- Paula Dewhurst appointed Managing Director of
North Regional TAFE
- Five-year term commencing 1 October 2024
Minister
Assisting the Training and Workforce Development Minister Hannah Beazley has
today announced the appointment of Paula Dewhurst to the position of Managing
Director at North Regional TAFE.
Ms Dewhurst
has commenced a five-year term after being appointed by His Excellency the
Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia.
Minister
Beazley acknowledged the service of Ms Dewhurst's recent predecessors: Helen
Smart, who finished up her two years as Managing Director of the college earlier
this year, and Melanie Sorensen, who has since acted in the role and is
retiring.
Ms
Dewhurst brings significant experience to lead North Regional TAFE, the largest
provider of training and vocational services in WA's north.
Ms Dewhurst
has worked in education and training for most of the past 40 years, including
17 years in the WA TAFE system and before that as a secondary school educator.
As Executive
Director Training Operations and Business Improvement at North Metropolitan
TAFE for the past three years, she has led operations for the academic
portfolio directors, heads of program, and portfolio administrative
coordinators who manage or support more than 1,000 academic staff.
Her
experience fostering productive relationships between agencies and with
industry will be invaluable in her new role, and for continuing North Regional
TAFE's delivery of industry-relevant training in line with local workforce and student
needs.
Ms Dewhurst
holds multiple qualifications including a Bachelor of Education - Environmental
Science from Deakin University, a Graduate Diploma of Business from Curtin
University, and a Graduate Certificate of Public Sector Management from
Flinders University.
With
11 campuses from Wyndham in the north to Newman in the south, North Regional
TAFE services communities and industries across a region exceeding one million
square kilometres.
There
were 153,800 publicly funded vocational course enrolments in WA last
year, driven by strong uptake in the WA Labor Government's fee-free and low-fee
courses with high demand continuing in 2024.
The
Cook Government's record $250 million investment in new and upgraded
infrastructure at WA TAFEs is also ensuring they have ongoing capacity to
deliver world-class, industry-standard training.
Comments attributed to Minister Assisting the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development Hannah Beazley:
"Congratulations to Paula
Dewhurst on her appointment to Managing Director at North Regional TAFE.
"Ms Dewhurst's 40 years of experience
in education and training will be an asset to North Regional TAFE and the unique
and valuable communities the college services.
"Her expertise in making
important links with industry and other stakeholders will help to ensure North
Regional TAFE continues to deliver the type of industry-relevant training WA
TAFEs are known for providing, and that students leave their studies job-ready.
"I would also like to
acknowledge the outstanding service of the college's recently departed managing
directors Helen Smart and Melanie Sorensen, and wish them the very best for
their future plans."
