PAVE staff member honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Pathways and Vocational Education (PAVE) Teaching and Learning Officer, Ms Isabella Chor, has been honoured at Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor’s Awards 2020 with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Isabella started her journey with Swinburne in January 1989 as a centre receptionist and administrative assistant for Health and Human Services at the Outer Easter College of TAFE. Today, she is a Teaching and Learning Officer in the PAVE Business Services team, assisting and supporting the Migrant English and General Education Manager and teaching teams with the delivery of programs across the Department of Health, Science and Community.

Embracing education

When Isabella started at the Outer Eastern College of TAFE, she was relatively new to Australia and was balancing work, family and a new culture. Over time, she mastered English and committed herself to as much development – both professional and personal – as possible.

“One of my proudest achievements is successfully completing the Associate Diploma of Business (Office Administration) and the Graduate Certificate of Business (Executive Administration). These qualifications gave me additional skills and further improved my work performance,” says Isabella. 

Isabella’s desire to upskill culminated in her successful completion of two qualifications at Swinburne.

“In reading Isabella’s nomination, what struck me was how beautifully she has embraced education,” says Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester.

“How fitting, for someone who works at a university, to truly embody the spirit of learning and to seize every opportunity to upskill,” she adds.

“I enjoy learning and Swinburne has given me lots of opportunity to learn. Continuous improvement is my aim and I learn from my team and other contacts,” says Isabella.

It is these learning opportunities that Isabella credits for her personal and professional growth. “Working at Swinburne has helped me grow my communication skills. I’ve successfully learnt and upskilled myself with new IT systems and, most importantly, my confidence in my job has grown.”

Giving back to Swinburne

Isabella has always been a dedicated member of the Swinburne community. Throughout her time at Swinburne, she has demonstrated her ability to embrace change and take on new challenges. She is described by her colleagues as the ultimate shy achiever with an outstanding professional and personal ethic.

“Her team members will tell you that Isabella is an integral team player, caring, extremely reliable and always willing to help, with a sense of humour, positive attitude, gratitude and love of life that is infectious,” says Professor Quester.

Isabella is well respected by her colleagues thanks to her positive attitude and willingness to help.