Catherine's decision to take on the free online Diploma of IT while continuing her work with the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council (VSAC) gave her the skills she needed to improve the vital SACStat tool.
Catherine Jefferys was working full time for VSAC when she decided to go back to study. Taking on RMIT's free Diploma of Information Technology ( following her Master of Information Management, her choice to upskill has led to the advancement of SACStat, a vital tool which aids the operation of the justice system.
"SACStat is a database of sentencing outcomes for hundreds of offences heard in Victorian courts. It was originally built to assist judges and magistrates, but anyone can use it. It lets you see what sentences people have been given for an offence previously," said Catherine.
The mobile view user-design process (left) and final product for sentencing outcomes relating to carjacking. 
"It was my job to create the user interface for people to access that data. The Diploma program gave me everything I needed to do that."
The free Diploma of IT was a government supported program available to women and gender diverse students across Victoria. It provided learners with the opportunity to study part-time and online to maintain paid employment during their studies.
Catherine at the 2025 graduation ceremony, held at Marvel Stadium. "My employer was super supportive. It was so valuable to be able to work on projects with other women who were also working full time in the public service and to be able to support each other when things got tough."
The online Diploma of IT comprised of eight subjects, which focussed on real-world problems and solutions-based projects. Having studied across both higher and vocational education, Catherine said studying the Diploma went beyond what she'd hoped for, giving her the tools to grow further in her career without sacrificing her full-time work.
"I was absolutely blown away by the incredible quality of teaching in the Vocational stream. Vocational education is so hands on that you're able to apply what you're learning almost right away."
"The most important unit for me was user-centred design, when it came to learning how to prototype and how to integrate design principles and patterns in an interface. I was able to apply what I was learning in class directly to my work on SACStat," reflected Catherine.
The Building 51 computer lab servers. Nick Patterson, Director of Future Technologies within VE, said courses like the free Diploma of IT is helping to meet the need for continuing professional development that not only responds to industry needs, but also the needs of learners.
"Graduates like Catherine perfectly encapsulate what lifelong learning looks like in practice. She already has a successful career and yet she's chosen to upskill and improve new areas of opportunity.
"The advancements that Catherine has been able to make to the SACStat tool is a wonderful example of the success that can be achieved though Fee Free Tafe initiatives," Patterson concluded.
Earn & Learn at RMIT
Australia will need hundreds of thousands of skilled, knowledgeable workers in the next two decades to support Australia's economy and our community. The Australian Universities Accord - released by the Federal Government in early 2024 - called for significant reform of the tertiary education system to underpin a strong, equitable and resilient Australia.
As part of the sector's response, RMIT has developed the 'Earn and Learn' model - a nationally recognised work-based-learning qualification that combines vocational and higher education, co-designed and delivered with industry.
Earn and Learn is helping shape a new tertiary education system, to better address Australia's critical skills shortages and provide education opportunities for those who need to work alongside their studies.
The Free Diploma of IT was offered as a part of RMIT's Earn and Learn model in 2024 and has been a major success with the graduating cohort completing their studies late last year.
"We're in a time of rapid technological, economic and social change," said Patterson.
"Australia will need to meet current and emerging workforce challenges, particularly in digital and emerging technologies. Traditional models of tertiary education don't always work for people in different stages and circumstances in their lives."
"If you're mid‑career, with a mortgage, family or full‑time work, stepping away from the workforce to study simply isn't realistic. That is what 'Earn and Learn' is designed to solve for."
