Meet Franchesca Morrell, a graduate of Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT35021) from Bendigo TAFE and winner of the Victorian Trainee of the Year at the Victorian Training Awards 2022.
Raised in the Philippines, Mrs Morrell migrated to Australia at age 23. She worked for two years as a dental assistant in New South Wales, with the hopes of pursuing a formal dental assisting course to further her career prospects.
Upon moving to Victoria, Mrs Morrell clinched a role at a dental clinic that offered the Certificate III in Dental Assisting traineeship as part of the package, enabling her to enrol at Bendigo TAFE.
“It was great to study and work at the same time. What I learnt in theory at night could be put into practice during the day. It kept me on my toes and it kept me aware of everything I needed to do in my role,” Mrs Morrell said.
“Bendigo TAFE ensured that my education was world-class and very up-to-date, and the traineeship has helped me solidify my love and passion for the field" she added.
Earlier this year, Mrs Morrell was also named Bendigo TAFE’s Trainee of the Year. Since graduating, she has progressed into the role of Senior Dental Nurse. In addition to regular work, the 28-year-old also applies her skills in various community projects, including the Victorian Government’s Smile Squad and Bendigo Health’s dental outreach program.
