School based education support student and teacher earn praise at Fraser Coast Graduation

More than 80 TAFE Queensland students from across the Fraser Coast have gathered to celebrate the completion of their studies and the exciting next chapter of their careers.

The newly qualified graduates from study areas such as automotive, beauty, early childhood education and care, nursing, business, and engineering, 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 25-year-old Certificate IV in School Based Education Support (CHC40221) graduate Casey Rawson, who was presented with the 2025 Fraser Coast Student of the Year Award for her dedication to her studies.

Casey said she felt deeply honoured to receive the award, and that it has further boosted her confidence in her chosen path.

“To receive this award was overwhelming in the best way. I’m so grateful to my teacher, my classmates and everyone I’ve worked with for supporting me to get to this point,” Casey said.

“It really shows that my hard work has paid off, and that I’m in the right industry and making the right choices. And it’s a great confidence booster – being neurodivergent, I’m not always sure of how I’m doing, and this course has really taught me to back myself. So this award is further reassurance of that.”

A strong advocate for neurodivergent students, Casey said she is passionate about using her own experience to support school students with autism and ADHD in reaching their full potential.

“I had thought about becoming a teacher, but I wasn’t 100 per cent sure. I had a friend doing this course who recommended it to me and at the time it was covered under Fee-Free TAFE, so I thought I’d jump in and give it a go. The second I stepped foot into a classroom on my first day of placement, I knew it was the right path for me,” Casey said.

“I’ve now applied for my Bachelor of Education and would love to eventually become a teacher. I’ve also just signed a contract to work at my dream school for next year, so my main goal currently is to have an impact on the students I work with and be the support that wasn’t available to me when I was in primary school – especially for neurodivergent students,” she said.

“I’m so proud of myself and my classmates for making it this far and achieving our goals, and I’m excited to officially start my career.”

The graduation ceremony was also a special occasion for Casey’s teacher, Kaye Livingstone, who in addition to seeing her student honoured, was recognised for her own efforts as the recipient of the 2025 Fraser Coast Educator of the Year Award. Nominated by her students, Kaye said she was flattered by the acknowledgement.

“It’s a wonderful validation. I absolutely love teaching, so to be recognised for the work I’m doing is a real reminder that I’m doing the right thing,” Kaye said.

“But for me, the greater achievement was seeing Student of the Year awarded to one of my students! I’m so thrilled for Casey because she’s worked so hard and she’s really earnt it.

“It’s wonderful to watch your students flourish, and when I go assess them on placement and see them in action, I often think to myself that this is exactly what we need in schools. Casey is an amazing young woman and is going to be such an incredible asset to the classrooms she’s working in.”

Hervey Bay local Cameron Hughes was also recognised on the night, with the information technology teacher taking out the Educator of the Year Award for TAFE Queensland Online.

“It was an honour to receive the award. From an online perspective, it can be a bit harder to see the impact of what we do because we’re not teaching our students face-to-face,” Cameron said.

“While I’m proud of all my students, I don’t tend to have that opportunity to receive the personal feedback a teacher usually would get in a classroom, so that makes this more special – knowing that I’ve made a difference in their studies.”

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 Casey, 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 the Fraser Coast,” he said.