2013 Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence in Schools
2013 Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence in School
The winners of the 2013 Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence in School are listed below:
Indigenous
Beau Cubillo has had to grow up very quickly in order to undertake his studies as he moved some 2,600 kilometers from the Northern Territory to boarding school. His maturity and determination were shown by his good grades in his Year 12 subjects, as well as the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance he achieved in just 18 months.
Along the way, Beau received an Indigenous Youth Leadership Programme Scholarship, participated in the WEX Dare to Lead Commonwealth Government Workplace Program in Canberra, and was shortlisted as a nominee for the Northern Territory Young Achiever Awards in the Carers’ Category.
Beau has excelled on the sporting field too, picking up many awards, including best and fairest 1st XV Rugby Union player.
His school has described him as “an exemplary student who has applied himself diligently to the educational, spiritual and co-curricular ethos of the college”. In his dedication to excellence in study and sport, as well as the many social justice activities in which he has participated, Beau has become a role model for others.
Beau is someone who will surely realise his dream - to help his people by becoming a successful health professional.
Michael Axten set off from Alice Springs to board at Immanuel College in South Australia, intent on completing his Year 11 and 12. As an Indigenous student, far from home, and unable to call on his parents for day-to-day help, Michael had it all to do. Hard work eventually resulted in his obtaining a Certificate I in Construction (Plumbing) in 2012 and a Certificate II in Plumbing Pathways in 2013.
Michael’s dedication to study and ability to manage the competing demands of school, vocational education, work experience and sport and social life, led to an award for highest achieving student in VET at his school’s valedictory evening in 2013.
Noted for a well-developed sense of humour and a quiet confidence, Michael is also, says his nominator, “a compassionate and understanding young man”. His college goes on to praise him as “honest, trustworthy and loyal” too.
These qualities must have impressed his work experience employers when Michael undertook on-the-job plumbing training, for two of them asked him to contact them when he completed Year 12. Michael has now said ‘yes’ to one of them, Araluen Plumbing, and plans to begin an apprenticeship with them in 2014.
2013 Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence in Schools
State and Territory Awards
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Christopher French set about achieving his Year 12 Certificate and a Certificate III in Community Activity Programs with great determination.
Chris has experienced great personal growth during his time at college. As an Aboriginal student, Chris came into the ASbA program wanting to explore his cultural heritage. He was soon involved in school activities such as painting Aboriginal murals and attending a bush foods and cultural heritage program run by Green Australia.
As someone with both a disability and of Aboriginal heritage, Chris understood the importance of ensuring all the primary school children he looked after in his training role for Aboriginal Corporation for Sporting and Recreational Activities (ASCRA) were included in activities. He did so with great maturity and an impressive sense of responsibility.
Chris hopes to pursue a career in sport and recreation and to one day work in a sports coaching role. In the meantime, he has commenced a Certificate II in Retail with Coles. Chris is described as trustworthy, highly reliable and possessing a great personality. He will no doubt put all these fine qualities into effect in this new endeavor.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Michael Au has a dream - “that one day people with a disability will have equal treatment throughout Australia”. Michael is absolutely determined to help that become reality. His Certificate III in Disability is just a step along the way for this ambitious young man.
Michael’s leadership and advocacy for others has been recognised with a number of awards, such as the Long Tan Leadership Award his school awarded him in 2011. He also received the Order of Australia Community Service Certificate of Appreciation in 2013.
Michael is doing his utmost to advocate for those who are vulnerable, isolated and disadvantaged. This includes volunteer work for St John’s Ambulance, Amnesty International and the Red Cross, just to name a few.
Michael’s path has been characterised by an unwavering determination to pursue what he believes is right. Against the counsel of others, he opted to undertake TVET Disability studies on top of what was already a very full academic and extra-curricular timetable, eventually gaining a 2012 TVET Excellence Award.
This is clearly a young man going places.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Nil nominations received
QUEENSLAND
Winner requested personal details not to be publicized
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Jade Koek is passionate about animals and conservation. In her spare time, she volunteers for Fauna Rescue, Adelaide Zoo and Earth for Orangutans. It is no surprise then that she plans to become a zookeeper or a park ranger / conservation worker and judging by the glowing comments of teachers and employers, she is sure to be a highly successful one.
Even as Jade has achieved a Certificate III in Animal Studies, she has been an active participant in other activities - from volunteering to involvement in school activities such as Sports Day, the Swimming Carnival, the Year 12 formal and the Valedictory Dinner.
She has also managed to complete Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, was made the Young Rural Ambassador for the Gawler region, and received a Vocational Student of the Year Award for her Certificate III in Animal Studies.
As her employer Fauna Rescue notes, Jade has a happy nature and a positive attitude to life; this will no doubt help her along the way, and in her chosen career.
TASMANIA
Nil nominations received
VICTORIA
Lauren Parkinson is someone with a lot of experience providing care to others. She used the illness of a family member to inspire her - to undertake nursing and, in her words, to “bring dignity and respect to people” needing nursing.
She trained in care and assistance for the elderly at the Seymour Memorial Hospital in Seymour, and later at BlueCross Willowmeade. “Lauren is a very empathetic carer who is passionate about delivering person-centered care to our residents” boasts BlueCross Willowmeade. It was there she picked up a Top 4 Trainee in Aged Care award at the industry annual awards ceremony in 2013.
