Meet your teachers

Before joining TAFE NSW as teacher in 2001, Dr Amir Chishti worked as a researcher at Yale University (USA) and Australian National University (ANU, Canberra). Today Dr Chishti is the Head Teacher of Information Technology at TAFE NSW. Having worked as a network administrator and project manager in the industry after his time in academia, he understands the value students gain from practical training with real equipment. He believes this and the work he does to ensure TAFE NSW offers industry relevant curriculums, are what sets it apart from other training providers.

Belinda is a graduate of COFA, the NIDA Theatre Craft Properties course and has a teaching degree. Before teaching at TAFE NSW Design Centre Enmore she worked on films such as Star Wars, Godzilla, House of Wax, Erskineville Kings and Angst. She also worked on the 2000 Sydney Olympics and staged productions of Dr Zhivago, Rocky Horror Show and Priscilla. With her students, she’s worked on pieces for Vivid Sydney, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the Student Excellence Awards and NSW Training Awards. She was awarded TVET Teacher of the Year at the 2018 State Training Awards.

Dee started her career at TAFE NSW in 2003. She holds a Masters of Educational Leadership and has had an extensive career as a director in early childhood working in the Hunter Region. Dee’s leadership, teaching and experience in coordinator roles provide high quality, community-based, early childhood services including for the African Refugee community. Her primary objective is to develop high-quality resources to support a variety of educational pathways to increase student participation, engagement and completion whilst respecting each individual learner’s potential.

Maria teaches English at TAFE NSW English Language Centre. With now 29 years’ experience teaching English as a second language at TAFE NSW and holding a Masters of Applied Linguistics, she is the perfect teacher to help you on your English language journey. Maria’s empathy is next to none. She arrived in Australia as a non-English speaker herself when her father emigrated from Egypt with his own limited English skills. Maria loves her time teaching at TAFE NSW and sees the staff and students as one big family. ‘There is a lot of warmth, fun and humour between us,’ she says.

Paramjeet Kaur teaches in the nursing section at TAFE NSW Castle Hill while also working part-time as a critical care nurse in Blacktown Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. Paramjeet actively stays up to date with the latest industry trends and innovations through online and face-to-face courses run by NSW Health. She brings these insights to her passion teaching international students. Paramjeet applies patience, cultural sensitivity and visual aids to develop practical and clinical skills to give her students the best preparation for a career in nursing.

Rod is head teacher of Entertainment Design and Illustration at the TAFE NSW Design Centre, Enmore. He believes the immersive and practical nature of TAFE NSW’s live production and graphic design courses are key to students’ learning experience and adds that industry connections amongst staff offer students exciting learning opportunities. Rod is an award finalist in the Wynne (2007, 2010) and in Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi) (2008, 2011, 2012). He has mounted numerous shows in regional galleries across Australia and his work is held in private and public collections nationally and internationally.

Simon started his 36 year career as a cadet engineer with the Australian National Line back in 1973, working his way up to become chief engineer, a position he held for 12 years before crossing over to teaching. He has worked on a variety of vessels ranging from bulk carriers to container ships and brings first-hand TAFE experience having himself studied multiple qualifications at TAFE NSW. Simon is passionate about marine engineering and passing on his knowledge to support the start of your rewarding career in the marine industry.

As head teacher of Beauty and Makeup at TAFE NSW, Ultimo, Trina Storey-Hollis considers her main responsibilities being to provide relevant, high-quality and creative learning to skill our future workforce. She understands the importance for international students to immerse themselves in the local culture and community, and is quick to offer the support to students to do this. Trina stays up to date with all the latest beauty and makeup developments through her role with the Australian Expo Team, as a guest speaker for industry seminars and by collaborating and building industry partnerships.

Wendy Millis is a highly qualified teacher of 16 years, bringing to the classroom 20 years’ experience in the allied health sector. This includes sports injury and rehabilitation of high level athletes, world champions and Olympic athletes. She teaches in the allied health and fitness department at TAFE NSW Port Macquarie bringing her knowledge of anatomy, exercise, injury prevention, remedial massage and clinic management. Wendy is a member of both the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.