With an increased focus on delivering education options to the South East NSW and the recent announcement of a new “Innovation Hub” for Bega which is touted to create further opportunities for start-up businesses and employment in the region it is more than encouraging to hear back stories of those who are part of the delivery process allowing our youth to stay in the region and study. A move to further strengthen ties between TAFE NSW and the community and highlight the training opportunities available to them, has resulted in a new position being established at TAFE NSW Cooma. Many in the South East might be surprised to hear that there is a wide distribution of courses that are spread throughout South East campuses and though distances travelled might be considerable compared to metropolitan students it does allow students to remain at home while participating in local employment and contributing to their community.
Melisha Liegl has recently commenced as TAFE Services Coordinator at TAFE NSW Cooma, a position with a simple but powerful job description – community first.
When Melisha married Dom Liegl, she became part of well-known local family and became a part of the community.
“Dom was born here, his mother is a local nurse and we’re the sort of family who likes to get in and help out in the community where we can,” Mrs Liegl said.
“I met Dom in Sydney but the call of home was too strong for him to ignore, so two years ago we moved to Berridale.
“I was working at Perisher for a while. It was a great experience to see how the snow season has an impact on our community and on tourism.
“If there is a fundraiser or someone needs a helping hand we’ll get in and help.
“The people in this community are friendly and supportive and will say hello when they see you in the street. It’s wonderful to live in a town like this, there is a real community feel.
“I just love the Cooma and Berridale community and I want to see it thrive.
“Everyone benefits from a strong, vibrant town and TAFE NSW is proud of the role it plays in helping communities grow and meet future challenges.
“I’m really looking forward to working closely with the community and making sure we deliver the training and educational opportunities it wants and deserves.
“I’m so excited to be the public face of TAFE NSW locally and I urge everyone to pop in and see what TAFE NSW has to offer – you might be surprised.”
TAFE Services Coordinators play a critical role in the daily operations of a campus and have a strong focus on community engagement.
During Semester 2 at TAFE NSW Cooma you’ll find Business Administration Certificate III, Events and Hospitality Certificate III, Diploma of Business, Forklift Operations Certificate of Attainment, Kitchen Operations Certificate III, Information, Digital Media and Technology Certificate I.
TAFE NSW Regional General Manager Kerry Penton said the new roles would bring TAFE NSW even closer to the communities it serves.
“We have a long and proud affiliation with our towns and the new TAFE Services Coordinators will ensure we continue to be responsive to community and industry needs,” Ms Penton said.
“It’s a very exciting time at TAFE NSW and I encourage local residents to make the most of the exciting training opportunities available to them.”
