LIVE DAY: Pupils from Caroline Chisholm won the competition overall. This picture was taken during the Live Day at Hawkesbury Showground in August. Picture: Geoff Jones
Bede Polding College won Students Choice (Display), and Champion Junior Teams, while Colo High School took away the Champion School - Combined Beef Appraisal Team award, at this year's UniSchools Steer Challenge.
The team from WSU Hawkesbury took out the Champion School - Steer Weight Gain medal in the competition, in which 12 high schools each raised a steer over 100 days and were judged on their showmanship and performance of themselves and the cattle they were looking after.
Caroline Chisholm High School at Glenmore Parkwas named overall winner of the 2019 competition.
This is first time in 19 years that an all-female team had won the competition, which is managed by Western Sydney University's Hawkesbury campus in partnership with schools.
"UniSchools teams this year presented at an exceptional standard and I found the teams' abilities to work together, present their work in speeches and presentations and deliver a beautifully finished and well-cared for steer at the end is a real credit to our local young people", said UniSchools Challenge Coordinator Adjunct Professor Stephen Blunden.
The schools celebrated the end of their time with UniSchools 2019 at an awards ceremony at the Hawkesbury campus followed by a bush dance and dinner at the historic Memorial Hall.
The program offers students an engaging and practical look at livestock production and potential career pathways across food and agricultural industries.
Hills to Hawkesbury
Your local community magazine for the Hills to Hawkesbury area.
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01 Feb 2025
Catholic School Open Days
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24 Jun 2025
Try a Career Day @ CathWest McCarthy Campus
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21 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
What a fantastic night🤩🌟👏 for all our finalists at the NSW Training Awards (Western Sydney & Blue Mountains) at Parramatta Town Hall.🏣 So thrilled to see Marian Catholic College Kenthurst teacher Sky Van den Berge named VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year and Catherine McAuley Westmead student Summer King named VET in Schools Student of the Year.🏆👩🏫👩💻 Congratulations to all our finalists who should be incredibly proud of their dedication and passion for Vocational Education and Training.💖💞 Winners: Summer King (Catherine McAuley Westmead) - VET in Schools Student of the Year Sky Van den Berge (Marian Catholic College Kenthurst) - VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year Finalist: Georgia Baysari (Catherine McAuley Westmead) - VET in Schools Student of the Year Jessica Thompson (CathWest Innovation College) - VET in Schools Student of the Year Kyla Jenkins (CathWest Innovation College) - School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Anthony Hrvatin (CSPD/Delany College Granville) - VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year Christopher Rojo (CathWest Innovation College) - VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year Jackson Sibir (St Andrews College Marayong alumni) - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year @skillsnsw #nswtrainingawards #CSPD2025 #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #VET @catherinemcauleywestmead @delanycollegegranville @mariancatholiccollege @sacmarayong @cathwestinnovation
20 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
We're so proud of all our students who are finalists for the NSW Training Awards (Western Sydney & Blue Mountains), including Kyla from CathWest Innovation College.👏😎👏 Kyla is up for School-Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year thanks to her dedication to her Electrotechnology⚡️⚡️ studies. Kyla is gaining hands-on experience with DDP Electrical Services while still completing her school studies. It’s proof of how Vocational Education and Training (VET) can give young people real-world skills, industry connections, and a head start on a successful career. 🙌💡 Good luck Kyla ✨ @cathwestinnovation #nswtrainingawards #CSPD2025 #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #vocationaltraining #vocationaleducation #vocationaleducationandtraining #VET @skillsnsw
19 Jun 2025
From CSPD YouTube
Very proud of CathWest Innovation College student Kyla Jenkins who is a finalist for School-Based Apprentice/Traineer of the Year at the NSW Training Awards being held in Parramatta this Friday.🌟🤩 Kyla has shown wonderful dedication to her electrotechnology⚡️⚡️✨ course and has been a wonderful asset for the team at DDP Electrical Services where she is doing her apprenticeship.👏👏 We're excited to see what the future holds for this bright spark and good luck at Friday's Awards night.
