Graduates full of pride

On Wednesday 14 December 2022, students at TAFE Queensland celebrated the successful conclusion of their studies with a burst of colour and a great deal of pride. At graduation Kirsty, Lilly, and Jazmin added an extra touch of flair to their gowns and caps by wearing LGBTQI+ pride sashes.

TAFE Queensland General Manager Karen Dickinson said they were “committed to gender equity and always strive to find ways to celebrate each individual’s expression and choice”.

“We strongly encouraged our students to wear robes which reflected the pride colours and/or their traditional clothing, cloaks or beads,” she said.

She said that the students had arrived dressed in traditional attire from Indigenous Australians, Maoris, and Samoans.

“Graduations provide a great opportunity to celebrate the success of our students and to acknowledge the role our families and heritage play in that.”

According to Ms. Dickinson, she had great hopes for the 2022 cohort and shared that nursing was the most sought-after program. She also mentioned that they anticipate a surge in enrolments due to the implementation of Fee-Free TAFE for over 90 courses, starting in 2023.

“Each year, we work closely with Government and local industries to ensure our training programs are tailored to their needs and that our students graduate confident, capable and ready to help drive the success of their industry and communities,” Ms Dickinson said.