Expert Trainers, Real-World Experience


Our strength lies in our proficient team of trainers, each an expert in their field with years of invaluable, practical experience. This ensures the advice and guidance they provide are not only industry-relevant but also thoroughly up-to-date, equipping you with the most current skills and knowledge.

Trainers

Accounting & Finance

Kimberly Kim

Kimberly has over 11 years’ experience in training and assessment in tertiary and vocational education and training institutes.  She has also run her own public accounting and tax practice for over two years, after 10 years of working in tax and accounting field.

Mohammad Rahman

Mohammad has been in the Accounting and Finance field since 2015, taking on various roles like bookkeeper, taxation accountant, financial accountant, and payroll officer. His experience triggered his interest in becoming an Accounting Trainer in vocational education.

Beauty & Retail

Ellena Frisina

Ellena has over 15 years of experience in the beauty and cosmetic retail industry. Her journey began after completing a Diploma of Beauty Therapy and has included working in salons and cosmetic clinics, running her own beauty business, supervising work placement students, and lecturing.

Business & Leadership

Holly Radford

Holly is an enthusiastic and dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience in business administration, account management, marketing and print.

Rosalie Pellew

Rosalie Pellew has over 30 years' experience in customer engagement; workplace training and assessment; facilitating adult education; leading and coaching customer contact teams; and supporting on-line learning students.

Katherine Lord

Katherine has been in management roles for the last 12 years working in both the tourism sector, financial planning and currently she is working in the education sector.

Michelle Badato

Michelle is a Social Media Marketing Guru with over 10 years’ experience in Social Media Management, Digital Marketing and Online Communications. She also has a strong background in digital engagement, content creation and creative design.

Tanya Galey

Tanya has many years of experience working in the Airline Industry through her role at World Aviation Systems who represent various airlines here in Sydney (Air Tahiti Nui and Hawaiian Airlines to name a few). She has extensive knowledge of Sales, marketing, reservations and the general business operations of an Airline.

Design & Technology

MD Faridul Islam

MD Faridul Islam is the trainer and assessor of Digital Design and Graphic Design. He has been teaching at Open Colleges since April 2018. MD has more than 10 years’ experience in the design industry, including seven years of teaching design in VET.

Zaid Kilani

Zaid started working in the Interior Design field for an elite custom furniture company, focusing on 3D modelling in furniture and interior design for both commercial and residential projects. Zaid holds a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, along with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Lauren McConnell

Lauren is an experienced photographer and passionate educator with over sixteen years in the industry. Holding a Bachelor of Visual Communication (majoring in photography), a Bachelor of Secondary Teaching, Visual Arts, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Lauren blends deep creative expertise with strong teaching skills.

Education

Erika Russell

Erika has worked in the education industry for over 20 years across a wide range of areas, including early childhood education, and primary and secondary schooling. She has taught in both remote and metropolitan schools, as well as overseas for several years.

Debra Hine

Debra has been involved in Early Childhood Education and Care in various forms for more than 50 years. She initially completed her Mothercraft Nurse training, and began her career caring for babies, toddlers and young children. She then completed a Nursing Diploma and worked in this field, along with providing private care in the homes of families who required support with babies.

Charmaine Debono

Charmaine has worked in early childhood education and care settings for 10 years with children aged 0-5 years. Whilst working as an Early Childhood Educator, she completed a Certificate III and Diploma in Children’s Services, and went on to complete a Bachelor of Education (Birth to 5 years). During her time as an educator, she worked as an assistant educator, room leader and 2nd-in-charge.

Environment & Animal Studies

Blaine Knox

Blaine’s expertise spans turf health, irrigation systems, staff leadership, and project management, including golf course construction and renovations.

Jaclyn Knight

Jaclyn brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the horticulture industry, including roles in retail, production, landscaping, viticulture, and floristry.

Sharon Cliffe

With over a decade of experience in the animal care industry, Sharon Cliffe brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge and heartfelt dedication to her role as a trainer and assessor for Certificate II in Animal Care students. A qualified veterinary nurse, Sharon has worked extensively in surgical and medical nursing, patient care, and client communication, and she now channels that expertise into supporting the next generation of animal care professionals.

