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More than one path
VET Trainer of the Year Awards finalist explains the advantages of vocational studies .
Wendy Blight interviewed by Wade Zaglas
Wendy Blight is a VET trainer and workplace assessor at Charles Darwin University in Alice
Springs .
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 Wendy ’ s strengths in training .
The CDU trainer , who is one of the Northern Territory ’ s four finalists competing for the Trainer of the Year Award , 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 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 .
CR : What do you teach in your role at CDU ? WB : I work for the business and commerce team based here in Alice Springs . I do a little bit of everything . I love my accounting . That ’ s my favourite , but I also teach or train retail business , entrepreneurship , and some WHS .
I really enjoy my customer service units . I get a bit passionate about my debits and credits in accounting . And I love teaching about rights and responsibilities of workers and legislation for different industries , especially to the VET and school kids .
How did you react when you learned you were a trainer of the year finalist ? It was a bit of a surprise . I was chuffed that my boss had even asked me to nominate . So I already was on top of the world with that , but when I found out I was a finalist , I think I let out a bit of a squeal and rang my mum .
What types of students do you teach ? The students that I train are so diverse . Alice Springs is a very multicultural town . There ’ s VET in school kids from year nine to year 12 , and mainstream students – the adults who want to either upskill or side skill from what they ’ re doing , or just take something extra on because they ’ re a bit of a study freak .
I have a lot of indigenous students go through different programs , and then we have migrants and people with English as their second language who are there to get into the workforce as well .
The way I seem to be able to communicate and support my students the best is with a pretty happy-go-lucky , casual approach where I ’ m really open with them and understand that they are all really different . They all come from different backgrounds , cultures , family and work backgrounds .
I make it really clear to them that I can offer as much or as little assistance as they need , and that I really want to be part of their study journey and help them along the way . So I think it ’ s about just being open and honest , and actually caring about what they ’ re doing and how they ’ re doing , and about their success . It just makes them feel
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