The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an individual who has:
- an established history of distinguished service to the vocational education and training (VET) sector
- made a lasting contribution to VET practice
- exhibited leadership and provided inspiration to others in the VET sector
- positively influenced VET on a state, national or international level.
Since joining the sector as a teacher over 30 years ago, Berwyn has also worked as a curriculum development manager, a professional developer, an evaluator and a practitionerresearcher. She is committed to, and an advocate of, the development and provision of improvements to professional practice. In 2014 she was recognised for this work, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Training Awards. “A Lifetime Achievement Award that other very serious people have won! I’m deeply honoured by it. I have worked for 33 years in the VET sector and this is kind of the pinnacle,” Berwyn said.
Berwyn’s VET career started at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), where she worked for 24 years. Berwyn was a founding member of the Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association, and was its President between 2000 and 2004. In 2006, the Association established the biennial Berwyn Clayton Award, given for distinguished service. Berwyn’s contributions to student and teaching outcomes in the sector were recognised in 2001 when she was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators. In 2008, Berwyn was named the Director of Victoria University’s Workbased Education Research Centre, an honorary role she still holds today. Her contributions to the sector continue to be recognised
at the highest levels. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research named her its 2011 Researcher of the Year, and in 2012 she was the first recipient of Victoria University’s Chancellor’s Medal in recognition of her role in enhancing the university’s reputation in teaching, learning and research. Victoria University has also recognised her work by appointing her Emeritus Professor. “I think such wonderful work is done in the sector and often it is not acknowledged. One thing the Australian Training Awards does really well is highlight the wonderful students and great employers who are committed to training, the registered training organisations who have had as their focus, teaching and learning. I think this is a grand way to celebrate it,” Berwyn said.