TAFE NSW Ultimo student, Valeska Dominguez has been recognised for her academic achievements and positive work ethic at the TAFE NSW Excellence Awards in Ryde yesterday.

Ms Valeska Dominguez, who completed a Bachelor of Fashion Design at TAFE NSW Ultimo in 2018, was announced as the winner of the prestigious Creative and Design Ideation Student of the Year award at a gala awards ceremony at TAFE NSW Ryde.

“I started out designing and making a few jewellery pieces, when my children were young, for a friend who worked in the fashion industry. To my surprise, magazine editors wanted my pieces for overseas shoots and runways and my business just took off,” Ms Dominguez said.

Ms Dominguez’s costume jewellery collection started out as a hobby but turned into a global company making its way onto the necks of Hollywood stars such as Katy Perry, Selena Gomez and Portia de Rossi before her collection was licensed to an online distribution company. After this exciting venture, Ms Dominguez was eager to find another creative outlet to keep her feeling inspired.

“I’ve always loved wearing the latest fashion and I needed to keep my creativity in-check so I enrolled in a Bachelor of Fashion Design at TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio.

The Balgowlah-based entrepreneur and mother-of-two is now on a mission to design bespoke couture fashion designs using natural fibres and sustainable practices thanks to TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio.

“Studying at TAFE NSW has been the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve learnt hands-on practical skills on how to design and make couture garments, and travelled to India to experience the processes involved when working with manufacturers and buyers. It has also pushed my creative boundaries and challenged me to think outside the box.”

TAFE NSW Regional General Manager, Alison Wood, commended the winners for the commitment and dedication they have shown to their studies.

“These awards recognise our most passionate, industrious and skillful students, and demonstrates the commitment of TAFE NSW to train the workforce leaders of the future when, where and how it suits them,” Ms Wood said.

“We are confident that the exciting learning opportunities we created for these winners helped them to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their career.

“TAFE NSW is proud to equip our students with practical skills and work experience so they’re ready to hit the ground running in their chosen field.

“It’s incredibly rewarding for TAFE NSW teachers to watch students like Valeska grow in the knowledge that the skills and talents they learn with us have the potential to transform their lives,” Ms Wood concluded.

Media contact: Laura Kelly, Media and Communications Business Partner, laura.kelly40@tafensw.edu.au, mobile: 0411 777 676