Sharna Cumming, of Fremantle, has been named South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE) Vocational Student of the Year.
It was a passion for Western Australian native plants and a desire to study at SM TAFE which inspired Sharna to take up a AHC30716 Certificate III in Horticulture and a 52881WA Certificate IV in Landscape Design at Murdoch Campus.
“I moved from Victoria to Western Australia purely to study and obtain my qualifications here,” she said.
“I wanted to be close to WA native plants that I had become passionate about, but WA also had one of the most accessible horticultural and especially landscape design courses in the country.”
Sharna is a strong advocate of SM TAFE and believes her choice to undertake skills-based training to learn her trade has given her the practical experience to reach her potential.
“Due to travelling consistently since I was 18, I never knew exactly what I would be, so to have supported myself through a series of TAFE certificates that are making me more qualified and more employable as I go is definitely an achievement,” she said.
“My continuing studies have opened doors for me in my workplace, Apace Nursery, and I was lucky to be employed somewhere that recognised and appreciated the education I was obtaining.
“I have been trusted to consult with clients on their gardens and give advice on design, and I have been asked to help completely redesign our nursery’s showcase gardens.”
Upon the successful completion of her 52881WA Certificate IV in Landscape Design, Sharna is planning to complete a Diploma of Horticulture at SM TAFE and gain a qualification in permaculture so she can accommodate any person’s dream for green spaces.
SM TAFE’s Student Awards recognise the achievements of students from across the college, including winners in the categories Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, Trainee of the Year, International Student of the Year, VET Secondary Student of the Year, and the Culturally Diverse Student of the Year Award.