Training Department

Carmel Fairall

Position:  VET Manager

Carmel is a born-and-bred local, having grown up in Nyngan.  A qualified chef who has spent a number of years in the hospitality industry, Carmel made the career change to education and training in 2008 and hasn’t looked back.

As Program Co-ordinator, it’s Carmel’s job to organise all courses and trainers for Western College’s Personal Interest Course and Professional Course guides, as well as overseeing the co-ordination of tailored training programs.

It is part Carmel’s position to assist the community by providing a range of different courses according to community / participant demands – a role she finds thoroughly satisfying: “It is so pleasing to see people gain so much personal development and satisfaction from our courses, whether through our lifestyle programs or employment-related programs.”

As well as her professional qualifications as a chef, Carmel holds a Certificate IV in Business and has recently completed her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Carmel was named winner of Employee of the Year at the 2009 Rhino Outstanding Business Awards.

Qualifications: Certificate IV in Business, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE), currently completing Diploma of Management

Louise Mathieson

Position: VET & Data Coordinator 

When Lou returned to the Western College ‘fold’ after a brief hiatus from the education industry in 2008, it was “like coming home”.  Lou’s association with the college began in 2005, when she took up the position of Student Liaison Officer – a role that would soon see her appointed Program Co-coordinator.  In 2009, Lou re-joined the team in the newly created role of Marketing Assistant.

A local “through and through”, Lou is passionate Western College’s vision and place in the community and derives great satisfaction from helping people to understand how education can how change their lives. "Education is very important to me and I am excited about the direction Western College is taking and where we are heading.”

Lou is a qualified Aesthetician and has recently completed a Certificate IV in Business traineeship through Western College.

She was also named as a finalist in the "People's Choice: Service with a Smile" category of the 2009 Rhino Outstanding Business Awards.