19 Jun 2025
From CSPD YouTube
Congratulations💖🤩 to another outstanding VET student, Catherine McAuley Westmead's Summer King☀️ who is a finalist for VET in Schools Student of the Year at the NSW Training Awards.🏆 Summer's passion for fitness🏋️♀️🤸♀️ and business services📊📈 is a wonderful example of how VET is providing young people with outstanding real world skills and clear pathways to future career opportunities.👜✨💥 We can't wait to see Summer make a great success of her hopes of starting a personal training business after school.👊👏👏
19 Jun 2025
From CSPD YouTube
Meet Jessica Thompson. This talented CathWest Innovation College student is a rising star in vocational education and a deserving finalist for VET in Schools Student of the Year at the NSW Training Awards.🤩💞👩⚕️ Jessica's passion for nursing and dedication to her VET Health Services course has already seen her secure a traineeship with Nepean Health and helped her gain valuable skills and hands-on experience. 👩⚕️🩺❤️ But that’s not all — Jessica is also completing qualifications in Business Services, equipping herself with fantastic skills to thrive in a variety of professional environments.👏💼📚 Jessica is a role model for other students and a shining example of where VET can take you. 🥳🏆
20 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
Whether it’s working towards becoming a personal trainer🏋️♀️ or launching her own business👩💻, Catherine McAuley's Summer King is a fantastic example of a student developing real-world skills and enjoying great success from studying VET at school.🎉✨ Congratulations Summer for being a finalist for VET in Schools Student of the Year at the NSW Training Awards. Summer's dedication and passion for her VET studies has laid the foundations for an exciting career after school.📈💼🤸♀️ Best of luck at Friday’s Awards night – we know this is just the beginning. 🙌🌟 #nswtrainingawards #CSPD2025 #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #vocationaltraining #vocationaleducation #vocationaleducationandtraining #VET @skillsnsw @catherinemcauleywestmead
19 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
Rehearsals continue for FIAFIA NIGHT! St Clare's Catholic High Hassall Grove cannot wait to perform next week. #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #pasifika #CulturalHeritage
19 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
✨COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TILL FIAFIA NIGHT!✨ Tickets sold like hotcakes for CSPD's Pasifika Fia Fia Night to be held next Wednesday night at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens. 🎟 💙 👀We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek into rehearsals through this video created by the talented Una Vaka'uta, a Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown student. We're super excited to see all the students shine on their big night next week! 🤩 What a fantastic way to celebrate a rich cultural heritage. Follow us to see pics from the performance! 🎶 👏 @stjohnxxiiicatholiccollege @patsblacktown #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #pasifika #fiafianight #culturalheritage #culturaldance
18 Jun 2025
From CSPD Facebook
What's cuter than a baby goat? 🐐🤔THREE baby goats!!! 🐐🐐🐐 The Penola Catholic College Emu Plains Agriculture team has just welcomed healthy baby goats triplets. 🥳3 These adorable little kids are settling in well 😇and already capturing the hearts of students and staff - how could they not? 🥰😍
18 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
Jessica Thompson's passion for VET, especially nursing👩⚕️🌟, is inspiring… no wonder she's a finalist for VET in Schools Student of the Year at the NSW Training Awards.🤩😎 This outstanding CathWest Innovation College student is showing incredible dedication to building a future where she can make a real difference in people’s lives. 💼💉❤️ Jessica has done so well in her VET nursing course 🩺 that she has secured a traineeship in Health Services with Nepean Health and is also in the midst of completing qualifications in Business Services.👩💼👏✨ Congratulations Jessica and best wishes for Friday's awards night.🥳🏆 #VETinSchools #NSWTrainingAwards #CathWest #FutureLeader #NursingStudent #BusinessServices #CSPDschools #SkillsForSuccess #StudentAchievement #CatholicEducation #ParraCatholic @cathwestinnovation @skillsnsw #CSPD2025 #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #vocationaltraining #vocationaleducation #vocationaleducationandtraining #VET
17 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
