Five years ago, 44-year-old Dave Brebner was sitting in the formerly overgrown parkland—known today as the Mondo area—nursing a cup of coffee and contemplating his life choices, when he spotted something from across the road. It was a poster plastered on a building, advertising an accredited course in Training and Assessment. “Design and Deliver”, the poster read.

At the time, Dave had been working as a local electrician and running his own business for more than a decade, but as the 2007 global financial crisis crept its way across the economy, business was dwindling fast. Dave had to decide whether to ride out the storm—following in the footsteps of countless other businesses that had gone under in the wake of the economic slump—or carve himself a new path.

Dave hailed from a family of teachers, but until that day, he had never considered the profession a possibility. Dave has Tourette’s syndrome, as well as a host of related conditions, including ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) . Nervous and reclusive as a child, his own school years had been brief and tumultuous, ending prematurely at year 9. From a very early age, Dave had grown disenfranchised with an education system that, in many ways, had proven unkind to students who suffered from neurological disorders, who didn’t quite fit the mould.

When he signed up for the Trainer course on a momentary whim, Dave hadn’t expected much from the program. He was quickly proven wrong.

“It was a five-minute decision that changed my life”

From the start, Dave noticed that everything was different. Instead of the rigid traditional classroom structure, he was welcomed into a relaxed and friendly environment, with an attentive tutor who encouraged and motivated him at every step of the journey. Gone was the pressure to memorise textbooks and get an X on exams; lessons were instead focused on hands-on practice and personalised learning.

The experience completely transformed the way Dave viewed education, opening up an exciting new career avenue he had previously thought inaccessible. With newfound talent for public speaking and a passion for youth development, Dave knew he had found his calling.

Upon the attainment of his Training & Assessor Qualification, Dave went back to school to complete his diploma, before going on to attain a Bachelor’s degree in Education, setting the groundwork for his budding teaching career. Now, at 59, Dave holds two Master’s degrees in Education and Educational Neuroscience, and has taught at various institutions for 14 years and counting.

On top of his extensive work as a teacher and trainer, Dave is also establishing a name for himself as a career coach for people with neurological disorders, as well as a motivational speaker. He is also working on publishing his own book.

Dave firmly believes that our traditional education system is unfairly punitive and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable segments of the population, suppressing their true potential and unique capabilities. He believes with the right approach, guidance, and mentorship, these hidden potentials could be unearthed.

When asked about the challenges he faced while pursuing his dream as a person living with Tourette’s, Dave admits that, while there had been a few bumps in the road, he was ultimately at peace with his own body and mind. He now sees his condition as something to celebrate and embrace, referring to it as his very own “unique selling proposition”.

Here at Nepean Community College, we certainly could not agree more. As we watch Dave’s success continue to unfold, we are proud to have been a part of his awe-inspiring journey.

Almost everyone knows someone who has been personally affected by cancer, but each person’s journey will be different. The only certainty is that cancer impacts people’s lives on a profound level, often in unexpected ways.

7 years ago, Jude was battling breast cancer. She emerged victorious, but the road to recovery through radiation therapy proved just as treacherous, posing a host of new challenges, but also, to her surprise, new opportunities.

Emboldened by her experiences, Jude—a practicing naturopath with over 30 years of experience—started looking into alternative treatments to support cancer patients going through radiation therapy. She developed an idea for a topical product that could reduce the effects of skin irritation and radiation burns on cancer patients undergoing this challenging course of treatment.

As a solo entrepreneur with a novel product idea, Jude knew that in order to succeed, she had to nail down her business plan, including a viable marketing blueprint and financial strategy. The technical acumen needed to make these endeavours possible, however, proved to be a major barrier for her.

Judith joined Nepean Community College in 2015, in our Digital Enterprise program, hoping to pick up the skills necessary to make the first steps in launching her product. For the first time, she learned about how to successfully pitch her product to new prospects and nurture customer relationships.

Business_News_Jude Judith knew that to succeed, she had to nail down her business plan

Continuing with our IT & Digital courses, Judith was guided through the steps needed to craft a winning digital business strategy and market her products and services effectively through online channels. She went on to enroll in our Tech Savvy courses, where she was able to master the Microsoft Office suite and other digital tools, which all proved instrumental in helping Judith perfect her product strategy. Since then, she has enrolled in nearly 40 courses with the College, and plans to continue her learning journey.

“Everybody’s so giving and communicative...It truly is a community for me, and I’m grateful to be a part of that.”

Judith is now in the process of getting her formula patented, and preparing for an official product launch. Her anti-burn gel had proved to be a massive success in trials, with numerous positive testimonials and a legion of loyal advocates.

For Judith, success doesn’t stop here. She plans to expand the scale of her business ventures to new horizons. “You’ve got to be in it for the long haul,” Judith maintains, “and community is a major part of that. We need shoulders to stand on.