Health & Community

Michelle Murphy

Michelle has over 16 years of experience of working within the healthcare industry working as an Enrolled Nurse and a personal care worker. She has worked with people that have a disability within different community programs and within aged care. Michelle’s specialised skills include infection control, dementia care, palliative care and person-centred care.

Maryanne Roland

Maryanne is a registered Occupational Therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience. She has worked in a variety of settings as an occupational therapist (hospital inpatient and outpatient, community health and school-based therapy). Her current clinical workload is community-based occupational therapy in a private-practice setting.

Natalie Albores

Natalie is a Sydney-based speech pathologist with over 18 years of clinical experience. She has worked with children and adults across a number of different specialties, including but not limited to: private practice, non-government, mental health, disability, and public health sectors.

Nicola Robey

Nicola has over 8 years of experience as a Trainer and Assessor in the community and health services field. Committed to staying active in the industry, she works closely with youth, helping them navigate challenges and reach their potential. Nicola also volunteers with individuals facing or at risk of homelessness, offering compassionate support and practical guidance.

Kelly Merchant

Kelly is a registered clinical counsellor who has over 10 years of experience in counselling and over 6 years in training and assessing. Kelly has embraced the challenge of supporting people through their grief and loss, specialising in pregnancy and infant loss and pregnancy after loss.

Melissa Cockburn

Melissa has 17 years of experience in the healthcare industry as an Enrolled Nurse and a Personal Care Worker, working in both aged care facilities and a regional hospital. At the hospital, she worked across all areas, including acute care, the emergency department, and the theatre.

Jacqualyn Lawrence

Jac is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience working in both aged care facilities and the disability industry. With a diverse skill set, Jac has held many positions in nursing, ranging from general nursing roles to coordinator and management positions.

Faamaoni Kaleti

Faamaoni brings over a decade of experience in the Community Services sector, excelling in various roles from Support Worker to Chief Operations Officer within a large-scale organisation. His passion for connecting with people through authentic and empathetic approaches has been a cornerstone of his success.

Paris Wilson

With nearly 15 years of experience in the disability support industry, Paris has dedicated a career to empowering individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling, self-directed lives.

Elisha McCosh

Elisha McCosh has almost 20 years of experience in child protection and foster care, across a range of roles including frontline child protection in Queensland, government policy and resource development, carer training and support, and private practice consulting conducting carer and parenting assessments.

Nadine Collins

Nadine has been working in the dental industry for almost 15 years, gaining extensive experience primarily in private dental practices. She began her career as a dental assistant, completing her Certificate III in Dental Assisting, followed by her Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography). Her passion for patient care and oral health led her to further her education by completing an Advanced Diploma in Oral Health (Dental Hygiene).

Trade

Jeffry Halpin

Jeffrey Halpin has been delivering training and assessment to the construction and WHS industries for over 20 years and been in the construction industry for nearly 45 years. He brings with him a wealth of experience covering all aspects of the construction industry including design, construction, energy rating and building compliance.

Trainers

Accounting & Finance

Kimberly Kim

Kimberly has over 11 years’ experience in training and assessment in tertiary and vocational education and training institutes.  She has also run her own public accounting and tax practice for over two years, after 10 years of working in tax and accounting field.

Mohammad Rahman

Mohammad has been in the Accounting and Finance field since 2015, taking on various roles like bookkeeper, taxation accountant, financial accountant, and payroll officer. His experience triggered his interest in becoming an Accounting Trainer in vocational education.

Beauty & Retail

Ellena Frisina

Ellena has over 15 years of experience in the beauty and cosmetic retail industry. Her journey began after completing a Diploma of Beauty Therapy and has included working in salons and cosmetic clinics, running her own beauty business, supervising work placement students, and lecturing.

Business & Leadership

Holly Radford

Holly is an enthusiastic and dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience in business administration, account management, marketing and print.

Rosalie Pellew

Rosalie Pellew has over 30 years' experience in customer engagement; workplace training and assessment; facilitating adult education; leading and coaching customer contact teams; and supporting on-line learning students.

Katherine Lord

Katherine has been in management roles for the last 12 years working in both the tourism sector, financial planning and currently she is working in the education sector.