Off and racing! And winning! 🏎️🎉👏 Congratulations to St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens' "Team Toretto" who finished 1st in NSW in the Australian National Finals in STEM Racing! 🏆🥇 The Year 10 students (Joahan, Nilan, Jaxon, Nihal) raced their cars against the best teams in the country and presented their marketing and engineering plans with industry experts and judges. 🤩💥 As well as their first-in-state finish, Team Toretto also came 2nd in Grand Prix Racing (with the second fastest cars in Australia on consistency), 3rd in Net Lap Time, 4th in Gross Lap Time and 5th Overall in Points. 🥈🥉 Year 8 students from Parramatta Marist High School also showed off their competitive miniature F1 car racing skills at the event in Melbourne. 🙌👊 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountains #stanhopegardens #parramatta #westmead #STEMracing #stemracingaustralia @stjohnxxiiicatholiccollege @parramatta.marist
16 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
🗣LIFTED: Real Talk, Big Faith, Bold Leadership ✝ The LIFTED Student Leaders Forum held this week saw Year 12 student leaders from around the Diocese represent their schools at the annual event, sharing their thoughts, opinions and experiences of Catholic education. 💭💡 🤖🗣The students were also able to hear from a lead data science consultant from Fujitsu who presented an engaging session on Artificial Intelligence. Attendees explored the power and potential of Al while also fostering meaningful relationships. 🥰 It was uplifting to witness so many young people thoughtfully discussing their world and what lies ahead.🌏🎓 For more pics head to our FB page!📸 Experiences like these are one of the things that make a Catholic education so special. Pop into your local school to see what they're all about! #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #LIFTED #studentleaders #year12 #AI @catholicyouthparra
15 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
VET students, especially those interested in construction👷👷♀️, are so lucky to have such brilliant VET teachers guiding them like Anthony Hrvatin.👊 Anthony is using his extensive experience and a passion for construction🧱🛠🪚 to support and inspire his students and is a deserving finalist for VET Teacher of the Year at the NSW Training Awards.👏🏆 Take a listen to these students from Delany College, Granville and Catherine McAuley Westmead who explain how much they appreciate having Anthony as their VET teacher. Good luck at next Friday's awards night Anthony!🤞🙌 @delanycollegegranville @catherinemcauleywestmead @skillsnsw #nswtrainingawards #CSPD2025 #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #vocationaltraining #vocationaleducation #vocationaleducationandtraining #VET
14 Jun 2025
From CSPD Facebook
🗣LEADERSHIP LEVELLED UP! ✝ The LIFTED Student Leaders Forum held this week saw Year 12 student leaders from around the Diocese represent their schools at the annual event, sharing their thoughts, opinions and experiences of Catholic education. 💭💡 🤖🗣The students were also able to hear from a lead data science consultant from Fujitsu who presented an engaging session on Artificial Intelligence. Attendees explored the power and potential of Al while also fostering meaningful relationships. 🥰 It was uplifting to witness so many young people thoughtfully discussing their world and what lies ahead. 🌏🎓 Experiences like these are one of the things that make a Catholic education so special. Pop into your local school to see what they're all about. ==> parra.catholic.edu.au
14 Jun 2025
From CSPD Instagram
We are so proud of 'MR ENTERTAINMENT'🤩🎤🎧 Chris Rojo from CathWest Innovation College... deserving finalist for VET Teacher of the Year at the NSW Training Awards.🏆 Chris' passion and knowledge in all aspects of production, live performance and events hasn’t just helped his students develop incredible skills, it’s inspired them to explore meaningful career pathways in the entertainment industry.🎬🎭✨ Thanks to the awesome facilities at CathWest, Chris and students are able to deliver professional-standard work in audio, lighting, sets, staging and vision systems and you can tell they love having him as their teacher. 🙌👏 Congratulations Chris and good luck for the awards night next Friday!💡🎶 #VETinSchools #NSWTrainingAwards #CSPDschools #CathWest #ProductionLife #FutureReady @cathwestinnovation @skillsnsw #VET #VETChampion #SkillsForSuccess #StudentInspiration #CSPD2025 #parracatholic #westernsydney #bluemountainsnsw #vocationaltraining #vocationaleducation #vocationaleducationandtraining