For Lemu, the love for fashion had blossomed young.

At 15, he had already dreamt about one day being able to make his own clothes.

Growing up in windswept Liberia, where the majority of the population subsists below the poverty line, Lemu has lived through the two of the most brutal civil wars West Africa has ever witnessed. In an environment where one’s livelihood seems to hang by a thread, the budding passions of an aspiring fashion designer had paled next to the pressures of everyday survival. As Lemu joined the Liberian naval force after graduating college, serving as a Coastal Guard, his childhood dream had seemed so much further away.

In 2012, Lemu left his home country and moved to Sydney. For him, Australia represented a land of hope and opportunities. Suddenly, that boyhood dream didn't seem too far-fetched.

Lemu enrolled in Nepean Community College for the first time in early 2020, in one of our Dressmaking courses, hoping to learn the industry craft. Since then, he has attended 4 more Dressmaking classes, and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

“The students, the tutor...

They have all become a family to me”

Just last year, Lemu successfully launched his own upscale fashion brand, LK Reeves. His focus? Ethically sourced and humanely produced fashion.

Lemu_LK Reeves Lemu launched his own fashion line, LK Reeves

As part of his vision behind LK Reeves, Lemu hopes to shine a light on the people behind the product. He now spends his days travelling to meet different manufacturers along his supply chain, overseeing every part of the production process. Above all else, Lemu wants to ensure that his workers are treated with dignity and respect.

“Dreams do come true”, Lemu asserts, when asked what advice he has for aspiring entrepreneurs, “as long as you believe in yourself and keep an open mind.”

Here at Nepean Community College, we couldn’t agree more.

Gail Laurie first rang the College when she saw an article advertising a Tech Savvy Seniors class in her local newspaper.
Her grandson had just given her his old computer, and she wanted to learn how to use it. But more than that, Gail wanted something that would help her step out of her comfort zone—to hopefully begin a new chapter of her life.

At the beginning of the course, Gail was shy and self-conscious of her own limited skills; for her, this was uncharted territory. But the friendly and open atmosphere of the classroom quickly brought Gail out of her shell. “You get to know them and you’d chat each week, and then you just keep coming back for more,” she recalls.

From the start, Gail was particularly surprised by the way lessons are structured. Instead of a rigid curriculum where students are expected to learn a pre-determined set of skills, classes are centred around each individual’s learning journey, giving students room to explore and familiarise themselves with various digital tools on their own terms in a safe and supportive environment.

“We don’t do a curriculum where we’ve got to learn this and that. It’s ‘What would you like to learn today?’, or ‘Do you have any questions’, and we gravitate around that,” Gail explains.

“It’s just a lovely, relaxed way of learning ~

There’s no pressure whatsoever”

Nowadays, attending classes means more to Gail than just acquiring skills—it’s also about meeting new people, and enjoying the company of friends. “It’s become a social thing for me, there's a group of us that have really gelled.”

Gail and her fellow Tech Savvy students like to share and discuss anything new they’ve learned that week, and would often go out for lunch together after each class. Beyond her core group, Gail also looks forward to seeing new faces in the classroom. “It keeps things interesting,” Gail says, “and you learn all these different things and new perspectives.”

Tech savvy seniors Tech Savvy Seniors means more to Gail that just acquiring new skills

For Gail, Tech Savvy Seniors adds meaning to her life in many ways—big and small. It means she’s able to sort the photos that her great grandson sends her into neat, labelled folders on her computer. It means she now has the motivation to get out of the house and meet up with new people. It also means she feels excited every week wondering what interesting things she’s going to learn in class, and looks forward to going home and practising the newly-gained knowledge on her personal computer.

“It’s given me a sense of purpose —

something to look forward to

I just really enjoy it”

Creations perfect for any special occasion...

Looking for a change in her life, Deanna picked up a College course brochure, eager to learn something new. Being creative, she signed up for a Cake Decorating course, taught by her friend's mother.

Impressed, she went on to complete three more courses, including a Small Business program - 'How to Start and Manage' Course.

Deanna enjoyed her time at the College so much that she left her Finance career to pursue her passion for cake decorating.

Deanna's hard work and dedication paid off, and she now runs a successful cake decorating business called 'Sugar and Spice Cake House' from the comfort of her own home.

Her Facebook page showcases a wide variety of cakes she has previously created. From custom-made masterpieces to unique and creative designs, Deanna's creations are perfect for any special occasion.

Her success story and inspirational journey can be attributed to her decision to pursue her passion.

Deanna encourages others to follow in her footsteps and take a chance with Nepean Community College courses, as it could lead to an exciting and fulfilling career path.

"Just do it — Don't think twice about it" ...

It's never too late to learn...

Meet Wayne. He lives in the Lower Blue Mountains and was eager to find some Chinese lessons nearby.