Michelle Badato

Michelle is a Social Media Marketing Guru with over 10 years’ experience in Social Media Management, Digital Marketing and Online Communications. She also has a strong background in digital engagement, content creation and creative design.

Tanya Galey

Tanya has many years of experience working in the Airline Industry through her role at World Aviation Systems who represent various airlines here in Sydney (Air Tahiti Nui and Hawaiian Airlines to name a few). She has extensive knowledge of Sales, marketing, reservations and the general business operations of an Airline.

Design & Technology

MD Faridul Islam

MD Faridul Islam is the trainer and assessor of Digital Design and Graphic Design. He has been teaching at Open Colleges since April 2018. MD has more than 10 years’ experience in the design industry, including seven years of teaching design in VET.

Zaid Kilani

Zaid started working in the Interior Design field for an elite custom furniture company, focusing on 3D modelling in furniture and interior design for both commercial and residential projects. Zaid holds a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, along with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Lauren McConnell

Lauren is an experienced photographer and passionate educator with over sixteen years in the industry. Holding a Bachelor of Visual Communication (majoring in photography), a Bachelor of Secondary Teaching, Visual Arts, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Lauren blends deep creative expertise with strong teaching skills.

Education

Erika Russell

Erika has worked in the education industry for over 20 years across a wide range of areas, including early childhood education, and primary and secondary schooling. She has taught in both remote and metropolitan schools, as well as overseas for several years.

Debra Hine

Debra has been involved in Early Childhood Education and Care in various forms for more than 50 years. She initially completed her Mothercraft Nurse training, and began her career caring for babies, toddlers and young children. She then completed a Nursing Diploma and worked in this field, along with providing private care in the homes of families who required support with babies.

Charmaine Debono

Charmaine has worked in early childhood education and care settings for 10 years with children aged 0-5 years. Whilst working as an Early Childhood Educator, she completed a Certificate III and Diploma in Children’s Services, and went on to complete a Bachelor of Education (Birth to 5 years). During her time as an educator, she worked as an assistant educator, room leader and 2nd-in-charge.

Environment & Animal Studies

Blaine Knox

Blaine’s expertise spans turf health, irrigation systems, staff leadership, and project management, including golf course construction and renovations.

Jaclyn Knight

Jaclyn brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the horticulture industry, including roles in retail, production, landscaping, viticulture, and floristry.

Sharon Cliffe

With over a decade of experience in the animal care industry, Sharon Cliffe brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge and heartfelt dedication to her role as a trainer and assessor for Certificate II in Animal Care students. A qualified veterinary nurse, Sharon has worked extensively in surgical and medical nursing, patient care, and client communication, and she now channels that expertise into supporting the next generation of animal care professionals.

Health & Community

Michelle Murphy

Michelle has over 16 years of experience of working within the healthcare industry working as an Enrolled Nurse and a personal care worker. She has worked with people that have a disability within different community programs and within aged care. Michelle’s specialised skills include infection control, dementia care, palliative care and person-centred care.

Maryanne Roland

Maryanne is a registered Occupational Therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience. She has worked in a variety of settings as an occupational therapist (hospital inpatient and outpatient, community health and school-based therapy). Her current clinical workload is community-based occupational therapy in a private-practice setting.

Natalie Albores

Natalie is a Sydney-based speech pathologist with over 18 years of clinical experience. She has worked with children and adults across a number of different specialties, including but not limited to: private practice, non-government, mental health, disability, and public health sectors.

Nicola Robey

Nicola has over 8 years of experience as a Trainer and Assessor in the community and health services field. Committed to staying active in the industry, she works closely with youth, helping them navigate challenges and reach their potential. Nicola also volunteers with individuals facing or at risk of homelessness, offering compassionate support and practical guidance.

Kelly Merchant

Kelly is a registered clinical counsellor who has over 10 years of experience in counselling and over 6 years in training and assessing. Kelly has embraced the challenge of supporting people through their grief and loss, specialising in pregnancy and infant loss and pregnancy after loss.

Melissa Cockburn

Melissa has 17 years of experience in the healthcare industry as an Enrolled Nurse and a Personal Care Worker, working in both aged care facilities and a regional hospital. At the hospital, she worked across all areas, including acute care, the emergency department, and the theatre.

