Among the winners were one of the St George Illawarra Dragons and a mother-of-four who recently experienced the tragic loss of her husband.

TAFE Illawarra's institute director Dianne Murray said the winners came from Goulburn, Moruya, Moss Vale, Wollongong, Wollongong West and Shellharbour TAFE campuses.

"TAFE Illawarra continues to produce some of the most impressive work-ready graduates in the country and that's a result of the commitment our staff members give to their learning and development," she said.

Major Student Awards went to Lauren Davkovski, of Kiama Downs, named Student of the Year and earlier won the Culinary Skills and Service Award.

Jeffrey Weatherall, of Oyster Bay, was named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year.

Mr Weatherall has been studying a Certificate IV in Youth Work at Shellharbour.

Apprentice of the Year was Rebecca Lewis, of Bowral, who has been doing a Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy at Wollongong West.

Ms Lewis also won the hair and beauty award.

The International Student of the Year was Sabina Salinas Szada, of Gwynneville, who has been doing a Diploma of Children's Services (Early Childhood Education and Care) at Wollongong.

The Trainee of the Year was Billie-Jean Raahauge, of Surfside, who has been doing a Certificate III in Maritime Operations at Moruya, who also took out the transport award category.

The Vocational School Student of the Year was Jessica Cotterill, of Fairy Meadow.

Her field of study was a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance at Shellharbour TAFE.

Other awards went to Joanne Albany, of Yerrinbool, in agribusiness and environment and Stephanie Hall, of Coledale, in business and commerce.

Dan Hunt completed three community services qualifications in one year at West Wollongong to take out the Community and Family Services Award.

Highly commended was Jeffrey Weatherall, of Oyster Bay.

The Construction Award went to Dean Gough, of Wilton, Creative Industries Award to Gabriel Hole, of Shell Cove, Foundation Studies Award to Lana Downes, of Flinders, Health and Wellbeing Award to Pauline Gemmill, of Albion Park, Information Communications Technology Award to Alma Telalovic, of Fairy Meadow, Manufacturing and Engineering Award to Lachlan Howes, of Milton, Tourism and Events Award to Renae Fedele, of Hilltop, and Billy Fox was named the winner of the Barrington Raymund Roberts Memorial Award.

Wollongong TAFE featured prominently in staff awards, including bakery head teacher Peter Hood who was recognised for both teaching excellence and industry collaboration, relieving head teacher of community services Anne Barrow, carpentry and joinery teacher Joe Nolan, and senior counsellor Lisa Whitebread-Fox.

Nowra's tourism and hospitality head teacher Sarah Phillis was also recognised.