AGA Education and Training Manager Sarah Collisson’s early career helped shape her leadership style and deep appreciation for systems, training and consistent procedures. Her career story began at McDonald’s, where she started as a young employee and worked her way up to become a restaurant manager, overseeing some of the largest stores in Melbourne. “I experienced a traineeship myself and had an awesome experience with bespoke VET training through ‘Hamburger University!’” She said with a laugh.

After her time at McDonald’s, Sarah transitioned into the VET sector, joining Catalyst Education. Here, she held a variety of roles, including training manager, administration and compliance, sales, learning design and business analytics. Her diverse experience and dedication to excellence led her to become the Chief Operating Officer of Catalyst Education. In 2023, Sarah joined AGA, where she now heads up the Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

In her current position as Education and Training Manager, Sarah is committed to ensuring high-quality, compliant programs for every student. “The student experience is at the heart of all of our decisions,” she emphasised.

Her focus on continuous improvement is evident in her efforts to streamline processes, making it easier for students, staff and employer partners. “Continuous improvement to make our processes as easy possible means our training team can spend as much time as possible passing on their skills to the next generation of young people coming through.”

AGA is currently developing and implementing several innovative projects for sustainable growth. “We’re planning a new workplace delivery model in the trade space, and a new online distance model in education support as well as enhanced work placement support for Vocational Education and Training (VET) delivered to school students (VDSS),” she explains. These initiatives are designed to improve the student experience and ensure high-quality, compliant programs with great outcomes.

Sarah is also a strong advocate for collaboration within the IntoWork Group. “This year, we are working closely with iTFE as they enter the VDSS space and I have a new role that is working across both businesses to maximise our impact,” she says. This collaboration is expected to strengthen both organisations’ positions as leaders in the VET sector and enhance the services they provide to students and staff.

Outside of her professional life, Sarah is a mother to two young boys, who keep her active and remind her that “life is about laughing”. She enjoys socialising with friends, dining out and attending gigs with her husband. “But my greatest passion in life… above all is trying to find the funny wherever I am,” she adds with a smile.

Sarah’s positive attitude brings a unique energy to AGA and the RTO, making it a welcoming and inspiring place to learn and grow. AGA specialises in delivering training and qualifications to apprentices and trainees. AGA might be the perfect trade school for you. Our state-of-the-art facilities across Victoria offer training in multiple fields, delivered by dedicated trainers and assessors who are here to help you reach your goals.

Wherever you are on your student journey, check out AGA’s Qualifications and contact AGA to discuss our learning pathways.