Jacqualyn Lawrence

Jac is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience working in both aged care facilities and the disability industry. With a diverse skill set, Jac has held many positions in nursing, ranging from general nursing roles to coordinator and management positions.

Faamaoni Kaleti

Faamaoni brings over a decade of experience in the Community Services sector, excelling in various roles from Support Worker to Chief Operations Officer within a large-scale organisation. His passion for connecting with people through authentic and empathetic approaches has been a cornerstone of his success.

Paris Wilson

With nearly 15 years of experience in the disability support industry, Paris has dedicated a career to empowering individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling, self-directed lives.

Elisha McCosh

Elisha McCosh has almost 20 years of experience in child protection and foster care, across a range of roles including frontline child protection in Queensland, government policy and resource development, carer training and support, and private practice consulting conducting carer and parenting assessments.

Nadine Collins

Nadine has been working in the dental industry for almost 15 years, gaining extensive experience primarily in private dental practices. She began her career as a dental assistant, completing her Certificate III in Dental Assisting, followed by her Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography). Her passion for patient care and oral health led her to further her education by completing an Advanced Diploma in Oral Health (Dental Hygiene).

Trade

Jeffry Halpin

Jeffrey Halpin has been delivering training and assessment to the construction and WHS industries for over 20 years and been in the construction industry for nearly 45 years. He brings with him a wealth of experience covering all aspects of the construction industry including design, construction, energy rating and building compliance.
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Kimberly Kim

Trainers | Accounting & Finance
Kimberly has over 11 years’ experience in training and assessment in tertiary and vocational education and training institutes.  She has also run her own public accounting and tax practice for over two years, after 10 years of working in tax and accounting field.
Kimberly holds a Masters of Business Administration majoring in Professional Accounting and is a Certified Professional Accountant with a passion for teaching.
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Mohammad Rahman

Trainers | Accounting & Finance
Mohammad has been in the Accounting and Finance field since 2015, taking on various roles like bookkeeper, taxation accountant, financial accountant, and payroll officer. His experience triggered his interest in becoming an Accounting Trainer in vocational education.
Since 2017, he's been training and assessing Accounting in different institutes, including TAFE. He's deeply passionate about teaching and finds joy in sharing his knowledge and experience with learners. With a Bachelor of Business and Commerce in Accounting, Mohammad brings both academic and practical expertise to his role, ensuring students are well-prepared for the industry.
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Ellena Frisina

Trainers | Beauty & Retail
Ellena has over 15 years of experience in the beauty and cosmetic retail industry. Her journey began after completing a Diploma of Beauty Therapy and has included working in salons and cosmetic clinics, running her own beauty business, supervising work placement students, and lecturing.
She is driven by a passion for helping others feel better about themselves, sharing her knowledge with students, and watching them grow in confidence and skill. Ellena also enjoys being part of a dynamic and ever-evolving retail industry.
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Holly Radford

Trainers | Business & Leadership
Holly is an enthusiastic and dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience in business administration, account management, marketing and print.
She has also been working within the education and training industry since 2013, in both a face-to-face and online capacity and is passionate about the power of education. Holly runs a small online business and holds a position on the Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP) WA Division Committee.

Holly holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Diploma of Business Administration, Diploma of Business, Diploma of Marketing Communication, Diploma of Social Media Marketing, Certificate IV in Training & Assessment and a Certificate III in Printing & Graphic Arts.
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Rosalie Pellew

Trainers | Business & Leadership
Rosalie Pellew has over 30 years' experience in customer engagement; workplace training and assessment; facilitating adult education; leading and coaching customer contact teams; and supporting on-line learning students.
Rosalie’s experience spans various industries from retail and telecommunications to food production. Rosalie has been in Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for over 14 years.

Pursuing her passion for adult education, Rosalie refocused into student services to assist students through their learning journey and beyond to training and assessing. She holds a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, Diplomas in Teaching, Adult Education, Business Administration, Business and Leadership & Management.
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Katherine Lord

Trainers | Business & Leadership
Katherine has been in management roles for the last 12 years working in both the tourism sector, financial planning and currently she is working in the education sector.
As a General Manager of a small travel company, Client Service Manager in Finance, and as Registrar in her current role, Katherine has extensive experience in leading successful teams, supporting the businesses in Human Resource services, working in contract management, performance management, training and development and ensuring high levels of customer service are delivered to a range of stakeholders. Katherine is passionate about supporting the teams in which we work and enjoys watching her colleagues grow in their roles.

