aifc Student Petrina Padmos Wins VET Student Of The Year 2017

aifc congratulates our Graduate Diploma Student Petrina (Trina) Padmos on winning The ACA’s VET Student of The Year Award 2017.

The selection process began with The ACA seeking out a nomination from each of the 4 regions for their best Graduate Diploma student (they must have done Diploma and Advanced Diploma). From these, aifc selected Petrina (Trina) Padmos as our nominee for VET student of the year.   Other RTOs nominated their student also.   Trina was chosen from these students.  In her prize she receives a year’s free membership from the ACA.

Josephine Schembri, aifc’s Post Graduate Coordinator gives the reasons why Trina was nominated to represent aifc. 

I have been Petrina’s tutor for the Diploma (2015), Advance Diploma (2016) and her coach for the Graduate Diploma.(2017).

I nominate Petrina for the following reasons. Petrina:

• has taken on assessment feedback/constructive criticism to improve on her problem solving skills and rapport building skills as a counsellor
• is teachable and eager to learn and improve her ability and capability as a counsellor
• lives her life according to the word of God and is prayerful
• shows non-judgemental acceptance of others
• gives unconditional love
• is passionate in regards to helping others
• can empathise with others on a deep level. This is a skill which Petrina found difficult to master at first as her ‘rescuing nature’ prevented her to do so. However, with patience, practise and sheer dedication she has been able to overcome her inability to put empathy into words. Now Petrina can sit with a client, listen to them and express heart-felt empathy
• is able to build a genuine therapeutic relationship with is based on trust and honesty
• is self-aware. Petrina has the ability to look within and identify her own unmet psychological needs. Her ability to identify personal and professional needs has enabled her to become an effective counsellor
• is flexible as she has the ability to adapt and change the way she responds to meet a client’s individual need
• shows multicultural competency. Petrina has demonstrated that she can relate to clients regardless of their ethnicity, religious or political beliefs
• is open and honest, and trustworthy

I have watched Petrina grow personally and professionally over the last three years. Petrina has a disability which prevents her from moving around easily however she has always reflected self-respect and respect for others. Petrina does not dwell on her disability but works on ways to improve her mobility. Petrina has never used her disability as an excuse but has always worked to be punctual, attend every seminar and join in all group work. Petrina’s has demonstrated an ability to commit to the counselling profession while facing challenging unfortunate life circumstances. I feel that Petrina’s undivided qualities of integrity, wisdom and now confidence makes for a wonderful counsellor whom aifc can be proud of.

Well done and Congratulations!

Left to right; Phillip Armstrong CEO of The ACA, winner Petrina (Trina) Padmos & Shannon Hood – aifc Special Advisor Innovation & Training.

STUDYING AT AIFC

Equip yourself with counselling skills for life at aifc.

For those who would like to enrol in aifc’s accredited Christian counselling courses we have two intakes per year for courses commencing around the following months:

• At The beginning of each year in February.
• Mid-Year courses commence in July.

Enrolments open approximately 3 months prior the courses commencing. Enquire now by filling out the form with your details to receive course information by email.

Introducing a Master of Counselling course commencing in 2018

Contact aifc Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm with your enquiries on 6242 5111 or toll free on 1300 721 397