Heart of TAFE photos: Queensland winners
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 7, 2 October 2026, page no.17
The Australian Education Union’s (AEU) annual national photography competition continues to celebrate the life-changing impact of vocational education through the lens of TAFE students across the country.
Now in its fourth year, the competition invited students to capture “The Heart of TAFE”, highlighting the people, experiences, and opportunities that make Australia’s public TAFE system so important.
From candid moments in workshops and classrooms to carefully staged portraits and creative snapshots, entrants were given the freedom to tell their own stories about what TAFE means to them. The competition forms part of the AEU’s ongoing Rebuild with TAFE campaign, which champions investment in high-quality public vocational education and training.
The 2026 Queensland winning photograph, “My First Patient” (1) by Nancy Peck of Grovely TAFE, beautifully illustrates the connection between learning and lived experience.
“My connection with my dog is one of the reasons I became interested in veterinary nursing. Looking after him has taught me how important patience, trust, and compassion are when working with animals. At TAFE, I am learning how to support those qualities with practical veterinary nursing skills. This photo represents the relationship I share with him and how my learning at TAFE has changed his life for the better.”
It captures the essence of the competition theme, demonstrating how TAFE education extends beyond the classroom and empowers students to turn their passions into meaningful careers. Her image highlights the combination of care, practical training, and real-world skills that are at the heart of vocational education.
The Queensland runners up were “Women can do it too” (2) and “Curiosity Builds the Future” (3), both by Anastasiya Behmenburg from Ashmore TAFE, and “Welding” (4) by Adam Worden from Bundaberg TAFE.
As requested by Ros Bates, Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, the top four Queensland photographs were showcased at Queensland Parliament House during National Skills Week, helping to promote the significant role TAFE plays in training the next generation of working Queenslanders. The exhibition provided parliamentarians, stakeholders, and visitors with an opportunity to see firsthand the creativity, dedication, and aspirations of TAFE students across the state.
In October, as part of the National TAFE Symposium, finalists from across Australia will come together and the overall national winner will be announced.
The competition’s entries once again demonstrated the diversity, creativity, and excellence of TAFE students nationwide. Through powerful visual storytelling, they showcased how TAFE opens doors, builds workforce skills, and changes lives, reinforcing why continued investment in public TAFE remains essential to Australia’s future.
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