Prior to joining Open Colleges, Katherine also held a position as a face-to-face trainer and Assessor where she was responsible for delivering learning to international students.

Katherine holds a Diploma of Leadership and Management, Diploma in Tourism and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
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Michelle Badato

Trainers | Business & Leadership
Michelle is a Social Media Marketing Guru with over 10 years’ experience in Social Media Management, Digital Marketing and Online Communications. She also has a strong background in digital engagement, content creation and creative design.
Michelle currently works across a range of industries including sports fitness, not-for-profit, travel, professional services, industrial, construction, agriculture and chemistry.

Michelle completed a Diploma of Social Media Marketing, a Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations) and holds a Cert IV in Training and Assessment.
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Tanya Galey

Trainers | Business & Leadership
Tanya has many years of experience working in the Airline Industry through her role at World Aviation Systems who represent various airlines here in Sydney (Air Tahiti Nui and Hawaiian Airlines to name a few). She has extensive knowledge of Sales, marketing, reservations and the general business operations of an Airline.
Through her role at World Aviation she travelled extensively and gained knowledge on various destinations first hand. Tanya has been teaching Certificate III and Diploma of Tourism for the past 10 years to pass on her passion/knowledge for the Tourism Industry to her students. Recently Tanya has received her Certificate IV in Business Administration to supplement her current role as Operations Manager of a financial planning firm. While still consulting with the travel industry she has been in the financial Industry for the past 5 years developing relevant policies/procedures and complying with regulatory practices.

Tanya’s qualifications are Diploma of Tourism, Certificate IV in Tourism, Certificate III in Tourism , Certificate IV in Training & Assessment and Certificate IV in Business Administration.
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MD Faridul Islam

Trainers | Design & Technology
MD Faridul Islam is the trainer and assessor of Digital Design and Graphic Design. He has been teaching at Open Colleges since April 2018. MD has more than 10 years’ experience in the design industry, including seven years of teaching design in VET.
MD has obtained several qualifications from a range of design courses, including; Masters in Digital Design, Graduate Certificate in Design, Certificate IV in Graphic Design, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Diploma of Screen, and Media and Diploma of Multimedia.

MD has solid industry experience in graphic and digital technology-based designs. His areas of expertise are – logo design, illustration, web design, 3D design, UI/UX, branding and identity, digital design including game development. As a designer, MD believes there is no end of learning. Design is his passion. As a trainer, he learns every day and loves to share his skills among keen design cohorts
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Zaid Kilani

Trainers | Design & Technology
Zaid started working in the Interior Design field for an elite custom furniture company, focusing on 3D modelling in furniture and interior design for both commercial and residential projects. Zaid holds a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, along with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
He followed his passion for interior design and 3D modelling and now has years of experience, having worked on a variety of different interior design and furniture design projects. This experience enabled him to expand his knowledge of a variety of CAD, 3D modelling and rendering software. His passion for design drove him to start his own interior design studio. He loves to share his knowledge and spread his passion of design with students.
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Lauren McConnell

Trainers | Design & Technology
Lauren is an experienced photographer and passionate educator with over sixteen years in the industry. Holding a Bachelor of Visual Communication (majoring in photography), a Bachelor of Secondary Teaching, Visual Arts, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Lauren blends deep creative expertise with strong teaching skills.
Throughout her career, she has gained diverse experience interning for established photographers, working in photographic studios, and teaching in secondary schools. Most notably, she has run her own successful photography business — Lauren McConnell Photography — where she has captured lasting memories for families, couples and businesses. She also founded LMP The Studio, a dedicated space for creative work.

