While the pandemic resulted in domestic and international border closures grounding many travel-based careers, in 2019 Selina Dickson had already decided it was time to make a change.

"I reached a point where I thought, I'm highly qualified in aviation but I don't have another qualification and there aren't many places I can use my aviation skills without an aircraft," she said.

As a child, Selina was enthralled by her grandmother's cottage garden, those cherished memories guided her to explore a career working with flowers.

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"While browsing for ideas on the TAFE NSW website I saw Certificate III Floristry and as soon as I saw it, I enrolled. I didn't give it a second thought," she said.

"From day one of my course I was impressed with the industry-standard facilities and the teachers who are incredibly talented, with highly sought-after industry connections.

"In the beginning I lacked confidence in my skills, but our teachers were reassuring and in a short time I think the whole class could see how far we had come - how many new skills we had learned.

"I had many moments where I was pinching myself thinking, I'm actually doing this."

After graduating from the Certificate III in June 2020 Selina enrolled in Certificate IV with the goal of gaining employment in the floristry industry. While studying, she worked with florists in the Southern Highlands to put her new-found practical skills to use.

Selina said she was proud to have a Certificate IV in the floristry trade. "I can go anywhere in the world and know I have the skills to do this job. I'm industry qualified. If you have a trade, you have a skill for life that is transportable.

Selina now puts her creative skills in floristry to work in her studio-based business aptly named Skylark Floral.

Internationally accredited floristry competition judge and TAFE NSW Floristry Head Teacher David Berger has a passion for sharing the skills of his craft and his broad industry connections.

"Selina is one of our many success stories," he said.

"Our high-quality practical training delivered by industry qualified teachers, is the perfect combination to equip our students with the latest techniques and ensure they graduate with the skills and confidence to meet the growing need of employers."

To find out more about studying floristry at TAFE NSW, visit www.tafensw.edu.au, or call 131 601.

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