The annual Australian Web Awards honor the best in the industry as judged by leading professionals. As part of her traineeship at web design company Jala Design, she had key role in developing Riverside Theatre’s (at Parramatta) new website, which took out the Entertainment and Events category.
Arianne’s journey into web development started with a few university courses, but it was the hands-on approach at TAFE NSW which captured her passion.
“I realised that web development is where my heart lies. Websites make up so much of what we see every day, and I was very interested in how they’re brought to life,” she said.
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“The practical experience offered at TAFE NSW was a game-changer for me. I could apply what I was learning directly to my work,” she said.
Arianne’s traineeship has seen her dive into content management, client communication, and coding – all critical skills for a web developer. Her role in the Riverside Theatre project involved building forms, managing content, and conducting quality assurance testing, with a strong emphasis on accessibility.
Jala Design’s managing director, Jarrad Langdon, has also completed several courses at TAFE NSW Hornsby. In recognition of his talents, in 2005 he won the gold medal for Website Design at the World Skills International Competition in Helsinki.
Jarrad is an advocate for the quality of vocational education and training, with nine of his current staff coming from TAFE NSW.
“Australia’s web design industry is worth $1.4B, and for those with the right skillset, there is shortage of job opportunities,” he said.
“Each time I’m looking to hire a new staff member, TAFE NSW graduates are a no-brainer. The skills taught are aligned to industry needs and standards, so they’re ready to hit the ground running.
“More importantly, I’ve found TAFE NSW also teaches those all-too-important soft skills. There’s a stereotype that IT workers are quiet and reserved, but building client relationships is an essential skill for success.”
Arianne’s hard work and the high-quality training from TAFE NSW have paid off, as she has been offered a full-time position at Jala Design upon completing her traineeship.