Lauren is deeply passionate about photography and considers herself fortunate to have built a career doing what she loves. As a trainer, she is eager to share her skills and knowledge with students who are just as enthusiastic about photography. She believes that with the right guidance and consistent practice, anyone can become an excellent photographer.
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Erika Russell

Trainers | Education
Erika has worked in the education industry for over 20 years across a wide range of areas, including early childhood education, and primary and secondary schooling. She has taught in both remote and metropolitan schools, as well as overseas for several years.
Erika holds a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary), and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

For the past 15 years, Erika has worked in the VET sector, both in the classroom and online. She enjoys sharing her industry knowledge and experience with students.
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Debra Hine

Trainers | Education
Debra has been involved in Early Childhood Education and Care in various forms for more than 50 years. She initially completed her Mothercraft Nurse training, and began her career caring for babies, toddlers and young children. She then completed a Nursing Diploma and worked in this field, along with providing private care in the homes of families who required support with babies.
Debra has also completed a Diploma of Children’s Services, a Bachelor of Children’s Services, a Graduate Diploma of Education (Adult and Workplace Learning) and various forms of the Certificate IV/Diploma in Training and Assessment.

Debra worked in a position as a School Services Officer, before she moved on to working as a Fieldworker for Family Day Care for 4 years. 
An opportunity arose to work as an Early Childhood Education and Care Lecturer with TAFESA where she remained until December 2019, having been with them for almost 20 years. Debra is a passionate trainer and assessor and has worked across Certificate III and the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, as well as the Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services, Workplace Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning.

Debra has now worked as a Trainer and Assessor for over 25 years, with the last 5 years at Open Colleges.

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Charmaine Debono

Trainers | Education
Charmaine has worked in early childhood education and care settings for 10 years with children aged 0-5 years. Whilst working as an Early Childhood Educator, she completed a Certificate III and Diploma in Children’s Services, and went on to complete a Bachelor of Education (Birth to 5 years). During her time as an educator, she worked as an assistant educator, room leader and 2nd-in-charge.
Charmaine then went on to complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to allow her to share her passion for early childhood education and care with others, where she has now worked as a Trainer and Assessor for Open Colleges for over 10 years.



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Blaine Knox

Trainers | Environment & Animal Studies
Blaine’s expertise spans turf health, irrigation systems, staff leadership, and project management, including golf course construction and renovations.
Blaine brings over 15 years of expertise in sports turf management, specialising in maintaining and enhancing high-quality golf courses. His career includes roles as Golf Course Superintendent at esteemed clubs like Palm Meadows Golf Club and Beenleigh RSL & Golf Club. Blaine’s expertise spans turf health, irrigation systems, staff leadership, and project management, including golf course construction and renovations.

Holding a Diploma in Sports Turf Management and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Blaine is a qualified trainer dedicated to mentoring the next generation of turf managers. His hands-on teaching style equips students with practical skills and valuable industry insights. Blaine is committed to fostering professionalism, teamwork, and a passion for excellence in his students.
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Jaclyn Knight

Trainers | Environment & Animal Studies
Jaclyn brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the horticulture industry, including roles in retail, production, landscaping, viticulture, and floristry.
She holds a Bachelor of Horticulture and has excelled in positions such as greenlife buyer, nursery manager, and plant care specialist, showcasing exceptional customer service and leadership skills.

Passionate about sharing her knowledge, Jaclyn draws on her extensive industry experience to inspire and empower students pursuing careers in horticulture. She is dedicated to fostering a love for plants and sustainable practices, equipping her students with the practical skills and confidence needed to succeed in the field.
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Sharon Cliffe

Trainers | Environment & Animal Studies
With over a decade of experience in the animal care industry, Sharon Cliffe brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge and heartfelt dedication to her role as a trainer and assessor for Certificate II in Animal Care students. A qualified veterinary nurse, Sharon has worked extensively in surgical and medical nursing, patient care, and client communication, and she now channels that expertise into supporting the next generation of animal care professionals.
Sharon’s teaching journey is deeply personal. Having faced challenges in her own school years, she’s passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student feels capable, valued, and respected. She firmly believes that everyone learns differently, and she tailors her approach to reflect each student’s unique goals—whether they’re chasing a career in animal care or simply nurturing a lifelong passion.

Through flexible online learning, Sharon empowers students to balance their education with work, family, and placement commitments. Her course not only covers essential practical skills—like safe handling, feeding, first aid, and infection control—but also builds strong professional foundations in teamwork, communication, and workplace protocols.

