Ageing and disability support graduate recognised for her dedication

Students graduating from TAFE Queensland’s Gympie campus gathered at Gunabul Homestead on Thursday 4 December to mark the culmination of all their hard work, and the exciting next step in their careers.

The newly qualified graduates from study areas such as automotive, animal care, individual support, school based education support, and leadership and management, represent a small cross-section of locals from across the region who completed training with the provider in 2025 with the goal of changing or enhancing their careers.

The ceremony was a particularly proud moment for 19-year-old Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) (CHC33021) graduate Scarlett Roffey, who was presented with the 2025 Gympie Student of the Year Award for her dedication to her studies.

Scarlett said she was lost for words when her name was announced.

“This award really is a reflection of how much I’ve grown into the person I am today,” Scarlett said.

“I may be young, but I can finally see and have a stable future for myself. It means a lot to me and has made me feel like I’ve really achieved something big getting to this point.”

Inspired to pursue a career in individual support after helping to care for her great grandmother after a fall, Scarlett first completed a Certificate II in Health Support Services (HLT23221) last year through the TAFE at School program before continuing her studies under the Queensland Government’s Fee Free TAFE funding. It’s a path in which she has thrived, with Scarlett already working in industry.

“I was there to support my Nani after she fell and I realised that I loved hearing all her stories and experiences. It really highlighted to me how much I love helping people and making sure they feel supported and heard and empowered to live the life they want,” Scarlett said.

“My favourite part of this course was the engagement in practicals. I was always super eager to participate, and even performed as a model for the class to practice client care when my classmates needed the extra assistance,” she said.

“I’ve now got a permanent part-time job at Estia Health Gympie (formally Cavalry Health Care) where I get to use the skills I learnt at TAFE, and I love the environment there – it’s a really great place and the residents and my coworkers are all so lovely.”  

Scarlett said while she is already working towards the next step in her career, she is loving her role in individual support and encourages other young people to follow in her footsteps.

“The dual qualification of both ageing and disability really opens a lot of doors to multiple careers, so my advice is not to settle for just one specialty, but explore other ones. You’ll never know if you could’ve found a new passion if you don’t go for it,” Scarlett said.

“My ultimate goal now is to become a registered nurse, like my nana (grandmother), so I’ve applied to do my undergraduate certificate in nursing, and then I’d like to eventually do a Bachelor of Nursing (HED007),” she said.

“For someone who didn’t get an ATAR at school, this has been such a great stepping stone – I found another way to get into nursing and I’m doing it, all while getting to work in an area I love. I have ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), but I found comfort in having such a welcoming community take me in and give me additional skills.

“It’s a great industry to get into – depending on where you work there are lots of benefits, and its great pay for young people, which I don’t think a lot of people my age would realise.”

The graduation ceremony was also a special occasion for Scarlett's teacher, Jenny Nichols, who in addition to seeing her student honoured, was recognised for her own efforts as the recipient of the 2025 Gympie Educator of the Year Award. Nominated by her students, Jenny said she was flattered by the acknowledgement.

“To be acknowledged for what I do like this really just reinforces that I’m doing the right thing – that I’m supporting my students in the best way and I’m achieving what I set out to achieve,” Jenny said.

TAFE Queensland East Coast region General Manager, Mark Reilly said that while TAFE Queensland has been changing lives for more than 140 years, seeing students complete their studies and go on to achieve their goals never gets old.

“Our graduates have worked hard to get to this point, investing a significant amount of time in their studies, so it’s an absolute privilege to be able to celebrate this special moment alongside them,” Mark said.

“TAFE Queensland is committed to providing Queenslanders with the high quality, hands-on training they need to succeed in their chosen career while fulfilling the skills demands of the community, so for us there is no greater reward than seeing students, like Scarlett, head out into the world and contribute meaningfully to the community using their new skills.”

Mark said that as the region continues to grow, so too does the demand for skilled workers, making these graduates vital to the future of the region.

“Nine out of 10 jobs predicted to have the greatest growth over the next five years are likely to require a VET qualification, so by investing in their own futures and building their skills, these graduates are ensuring a bright future for Gympie,” he said.