Amanda Palm
Our Story: 80 Years of Bedford College
Bedford College has a rich history as part of the Baptist family since 1943. Chief Executive, Steve Dixon shares how education is transformative, offering opportunities for individuals to work in harmony.
Eternity News: two tips for young people asking “What’s next?”
What do you want to do when you grow up? Bedford CEO, Steve Dixon, shares wisdom and advice for young people navigating their next steps in this article published in Eternity News.
Rhiannon’s story
Rhiannon has completed a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at Bedford while juggling life as a young mum.
“I love the supportive environment and that my course is setting me up for some really good career opportunities,” Rhiannon says.
“The lecturers at Bedford are really supportive and flexible with my routine and my schedule with my daughter, which is really helpful.”
Studying a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at the Norwest campus, Rhiannon enjoys the variety of her course.
“I feel like no two days are the same. There’s a lot of hands-on things with the child care course.”
What’s the biggest benefit for Rhiannon?
“It’s really supportive, the lecturers really prepared me for my first placement. I was feeling really nervous, but once I was there, everything we’d learned had kind of just come off the page, you see it all unfold.”
Jordan’s story
Jordan graduated with a Dual Diploma of Business and Diploma of Leadership & Management from Bedford College.
Offered a full-time permanent position as a Human Resources Assistant at prestigious law firm
K&L Gates, Bedford graduate Jordan, was later nominated as a finalist in the 2023 Vocational Student of the Year Awards. Recognising the achievements of students, teachers, training organisations and employers in the state, the NSW Department of Education conducts training awards annually to find ambassadors for Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Following a series of panel interviews, Jordan was announced as a finalist for the Central and
Northern Sydney region. She was then invited to the award ceremony and came away with the esteemed Highly Commended Award.
Jordan’s passion, leadership skills and resilience has been evident throughout her time at Bedford and beyond into employment. When asked what made her choose vocational training, Jordan explains the immersive learning experience and collaborative environment helped her the most.
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“I chose the Dual Diploma of Business and Diploma of Leadership & Management as it was only a 12-month course that would equip me to go directly into the workforce with practical skills,” Jordan says. “It taught me a lot about myself and how I can best engage in different situations, finding ways to work towards a common goal.”
“Because I am a very practical person, I learn much better from hands-on experiences than theory alone. What I loved about this course was that I was able to put into practice what I learned, applying both my knowledge and personal skills. This learning experience has given me the ability to demonstrate confidence and understanding while in the workforce, as well as in my everyday life.”
Not only has Jordan proven to excel academically and in her career, but her time at Bedford allowed her to demonstrate leadership and mentorship, as a student whom many classmates looked up to.
In addition, Jordan travelled over one hour each way to Bedford College three days a week over the entire duration of the course, proving again, that she is a motivated and passionate individual ready to take on any challenges ahead.
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Bedford College celebrates 80 years
This year marks 80 years of operation as one of Australia’s longest-running not-for-profit vocational colleges. To celebrate, Bedford welcomed staff, students, alumni and guests from the community in commemorating this significant occasion.
Bedford College staff, students, alumni and guests celebrated 80 years of operation as one of Australia’s longest-running not-for-profit vocational colleges.
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