Her advice? “Stay curious, stay committed, and never be afraid to ask for help. Believe in yourself—your passion and dedication will take you further than you think.”

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Michelle Murphy

Trainers | Health & Community
Michelle has over 16 years of experience of working within the healthcare industry working as an Enrolled Nurse and a personal care worker. She has worked with people that have a disability within different community programs and within aged care. Michelle’s specialised skills include infection control, dementia care, palliative care and person-centred care.
Over the years she has also worked in General Practice, different hospitals across Southeast Queensland as an agency nurse working in the areas of mental health, palliative care, and dementia units.

Michelle has been a Trainer in adult education for over 6 years working in classrooms, workplaces, online and in secondary schools.

• Diploma of Nursing

• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

• Diploma of Business

• Diploma of Community Services

• Certificate 3 in Aged Care
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Maryanne Roland

Trainers | Health & Community
Maryanne is a registered Occupational Therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience. She has worked in a variety of settings as an occupational therapist (hospital inpatient and outpatient, community health and school-based therapy). Her current clinical workload is community-based occupational therapy in a private-practice setting.
Maryanne is also an experienced educator having worked as a casual academic at the University of Newcastle and as a Trainer and Assessor in RTOs. She enjoys her work with students in Allied Health Assistance. She sees the quickly expanding need for more qualified AHAs to be working in community based therapy.
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Natalie Albores

Trainers | Health & Community
Natalie is a Sydney-based speech pathologist with over 18 years of clinical experience. She has worked with children and adults across a number of different specialties, including but not limited to: private practice, non-government, mental health, disability, and public health sectors.
Natalie has extensive experience navigating the NDIS and is currently a NSW Health district lead, supporting patients and clinicians in this area. She has extensive experience advocating for patients and their families when engaging with complex systems and the interface between multiple stakeholders. Natalie is also highly passionate about clinical teaching. She holds a Master of Clinical Education and is a Clinical Associate Lecturer with the University of Sydney.
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Nicola Robey

Trainers | Health & Community
Nicola has over 8 years of experience as a Trainer and Assessor in the community and health services field. Committed to staying active in the industry, she works closely with youth, helping them navigate challenges and reach their potential. Nicola also volunteers with individuals facing or at risk of homelessness, offering compassionate support and practical guidance.
With a strong background in supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander youth, she is passionate about empowering young people to overcome barriers and achieve their aspirations.

Nicola holds a Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention, a Certificate IV in Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs, and a Diploma of Community Services Work. She is currently working toward completing a Diploma of Positive Psychology.
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Kelly Merchant

Trainers | Health & Community
Kelly is a registered clinical counsellor who has over 10 years of experience in counselling and over 6 years in training and assessing. Kelly has embraced the challenge of supporting people through their grief and loss, specialising in pregnancy and infant loss and pregnancy after loss.
As well as training and assessing, Kelly works part time for not for profit charity and has her own private practice focusing on trauma, anxiety, relationships and loss.

Gleaned from her own experiences of multi-tasking and creating priorities, Kelly offers this advice to students, “never feel that you have to have everything in place from the beginning – take each step as it comes”. And if you ever feel lost or overwhelmed in your studies, take a step back and try and focus on why you became motivated to study in the first place - use that to create the path into the future, that only you can control.

Kelly is passionate about her role as a counsellor, advocating for a strong student understanding to the importance of communication skills and their application and welcomes you to the new life chapter you have undertaken in this course.
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Melissa Cockburn

Trainers | Health & Community
Melissa has 17 years of experience in the healthcare industry as an Enrolled Nurse and a Personal Care Worker, working in both aged care facilities and a regional hospital. At the hospital, she worked across all areas, including acute care, the emergency department, and the theatre.
Melissa has been a trainer and assessor for 15 months, delivering both online and face-to-face training.

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Jacqualyn Lawrence

Trainers | Health & Community
Jac is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience working in both aged care facilities and the disability industry. With a diverse skill set, Jac has held many positions in nursing, ranging from general nursing roles to coordinator and management positions.
Jac has a passion for client wellbeing, ensuring clients receive person-centred care, and has a special interest in wound care prevention, management, and palliative care.

