Doris' journey from diploma student to TAFE teacher

While running a successful events business, Doris Huang decided to study a Diploma of Event Management at Swinburne to support her own professional development. 

“I didn’t want to sit around waiting for the ‘perfect time’, I just knew I wanted to get started,” she says.

But while studying, she discovered a love for education and supporting her fellow students. This newfound passion put her on a path to becoming a vocational education and training (VET) teacher in the Diploma of Library and Information Services.

“Swinburne turned out to be a great choice,” she says. 

She’s now using her role to advocate for vocational education pathways that support and encourage learners throughout their studies, paving the way for more opportunity for all.

Studying to strengthen professional skills

Doris had always been passionate about creating events and experiences that brought people together, as part of her existing wedding and events business. 

She wanted to build on her practical experience and deepen her knowledge with a formal qualification, so she chose a Diploma of Event Management at Swinburne.

“My course wasn’t just theory; it was hands-on with teachers who had real experience. It felt like I was preparing for real events, not just writing about them in assignments,” she says.

The cohort didn’t just go through scenarios; they got involved with real events, like the State Schools Spectacular and internal Swinburne events.  

“Vocational education is very practical and closely connected to industry. It gave me and the other students real skills and confidence in the workplace, rather than theoretical knowledge,” she says.

“It’s also a great pathway to building confidence and exploring different career opportunities.”

A pathway to teaching 

While studying, Doris discovered she really enjoyed sharing ideas and helping her classmates learning. 

Toward the end of her studies, one of her teachers, Eddie Cheung, introduced her to the teaching pathway through the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Just one week after finishing her diploma, she took the leap and enrolled in the certificate.

“When the opportunity came up, I thought – why not give it a go? It felt like the right next step, and a really natural progression for me,” she says.

“It was a big shift at the time and took some adjustment, but at the same time it really helped that I’d just been through it myself and understood my students’ needs and struggles.”

“I really enjoy face-to-face teaching and learning. I love being in the room, engaging with students, reading the energy, and adjusting my approach to support them better.”

Drawing on experience

Doris now teaches a customer service and events-related unit within the Diploma of Library and Information Services, which lets her apply her previous event management skills in her teaching practice.

Doris says her recent studies also help her understand her students’ challenges and support their engagement with their learning journeys. 

“Even things like working with different people, managing tasks and staying flexible in changing situations are directly connected to what I learned. It really gave me a strong foundation and confidence in the workplace,” she says.  

Eddie says her story is a great example of building skills and experience into new roles and pathways.

“She gets to draw on her background in event management and skills, particularly in customer experience and communication, across disciplines and industries,” he says.

“We develop people, identify potential, and support students to enter sustainable careers that suit them. VET doesn’t just build skills – it builds confidence, capability, and future educators.”

Doris agrees that her studies gave her a strong foundation and helped her realise a new career she hadn’t previously considered. 

“For students considering a diploma, I’d say just go for it. It’s very practical and you gain skills you can actually use straight away,” she says.

“If you enjoy working with people and supporting their learning, TAFE teaching can also be a really rewarding path.”