19 December 2024
The year has ended on a high note for South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE), with two wins at the 2024 Western Australia Welding Excellence Awards, held on 21 November 2024 at Burswood on Swan in Perth.
SM TAFE was honoured with the 2024 Training and Education – Organisation Award, with our courses put on a pedestal for working with WA’s world-leading Defence industry to deliver a pipeline of skilled workers to meet future needs of the sector.
This is the third time SM TAFE has been received with the award from Weld Australia(opens in a new tab) , the peak body representing the welding industry nationally.
Additionally, in an outstanding milestone achievement, SM TAFE Metals and Fabrication Lecturer Adam Fianacca took out the 2024 Training and Education – Individual Teacher Award.
For almost two decades, Adam has dedicated his time equally between metal fabrication and tertiary education, making significant contributions to VET in schools, advanced and diploma-level engineering projects, the Defence Industry Pathways Program(opens in a new tab) , and the Senior Hull Maintainer Program for the Royal Australian Navy.
SM TAFE Managing Director, Darshi Ganeson, said that the award wins were an absolute credit to our entire metals and fabrication training team and also our students.
“As the state’s largest trainer of apprentices and trainees, we could not be prouder of the contribution of our metals and fabrication lecturer team, who exhibit passion and precision for their trade, which flows on through daily teaching delivery."
Darshi Ganeson
SM TAFE Managing Director
“There is strong focus on skilling for the Defence industry and our team place great importance on the honour of helping shape a lifelong skillset, with lecturers like Adam providing expert guidance and mentoring for our students. Thank you to Weld Australia for this recognition and acknowledgement, and congratulations to all fellow award winners on the night who we work alongside, for their contribution to the welding industry,” Ms Ganeson said.
SM TAFE Executive Director Engineering, Transport and Defence, David Robinson, and General Manager Training Services 1, Brenda Micale, were delighted to attend the event to accept the award on the evening.
The Welding Excellence Awards are the most prestigious event on the welding industry calendar. The awards highlight the brightest talent in local welders, fabricators, and educators contributing to the industry’s growth and commitment to quality, safety, and innovation. We look forward to working with our peers in this space in the new year ahead!
Want to learn welding with the best in the West?
Award-winning SM TAFE Metals and Fabrication Lecturer, Adam Fianacca, started out with a love of designing and building things.
“As a child I could often be found out in the shed pulling things apart to see how they worked and putting them back together. I guess my interest in design and construction stemmed from my primary school days of building skate ramps in the backyard for fun,” Adam said.
Adam followed his passion and has now forged a wealth of professional experience in welding and fabrication, construction, and marine/mechanical design drafting.
If you love making and fixing all things mechanical, you can begin your trade career as a boilermaker, welder, or fabricator at SM TAFE.
Check out our Certificate II in Engineering Foundations (Fabrication Pre-apprenticeship), which will help you take the first step in preparing you for further studies with a metal fabrication apprenticeship.
Following on from that, the Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking/welding) is an apprenticeship, which will provide hands-on skills in fabrication and welding, using industry-standard technologies and techniques. This course is currently offered at half price.*
Applications are now open for Semester 1, 2025!
*This course has reduced fees for residents of Western Australia and temporary residents. An annual fee cap of $400 for those aged 15-24 or concession holders or $1200 for everyone else, applies to this course. Some eligibility conditions apply for the low fee training and other fees may apply for some courses. Please refer to the FAQs(opens in a new tab) for more information.
SM TAFE’s Brenda Micale and David Robinson accepting the award. [Photo credit: Weld Australia]
Regis Chibanda, Business Manager, BOC, Brenda Micale, and Adam Fianacca with his award. [Photo credit: Weld Australia]
SM TAFE training has a key focus on skilling future workers for the Defence industry.
SM TAFE was proud to receive the 2024 Training and Education - Organisation Award.