Jac also has a keen interest in coaching and mentoring staff, which led to a move into the training field. In 2021, Jac successfully obtained a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and began a career in training. Jac enjoys passing on knowledge to those just starting out in the industry or those looking to change careers
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Faamaoni Kaleti

Trainers | Health & Community
Faamaoni brings over a decade of experience in the Community Services sector, excelling in various roles from Support Worker to Chief Operations Officer within a large-scale organisation. His passion for connecting with people through authentic and empathetic approaches has been a cornerstone of his success.
Known as Oni, he has held diverse roles, including Accommodation Manager, Community Participation Coordinator, Counsellor, Operations Manager, and Chief Operations Officer. Throughout his career, he has worked with a wide range of individuals, including children, youth, and adults. Oni specialises in supporting individuals with complex behaviours and facilitating their rehabilitation back into the community, fostering independence through a humanitarian approach and collaborative services.

With three years of experience as a trainer, Oni has worked with students in a hybrid learning environment and is eager to share his lived experiences and professional expertise. He holds qualifications in Certificate IV in Community Services, a Diploma in Counselling, and an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management, and he is currently pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
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Paris Wilson

Trainers | Health & Community
With nearly 15 years of experience in the disability support industry, Paris has dedicated a career to empowering individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling, self-directed lives.

Paris has worked across various areas of the sector, including community hubs, community inclusion, respite care, supported independent living, and mentorship. Specialising in active support, skill development, person-centred care, and dignity of risk, Paris is passionate about promoting high-quality support practices that enhance independence and well-being.

Since 2019, Paris has been training and assessing with the goal of igniting the passion for quality active support in the future generation of support workers. Paris holds a Certificate IV in Disability, a Diploma of Business, and a Diploma of Leadership and Management.
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Elisha McCosh

Trainers | Health & Community
Elisha McCosh has almost 20 years of experience in child protection and foster care, across a range of roles including frontline child protection in Queensland, government policy and resource development, carer training and support, and private practice consulting conducting carer and parenting assessments.
She has worked with diverse communities and with children and families with trauma backgrounds, passionately advocating for the protection of children and supporting families and carers. Elisha enjoys her work in parent training and coaching, helping families feel capable and confident in challenging parenting moments.

Elisha is consistently striving to develop and improve the skills and knowledge of individuals and organisations in the sector, contributing to the safety and wellbeing of our community’s most vulnerable. Her goal is to find innovative ways to embed a positive, child-safe culture across organisations and the broader community.

Elisha holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and is a qualified parenting trainer.
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Nadine Collins

Trainers | Health & Community
Nadine has been working in the dental industry for almost 15 years, gaining extensive experience primarily in private dental practices. She began her career as a dental assistant, completing her Certificate III in Dental Assisting, followed by her Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography). Her passion for patient care and oral health led her to further her education by completing an Advanced Diploma in Oral Health (Dental Hygiene).
Nadine is a registered dental practitioner and currently practises as a dental hygienist. She is passionate about providing high-quality care to every patient and takes pride in creating a comfortable, supportive environment. Nadine is deeply committed to promoting good oral health and enjoys educating patients on the importance of preventive care and healthy dental habits.

Over the years, Nadine has also played a key role in helping to set up new dental practices, contributing to the development of both clinical and administrative systems. Her hands-on experience in both areas has given her a well-rounded understanding of how to support efficient, patient-focused dental care.

Passionate about the dental industry, Nadine returned to study to pursue a career in education. Over the past few years, she has gained experience teaching in both face-to-face and online settings. She looks forward to continuing to share her knowledge and making a positive impact on the next generation of dental professionals.
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Jeffry Halpin

Trainers | Trade
Jeffrey Halpin has been delivering training and assessment to the construction and WHS industries for over 20 years and been in the construction industry for nearly 45 years. He brings with him a wealth of experience covering all aspects of the construction industry including design, construction, energy rating and building compliance.
As a practising Building Contractor and Consultant, Jeffrey delivers the very highest quality standards to his clientele.

Jeffrey is tremendously honoured to be part of the Open Colleges team as a Trainer and Assessor. He feels privileged to have the opportunity to impart his experience and knowledge to the students.

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