello, one of our lecturers from the Kalgoorlie, a finalist in the WA Trainer of the Year. We extend our congratulations to the winners and acknowledge all participants for their valuable contributions.