U Day 2025 brought together Asurians from across the nation for our fifth annual celebration, marking a milestone that reinforces our commitment to recognising the extraordinary people who make our mission possible every single day.
This year's event was a powerful reminder that behind every success story, every breakthrough moment, and every life transformed lies the dedication of our team members who consistently go above and beyond.
What began in December 2020 as a vision to celebrate excellence has evolved into one of Asuria's most valued traditions. U Day represents far more than recognition. It is a collective pause to honour the heart, innovation, and determination that define us as an organisation. It is a moment to shine a light on the individuals and teams whose work creates ripple effects throughout communities, changing lives through meaningful employment and education opportunities.
As we gather each year, we are reminded that our greatest asset is not our programs or systems. It is the people who bring them to life with passion and purpose.
The 2025 Enterprising Heart Awards showcased exceptional achievement across the organisation, from breakthrough performances by newcomers to sustained excellence from established teams.
Each winner exemplifies what it means to lead with an Enterprising Heart: challenging conventions, embracing difficult tasks, and inspiring others through action. Their stories demonstrate that extraordinary impact comes in many forms: sometimes through bold innovation, sometimes through quiet persistence, and always through genuine care for the people we serve.
Rookie of the Year: Charlotte Storey, Student Experience Specialist, Asuria RTO
Charlotte Storey proved that exceptional impact is not measured in years but in dedication, innovation, and heart. Within her first six months, Charlotte embraced the complex challenge of supporting Employability Skills Training (EST) and Career Transition Assistance (CTA) participants, many of whom face confidence and digital literacy barriers. She delivered tailored one-on-one support, proactively re-engaged struggling learners, enhanced processes through improvements to the Trainer tracker, and took full ownership of CTA administration to ensure a seamless participant experience.
Read more of Charlotte’s story here.
When unexpected changes created a leaner environment in the Business Development team, Melissa stepped up to ensure continuity across Tasmania.
Managing a complex portfolio spanning full qualifications, EST, CTA and Self-Employment Assistance (Micro Business Training), she strengthened relationships with delivery partners while deepening her knowledge of the RTO landscape.
As a one-person operation overseeing more than 344 full qualification places, Melissa launched innovative initiatives including monthly radio segments, pop-up sign-up events, and upskilling in social media marketing, ensuring strong visibility and consistent growth in her region.
Read more of Melissa’s story here.
The IT Helpdesk Team delivered a masterclass in collaborative transformation throughout 2025, leading a complete modernisation of Asuria’s national technology environment. While maintaining uninterrupted support to employees across Australia, the team simultaneously rolled out a new firewall solution, upgraded the organisation’s phone system, transitioned file storage to a new cloud platform, and deployed upgraded laptops with enhanced endpoint protection.
Each team member took ownership of a key component of the transformation, creating a strong knowledge-sharing culture that immediately strengthened day-to-day support. The impact was significant: smoother user experiences, reduced operational costs, faster support services, and a substantially expanded level of in-house capability.
A standout moment at this year’s U Day was celebrating Tanya Shaheen, Employer Engagement Manager for Workforce Australia, as the newest inductee into Asuria’s Chairman’s Hall of Fame.
Tanya joined Asuria in 2015 and marks ten years of dedicated service this year. She is known not only for her outstanding performance, but for the support, steadiness, and genuine care she brings to every participant and employer she supports.
Tanya has a remarkable ability to understand what employers need while believing deeply in the dreams and aspirations of our participants. She supports people through barriers and challenges with empathy and encouragement, helping them take confident steps toward employment.
She is recognised across Asuria for her exceptional consistency. Since 2023, Tanya has supported more than 450 participants into employment through her strong employer networks. Her outcomes consistently sit above company and industry average, contributing to sustained success across New South Wales.
Tanya’s leadership, compassion, and Enterprising Heart shine through in everything she does, leaving a lasting impact on the people and communities she supports.
Read more of Tanya’s story here.
U Day 2025 was more than an awards ceremony. It was a celebration of community, connection, and the collective achievements that define us as an organisation. From colleagues reconnecting and sharing stories to moments of well-deserved recognition, the day reinforced what makes Asuria special.
The energy in the room reflected the pride we share in our work and in each other, reminding us that our greatest strength lies in the relationships we build and the values we live every day.
To everyone who joined us, thank you for making U Day 2025 unforgettable. Until next year, let us continue to lead with an Enterprising Heart and create the impact that only Asurians can deliver.