APTC staff recognised for quality of work

18 Jan 2013

An Australia-Pacific Technical College students’ services team and two teachers have had the quality of their work recognised from among 2000 staff of the Box Hill Institute.

Six Australia-Pacific Technical College staff members based in Fiji have been recognised for the quality of their work as part of the Staff Achievements and Recognition Program (SARP) of Box Hill Institute. The Melbourne-based institute is a key member of the APTC consortium.

The APTC staff were chosen from among 2000 Box Hill Institute employees. All were honoured at a lunch for 800 people on 7 December 2012.

The objectives of the Staff Achievements and Recognition Program are:

  • to provide public recognition of employees and teams who perform above and beyond expected day-to-day performance
  • to recognise employees and teams who embody Box Hill Institute’s vision, mission and values
  • to recognise employees and teams who “go the extra mile”
  • to recognise outstanding professional practice
  • to promote increased awareness of best practices and successful development strategies.

For the APTC’s Scholarships and Student Services team it was a particularly proud day. They were nominated winners of the Box Hill Institute Team of the Year award, the first win ever by an offshore team. The team members are Chauntelle Leung, Student Travel Officer; Taraifina Saro, Scholarships and Student Services Supervisor;  Alumita Saqasere, Scholarships and Course Allocation Officer; and Ema Taloga, Graduation and Student Services Officer.

The Scholarships and Student Services team manages APTCs scholarship program, including the mobilisation and travel support for students from 14 Pacific Island Forum countries.

The APTC was also able to boast two SARP finalists in the Box Hill Institute Adult Learning Excellence Award. They are Gareth McGrath, teacher in the Certificate IV in Youth Work course and Genevieve Thyer, who teaches Certificate III in Home and Community Aged Care.

The names of the APTC staff recognised were announced at the SARP ceremony by John Maddock, Chief Executive Officer of Box Hill Institute. The successful staff members, who had been told of their nominations only the week before, participated in the ceremony from Fiji by teleconference. They later received their awards from Noel Lyons, Box Hill’s Vice President, International and Enterprises, at a ceremony at the APTC’s Namaka campus during the staff moderation workshop on 16 January.

Mr Lyons told the team winners: “Winning Team of the Year in an extremely competitive international environment is an amazing achievement and one that truly recognises the value and commitment the Scholarship team provides in supporting the success of the APTC.

“What has been achieved in one year by this team is an incredible achievement,” he added, “and one that will inspire the entire APTC team across the Pacific.”   Commenting on the recognition, APTC Chief Executive Officer Denise O’Brien said that, while congratulating the staff members honoured for their achievements, she wanted also to acknowledge the contribution of all APTC staff members. She also acknowledged the leadership and support of two senior staff members, Julie Thornton, Manager of Student and Scholarship Services, and Anthony Bailey, Director of the School of Hospitality and Community Services, for their contribution in nominating APTC staff for the program.

The APTC, which is funded by the Australian Government, has campuses and teaching centres throughout the Pacific.