As she studied for her School Based Apprenticeship in Aged Care, Lauren was equally active on the sports field. She not only completed a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance and a Certificate III in Aged Care, she also undertook a Certificate II in Sport and Recreation.
Her teachers and nominator agree - Lauren is a remarkable young woman. As she starts out on her Bachelor of Nursing at RMIT in 2014, she will no doubt continue to inspire with the sensitivity and compassion she brings to those needing care.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Hayden Thorne is a young man with strong connections to his Aboriginal culture and family. He is extremely aware of the issues that confront Indigenous people.
Hayden was the first person in his family to complete Year 12. He achieved 100% attendance in the workplace and over 95% attendance at school.
It is obvious that Hayden has very consciously used education as a catalyst for change and in this way, inspired other Aboriginal students to break the cycle of disadvantage and make a difference.
Along the way, he has gained a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and a Certificate II in Construction – plus a lot of admirers.
A quiet, shy lad to begin with, Hayden now communicates with confidence and ease. His growing communication skills have gradually allowed him to take on leadership roles, speaking at assemblies, at major mining companies, and mentoring other Aboriginal students.
Finally, Hayden has become a skilled plumber - proving to one and all that great change is possible, even in challenging circumstances.
INDUSTRY AWARDS
Darryl Martinez’s achievements are truly exemplary. Darryl has shown a willingness to advocate for others, assuming leadership activities in high school and later representing his peers on the Student Representative Council.
Always ready for a challenge, Darryl also competed successfully while at school in the Catholic Schools Public Speaking Competition. He honed these skills further at school assemblies, at awards nights, and as a volunteer welcoming parents on trade training opening nights.
Darryl has an impressive list of qualifications and awards. These range from Awards for Excellence in years 11 and 12, and an ‘Outstanding Performance in the Workplace Award’ in Electrotechnology, to his Certificate III in Electrotechnology and Statement of Attainment in Certificate III in I.T. and Digital Media.
It is not just the number of awards and qualifications Darryl has to his name that impresses, it is also the high standard he regularly achieves. It is for good reason that his employer, Gallant Electrical, describes him as a real asset to the business, with a work ethic that exceeds all expectations.
Darryl plans to complete his Electrotechnology apprenticeship and then join the air force.
Destiny Boyd missed a significant amount of primary age schooling because of difficult family circumstances. But how she has turned that around! Destiny is described by teachers as having quiet determination; to which must be added, doggedness and a ‘never say die’ attitude.
These qualities are evident too in her refusal to allow surgery for a serious injury she suffered playing interschool soccer to interfere with her study for her Certificate III in Education Support.
On the way to achieving that Certificate, Destiny picked up a Certificate of Commendation for achieving over 14 A-grade achievement levels during Years 11 and 12 at school. All the while, she busied herself with a range of co-curricular activities, including representing her school in athletics, soccer, softball and volleyball.
Destiny is keenly aware of the privilege and possibilities of education and describes the ‘thrill and joy’ of teaching and interacting with young children as she moves towards her dream of becoming a pre-primary teacher.
Destiny was thought early on by some to have more challenges than most adolescents. That she has won through is testament to her maturity, perseverance and, most of all, to her bright spirit.
Emma Hay has just achieved a major landmark – not only is she the first West Australian Secondary School student to graduate with a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, she is also the first in Australia to do so.
At school, she maintained a hectic program of study and out-of-school commitments. She undertook The Employment Advantage Program, gained Senior First Aid and Surf Rescue Certificates, and completed a Certificate II in Business in 2012 while working 20 hours a week at GEO Vet practices.
Emma also represented Western Australia for three years in the Equestrian Interschool Championship, and served as Vice Team Captain for Western Australia at the Interschool National Equestrian Championships in 2012.
She has also been honoured by the Pony Club Association of WA for her contribution to the sport, culminating in 2014 in her receiving the Young Sports Person of the Year Award at the Australia Day Ceremony in the Shire of Capel.
Emma is modest about her achievements and, as champions do, attributes much of her success to the help and support of others. Her aim is to become a veterinary surgeon. A tireless, committed, generous person; she will likely make a great one.
Eric Dennis is “the first apprentice that all the construction sites want to call on … and the best apprentice I have had working on my sites”, says Bradley Mercer of Tonkin Schutz Design Build. Clearly. Eric has hit the ground running and his commitment, dedication and work standards are apparent to all.
Winner of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 School Vocational Education and Training award for his year level, Eric went on to gain a Certificate I in General Construction and a Certificate III in Carpentry. This is all the more impressive when you consider the tough choice he confronted in 2012 - to complete the second year of his apprenticeship, or complete Year 12. Eric chose to do both, driven by the desire to get his South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and to also gain the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) he wanted to make sure he had the option to follow a chosen university pathway.
Eric is described as a great role model to his peers, having demonstrated what can be achieved by discipline and hard work. As his employer testifies, Eric is sure to become one of the best tradesmen in his chosen field of carpentry.
James Matthew has an impressive list of qualifications to his name - a Certificate II in Community Recreation, a Certificate II in Hospitality, a Certificate II in Civil Construction, and more recently, a Certificate II in Indigenous Health. While James is regarded as very skilled in each of his trained areas, as a Torres Strait Islander, it is Indigenous health that James feels most passionate about.