Blue Mountains News

The students – Scarlett Young, Finn McKay, Constanza Flack, Molly Bright and Freyja Cook – all studied through TAFE NSW and all finished amid the top 50 marks in the Tertiary Preparation Certificate, a nationally accredited qualification that gives students an ATAR equivalent.

Lithgow’s Molly Bright is one of the high-achieving graduates, scoring an impressive 291 in her Tertiary Entrance Score.

After struggling with her mental health in high school, Ms Bright, 18, left school mid-way through Year 9 and opted for home schooling.

Missing the face-to-face interaction with teachers and students and eager to earn her way into university, she enrolled in the Tertiary Preparation Certificate at TAFE NSW, a nationally accredited qualification that provides a trusted alternative pathway to university for students of all ages and backgrounds.

Ms Bright thrived in the flexible, more adult learning environment, and now hopes to go to university to undertake a Bachelor of Information Studies, specialising in librarianship or records and archive management.

“TAFE NSW offered a lot more flexibility than high school and it was great while I was dealing with mental health struggles,” Ms Bright said.

“I felt that TAFE NSW allowed for far better interactions with teachers and provided a better studying environment with smaller classes.”

Scarlett Young was midway through Year 12 at a private school when her family circumstances changed, causing her to withdraw from school, and leaving her wondering if she would be able to complete her HSC.

“Finding the TPC felt like a lifeline, providing me with a way forward in my education at a time when I really needed it. The personalised teaching and flexible learning environment made a real difference. 

“Everything was more in-depth, and the teachers really took the time to get to know us. We explored topics through individual projects and wrote essays about things we actually cared about,” she said.

Now taking a well-earned break, Ms Young plans to complete a working holiday in the UK before heading to university to study a degree in the healthcare industry.

“I’m hoping to study medical science, and I’m especially interested in women’s health and IVF,” she said. “It’s a growing industry and an area where I’d love to make a difference.”

The latest figures show NSW’s Year 7/8 to Year 12 retention rate has risen slightly to 74.5 per cent from 2023, but that still means one in four students leave school before graduating. For these students, the TPC offers a second chance to pursue their career goals through further education in an adult learning setting.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, more than 90 per cent of new jobs expected to be created over the next decade will require post-secondary qualifications. This highlights the importance of accessible tertiary preparation programs like the TPC.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, congratulated the graduates and highlighted the growing relevance of alternative education pathways.

“The high scoring success of these students shows there is no single path to university or a fulfilling career,” Mr Whan said.

“The TAFE NSW Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation is designed for people who want to take control of their future through a more flexible learning approach, whether they’re returning to study, changing careers, or simply looking for a different way to reach their goals.

“Along with helping students develop essential skills in English, maths, science, humanities, and so on, the course builds their critical thinking, research, and academic writing skills within a supportive adult learning environment. When they graduate, students are prepared for both university and the workforce.

“With around 80 per cent of 2025 Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation graduates achieving a tertiary entrance score equivalent to an ATAR of 80 or above, it’s clear that TAFE NSW continues to deliver flexible, high-quality education that meets students where they are and helps them get to where they want to be.”