SVA VET Collective: Lessons Learnt from Swinburne
Join us for the second SVA VET Collective Session of 2026, featuring Serena Seah Manager, VET Student Engagement, from Swinburne University of Technology, who will share reflections and lessons learned from Swinburne’s journey in VET student engagement.
Serena will provide a brief introduction to Swinburne’s approach, focusing on what has been learned along the way, with a particular focus on sustainability and connections with alumni.
Participants will be invited to take part in interactive discussions—exploring how VET providers can mature their student engagement programs to improve sustainability, better engage alumni, and strengthen industry‑specific connections for students.
WHO CAN ATTEND?
An SVA Collective is currently an open, sector‑wide community initiated and driven by SVA members.
Your SVA Vocational and Education Training Collective is chaired by Tina Whitmore, Holmesglen Institute.
All students or students across Australasia are welcome.
WHY ATTEND?
Collectives form around shared interests, challenges, or areas of practice, enabling members to lead the conversation, set the agenda, and collaborate across institutions. SVA supports Collectives, but their direction and activity are shaped by the members who participate.
MEET YOUR PRESENTER:
Serena Seah, Manager, VET Student Engagement, Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Swinburne University of Technology
Serena Seah is a student experience and support leader with 20 years’ experience in the VET sector. Beginning her career as a Migrant English teacher, she moved into student support and has since held leadership roles including Team Lead, Student Success Coaches, and Manager, VET Student Experience.
Serena currently leads Swinburne’s VET Experience team, supporting the student journey from acceptance through to graduation in close partnership with Higher Education colleagues. She is leading the development of digital engagement resources, including videos, learner stories and an audio campus tour, to support students between acceptance and commencement, strengthen informed course choice, and build digital capability for study success.
Serena also oversees the Student Success Coach team and convenes the Swinburne Support Network, a community of practice for managers and another one for Team Leads. Cross-team collaborations result in customised workshops and grounded in student voice and their needs. Her work helps students feel welcomed into the Swinburne space, have access to information and support early, improving readiness, engagement and progression into study.
Tina Papadakos, Career Consultant, Swinburne Employability Unit
Tina Papadakos is a Career Consultant in the Employability unit at Swinburne University of Technology, with over 15 years experience in tertiary education. She supports students and graduates to shape purposeful career paths, delivers tailored workshops, and collaborates with faculty to embed career development learning into curriculum. In recent times, she has taken the lead to recruit, train and supervise students as frontline staff within the team.
Lauren Steer, Manager, Schools Recruitment, Future Students
Lauren has worked in the higher education sector for nearly 10 years, with the past eight years dedicated to future student recruitment. She currently manages the Schools Recruitment team, which focuses on engaging and recruiting secondary school students into both Higher Education and TAFE programs.
Her small but highly effective team is supported by a broader cohort of current student ambassadors who promote not only Swinburne and its course offerings, but also share authentic first-hand insights into the student experience. This ambassador program has been operating successfully for more than 15 years and has evolved into a well-established initiative that provides students with valuable professional development opportunities across the organisation, including leadership, public speaking, and workshop facilitation experiences.
Farai Wachenuka, Team Lead, Careers Services
Farai Wachenuka is a career development and employability professional at Swinburne University , with a strong focus on supporting students across VET and Higher education to build confidence, connection and career readiness. Her work sits across employability programs, mentoring, student engagement and cross-team collaboration. Farai is passionate about creating spaces where student voice is not just collected, but genuinely listened to and used to shape better experiences. She brings a practical, people-centred approach to her work and is especially interested in how students’ lived experiences, goals and feedback can inform more meaningful support.
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About: This session is hosted by Student Voice Australasia. The VET Collective is an open community of practice for students and staff from vocational education and training (VET) providers across Australasia. It offers a space to share insights, strengthen capability, and explore practical approaches to embedding student voice in VET contexts. Subscribe to the newsletter here to be added to the VET distribute list.