Determined Inverell local, Peter Holzigal is proof that you can follow your dreams no matter the circumstances. Mr Holzigal is visually impaired, but that hasn’t stopped him from completing a Certificate III in Business Administration at TAFE NSW.

A positive future awaits Mr Holzigal as research recently released by the Grattan Institute indicated that a vocational educational training qualification will lead to work in a relevant field.i Statistics also suggest a 3.6% jobs boom in the technology and business services sector in regional NSW over the next three years.ii

“TAFE NSW provided learning support and specially designed programs for the visually impaired to help me learn hands-on skills to be able to operate Microsoft Office programs and help me navigate the internet,” Mr Holzigal said.

“I have also gained the confidence and skills in using social media platforms such as Facebook, which has helped me network and socialise with people through technology.

“The staff and teachers at TAFE NSW have been very accommodating allowing me to bring my guide dog, Patsy to class each week and provide me with extra learning and teaching resources. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

“I would encourage others with disabilities to not let that deter them from studying and finding their passion. TAFE NSW has the capability and expertise to work with students with a diverse range of abilities.”

TAFE NSW Business Teacher, Tanya Munro, considers Mr Holzigal’s experience to be a wonderful example of how TAFE NSW breaks down barriers by offering training and qualifications to all people.

“Throughout the course of his study, Peter has really come out of his comfort zone and is now doing things even he didn’t think were possible,” Mrs Munro said.

“TAFE NSW is not only training the workforce of the future, it is opening doors to careers and social networks in their community that some might have thought were out of reach.”

For more information about TAFE NSW qualifications to suit people of all abilities in growing industries, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.

Media contact: Emma Curtis, TAFE NSW Media Officer, (02) 6338 2509, mobile 0427 901 515.

i Risks and rewards: when is vocational education a good alternative to higher education? The Grattan Institute, August 2019

ii TAFE Strategy West region snapshot, 2018