Jewellery World Magazine - May 2021

TAFE NSW
GRADUATE
SPARKLES
AT CERRONE
JEWELLERS
Former engineer and Waterloo local May
Hua has outshone the competition to gain a
coveted role as a designer at the prestigious
Cerrone Jewellers.
May Hua grew up with a love of drawing and
design but, as sometimes happens, she found
herself on a different career path.
“After I graduated from my master's degree
in engineering, I took stock of my career
trajectory and actually realised I had a real
talent and passion for design. I didn’t want to
waste any more time on a career I didn’t love
so I made up my mind to become qualified
and begin my new path,” Ms Hua said.
“I considered a masters in jewellery design,
but I wanted to make sure I could get a job
after I graduated and found the relationships
TAFE NSW established with industry would
help me get my foot in the door quicker than
studying at university.”
Ms Hua enrolled in the Certificate II followed
by the Certificate III in jewellery manufacture
at TAFE NSW Design Centre Enmore and was
impressed by the hands-on nature of the
work.
“Because I was able to spend so much
practical time honing my craft in the studio, I
graduated ready to walk straight into a job,”
Ms Hua said.
Ms Hua completed the qualification in
December 2020 and through TAFE NSW
was offered a position at Cerrone Jewellers.
Ms Hua is one of six TAFE NSW graduates
employed by Cerrone, which is highly
regarded for its bespoke designs and boasts
the largest handmade jewellery workshop in
Australia.
Managing director of Cerrone Jewellers, Mr
Nic Cerrone, said when they are looking for
like-minded employees who have a passion for
jewellery, TAFE NSW always delivers workers
with the skills and dynamism they are looking
for.
“Cerrone has been working with TAFE NSW in
offering graduates full time employment for
over 30 years,” Mr Cerrone said.
“Cultivating the younger generations to
continue to art of the jewellery trade has
always been a priority for Cerrone and TAFE
NSW graduates come to us with fresh and
new ideas and skills as well as an enthusiasm
and passion to learn.”
It’s a perfect time to enter the sector, with
the watch and jewellery retailing industry
projected to grow over the next five years due
to anticipated rises in discretionary incomes
and consumer sentiment.
TAFE NSW head teacher of jewellery
manufacture and design Gina Kind said
the Certificate III in jewellery manufacture
provides students with hands-on skills in all
aspects of jewellery fabrication in custom
artist studios so students graduate ready for a
career in the industry.
“Our industry connections mean we are
always looking for employment opportunities
for our students so many finish the course and
go directly into a job,” Ms Kind said.
“Longstanding relationships with businesses
like Cerrone mean they often come straight to
TAFE NSW seeking fresh talent.”
www.tafensw.edu.au
May 2021 37