Local Berowra resident Jasmine Kanyanee Rumsey has been awarded at the Design Institute of Australia’s prestigious Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA).
As a mature aged student, Jasmine, 47, decided to expand her horizons after being made redundant during COVID, and pursued her dreams of becoming an interior designer.
Recent studies from Jobs and Skills Australia show that the interior design industry needs additional designers to meet demand, and that their needs to be a 5 per cent growth during 2024-2032 to meet this demand.
TAFE Australia believe that this demand can be met by people like Jasmine, mature age students that want to spread their wings and change their career course.
Jasmine migrated from Thailand over 20 years ago, and has been living in Berowra for 13 years. Before, she had worked at Flight Centre, with a background in business administration and management.
‘When I changed my focus to study again, I was thinking about finances, I will have to accept whatever income I will earn as a beginner again. That is hard,’ says Jasmine. ‘Along the way, people told me that mature age is quite good because people admire you and appreciate your experience, even though it is not experience in that industry. It gave me a little bit of confidence.’
The Design Insitute of Australia held their GOTYA on the 19th of September, where Jasmine received a High Commendation for her SPACE work she presented. Her nomination was put forth by her teacher, Linda Park, and the Head Design Teacher, Emma Lawes, at Lidcombe TAFE, where Jasmine studies.
‘It is an amazing result for me, it has given me more confidence to go into this new career,’ says Jasmine, going on to explain how the High Commendation award was a new addition to the ceremony, so when her name was not called, she thought she had lost. ‘Then they announced my name. My husband screamed, it was so funny.’
In the future, Jasmine hopes to work for a firm, and eventually if all goes to plan, and she gains the experience she wants, she hopes to build her own practice.
‘Talent is good,’ says Jasmine. ‘But you can’t just have talent. You have to combine talent and hardwork and good support. I wouldn’t be here if Linda and Emma didn’t help me.’