Chisholm Institute – The people who skill people
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Media Release
Monday 1st February 2010
For immediate release
Chisholm CEO recognised in Australia Day Honours
Chisholm Institute CEO Virginia Simmons has been awarded the Officer of the Order of
Australia in the 2010 Australia Day Honours.
The award recognises her service to education as a leader and advocate for vocational
education and training, through reform of the Victorian TAFE Association, contributions to
professional organisations, international advisory roles and as a mentor to women.
Ms Simmons’ achievements include being the first woman to be appointed Director of a
TAFE Institute in Victoria.
Ms Simmons was also acknowledged for her pioneering work providing access for
educationally disadvantaged groups of learners. The initiatives she has helped develop in this
regard include the first Recognition of Prior Learning project in Australia; establishing a
Victorian Assessment Centre; establishing the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation in
2006 to support disadvantaged students in south-east Melbourne; and contributing to the
integration of Corrections education into the TAFE system assuming responsibility for
education in the major prisons in Victoria.
Ms Simmons is one of only 27 people in Australia to be awarded the Officer of the Order of
Australia in 2010.
Chisholm Board President David Willersdorf, acknowledging Virginia’s outstanding
achievements to Chisholm and the TAFE sector, said: “This is a most deserving award for
Virginia who has not only devoted her energies to the restructure and advancement of
Chisholm to the standing and financial stability that it has now reached but has also been
instrumental in the promotion of education through the TAFE structure both nationally and
internationally.”
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Chisholm Institute – The people who skill people
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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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