Chisholm Institute – The people who skill people
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Media Release
February 16th 2010
For immediate release
Locals girls in Chinese adventure
Two local students have enjoyed a month-long work experience trip in south-east Asia thanks to a
Government program and some inspired fund-raising.
Kelly Golding and Cassandra Edgar, both studying the Diploma of Events at Chisholm Institute, won
a VET Mobility scholarship funded by the Department of Education Employment and Workplace
Relations.
The scholarship gave them the opportunity to experience a two-week industry placement at the five
star Intercontinental Hotel in Shenzhen in Southern China.
“Fantastic!” is how Kelly Golding described the trip.
“Everyone at the hotel was so friendly and welcoming,” she says, “There were a few language
issues – all we knew how to say was ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in Mandarin – but all the managers knew
English so we got by.”
Cassandra was also enthusiastic.
“It was a really great experience,” she says, “China is a very different culture to Australia in a lot of
ways, for instance in food, language, religion and family structure. Also, in China people smoke
anywhere they like!”
Cassandra and Kelly were kept busy in the hotel working in housekeeping. “We were cleaning
rooms and getting them ready for guests and also working in the uniform and laundry area,” Kelly
said.
This was not Kelly’s first time in China. She went with her High School to Beijing and Xian in 2004
and enjoyed the experience so much she couldn’t wait to go back. The latest trip has only
cemented her love for the country.
“It’s such an open, welcoming culture and it’s changing so fast,” she said, “I’d recommend it to
anyone.”
To contribute to the cost of the project the girls organised a trivia night fund raiser at Chisholm
Frankston’s Bunurong training restaurant. Strong support from their fellow students in the Diploma
course meant the night was a sold out success and the girls were able to get a boost to their travel
expenses.
Cassandra and Kelly travelled to China in the company of Events Co-ordinator Cate Berg and
Manager, Culinary Events and Hospitality Department Lisa Confoy-Blackshaw. A highlight of the trip
for all four was a four-day excursion to Hong Kong and Macau, which Kelly described as ‘incredible’.
Chisholm Institute – The people who skill people
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Two other Chisholm students, Jason Waugh and Bilal Baig from the Mechatronics program at the
Centre for Integrated Engineering and Science, also benefitted from the Outbound Mobility program,
spending several weeks in Malaysia.
The VET Outbound Mobility Program seeks to give students at Australian VET institutions an
international study experience. The Program is part of the Endeavour Awards, the Australian
Government’s internationally competitive, merit-based scholarship program.
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For further media information contact :
For media enquiries contact:
Nat Tunbridge
Client Co ordinator
Marketing and Corporate Communication
Chisholm Institute
Ph: 9238 8307
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