WA has taken out the AEU national TAFE photography competition for the second year running.

The SSTUWA congratulates South Metropolitan TAFE Murdoch student Valerie Walker for her amazing piece, “The Heart of Philomathēs”, which was awarded first place in The Heart of TAFE Photography Competition for 2025.

This incredible image was selected from a high-class field of entrants made up of all the state and territory winning photos. The national winner was named at a special ceremony in Canberra to coincide with National TAFE Day earlier this month.

Valerie’s photo featured fellow TAFE student Brigette Fauntleroy, who represented Valerie at the awards ceremony.

“Brigette is expanding her knowledge of phase separation and miscibility through the process of creating a ‘Lava-Lamp’, using Fluorescein - a compound that emits green fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light; readily used in forensics, microscopy, and medical science,” Valerie’s photo caption read.

“Through observing this organic compound with a chromophore, Brigette is able to understand the nature of light absorption at its specific wavelength.”

Further congratulations are in order for the WA honourable mention and WA runner-up of the competition.

The WA runner up prize went to Melissa Ferguson from Central Regional TAFE Geraldton and her photo “Rolling Conversation”.

The WA honourable mention went to Louis Schmidtchen from South Regional TAFE Margaret River with the photo “Sounds of Music”.

To see more of this year’s state winners click here.