Although Wayne had previously taken Chinese Language Classes back in University, he felt like he needed to start from scratch.

Since April last year, he has been taking classes at the College and has recently completed Mandarin Beginners 3, which allows him to have basic conversations in Mandarin.

Wayne now feels confident enough to travel to China or Taiwan and navigate his way around, order food, and communicate with the locals.

Wayne is an incredible 68 years old and his experience has encouraged him to realize that it's never too late to learn new things and think differently.

He is now considering enrolling in other courses such as writing, singing, and dancing.

Wayne believes that there are many courses out there that can spark your interest, no matter what your age is.

He encourages people to enjoy learning something different and new, without feeling like they have to be a genius or super fit.

"No matter what our age or stage in life, there is always something new to learn...."

Wayne plans to continue learning and expanding his horizons for many years to come.

"I would happily continue learning till I'm 90 years of age" he said.

Eiman's Journey is a Story of Hope, Perseverance, and Lifelong Learning

Born in Iraq, she moved to Algeria at a young age and lived there for five years before relocating to Spain with her husband. Four years later, in 1986, they decided to move to Australia, looking for a better future for their children.

When they settled near Nepean Community College, Eiman realized that she needed to improve her English skills to find a job. She enrolled in an English course at NCC and, soon after, decided to take up art classes. "It was very enjoyable for me – I met many different people, and Peter, the tutor, encouraged me and gave me so much support with my artwork," she recalls.

As her English got better, Eiman started working. She was chosen to do quality control at her workplace, which led to her being promoted to do the company's purchasing from their providers overseas.

Over the years, Eiman took various courses at the college, including computer courses, languages, bookkeeping, Tai Chi, yoga, art classes, and many more.

Eiman always tried to pick something different because it helped build her personality, and she gained more confidence.

"I'm always up for giving anything a go, and I choose a different course that I haven't done previously so I can try something new," she said. "It opens the door to new opportunities, you mix with other people, which is absolutely fabulous, and, as a result, I've been offered employment roles such as sales, purchasing, training, as well as supervisor."

She offers her advice to others considering doing a course at NCC...

"I positively encourage it 100% because it will open a lot of doors, create opportunities, change their life and make them happier and healthier – it's good leaving your house, you need to have a break and do something to improve your life, for your education and to do something for yourself."

"I'm always up for giving anything a go"

Eiman loves the college and is grateful for her time here and the support she has received from Eric, Sarah, and the previous Art teacher Peter Gonzalez, whom she has known for 20 years and still keeps in touch. "You can learn so much from older people," she said.

Eiman's positive attitude towards learning has been instrumental in her personal and professional growth. "If I retire, I want to do a lot more like arts and ceramics – in my mind, I can take advantage of a lot of opportunities…

"I truly believe that education is the key of success and happiness”

Unleashing Creativity...

Anita first became aware of the College when she was alerted to the course brochure whilst walking by the front of the premises back in April 2021.

Anita had previously been searching online for somewhere she could attend to participate in Art classes that would teach her how to draw and paint. As such, she enrolled in the Art ~ Drawing, Painting and Watercolour course.

Anita’s passion for art flourished as she delved deeper into the world of colors, shapes, and creativity. Under the guidance of the class teacher Peter Gonzalez, she honed her skills and discovered new techniques that brought her artwork to life. Each stroke of the brush was a step towards self-expression, and each colour on the canvas told a story of growth and accomplishment.

Anita really enjoys coming to class as it’s reasonably priced and the facilities are good.

“It’s been great to get to know new people and interact with others while learning from them as well as the teacher” she said.

She is particularly appreciative of the beautiful new friendships she has made during her time with the College.

Anita has produced some amazing artworks during class which she was able to display during a recent Exhibition of Student & Tutor works held at the College.

Having previously joined a photography course at the College in 2017, Merryl gained the skills to use manual settings on her DSLR camera. With her focal point now on a higher shutter speed, Merryl has gone on to photograph a multitude of birds and animals in their local habitat casting a spotlight on the beauty and wonder that surrounds us all.

Be sure to check out more of Merryl’s amazing photos on her Merryl Watkins Photography

facebook page. You can also purchase cards, prints and calendars featuring Merryl’s photos at madeit.com.au, at Blaxland Post Office or Leura Pharmacy.

Here is a snippet of Merryl’s stunning photos…



What an absolute delight to see a male Golden Whistler today. It's the first time I've seen one at this particular spot - actually managing a photo was definitely the icing on the cake! Penrith Weir, NSW.



Eastern Spinebills are frequent visitors to our garden and every time I see one, I get a little buzz because they are feeding from something I planted. I’m not the world’s best gardener but I’m learning. Seeing birds come to use our birdbaths and feed from our plants is all the encouragement I need.