Emma Brown, a Ngemba woman and student at the Canberra Institute of Technology, was named the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year at the prestigious Australian Training Awards held in Hobart last night.
Ms Brown joined the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program in the Australian Public Service, studied a Diploma of Government with CIT Solutions, and now has a permanent position as a Customer Service Officer at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
A single mother, Ms Brown said her diploma had been life-changing.
“I wanted to show [my son] good work ethic and that anything’s possible if you put your mind to it,” Ms Brown said.
“The IAP was about creating a better future for me and my son. I’m dyslexic, so I was always told I can’t do things, and people tried to limit me. So, this study has built my confidence, to show I really am capable. When people say you can’t, well you can; you’ve just got to believe in yourself.”
She said that part of her motivation for VET study was to give back to the community and to be a role model by demonstrating that people can achieve anything if they give it a try.
Ms Brown said she never imagined pursuing further education. Now she is considering more study options with the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).
Ms Brown dedicated her award to her 11-year-old son, Zachary, but said she’d also surprised – and motivated – herself.
“This is all for my son, 100 per cent. He was watching the awards on the live live-stream with my dad, and said ‘I’m famous’ because I gave him a shout-out in my speech,” Ms Brown said.
“I wanted to show him good work ethic and that anything’s possible if you put your mind to it. It was about creating a better future for me and my son.
“I really didn’t enjoy school growing up, it was only when I got to college and I started to get support from teachers who recognised that I need to learn in a different way. They helped me believe in myself.
“I never thought in a million years I’d want to continue study, but now I’m looking at other CIT courses I could do, including what’s available through CIT Yurauna [CIT’s dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educational Centre of Excellence].”
The Indigenous Apprenticeship Program (IAP) is administered in partnership between CIT Solutions and Services Australia. The IAP aims to prepare First Nations learners for successful careers in the Australian public services, and has had more than 1,500 graduates in the past four years.
Ms Brown acknowledged her teacher, Robyn Watson, with CIT Solutions. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. She was so supportive, and explained things to me in different ways until I understood.”
Now in their 30th year, the Australian Training Awards reward and recognise apprentices, trainees, VET students, teachers, practitioners, employers, and training providers from around Australia.
More than 700 guests representing all corners of Australia’s VET sector attended the gala event, which showcased and celebrated passion, excellence, and extraordinary achievements in vocational education and training.
Six finalists from the ACT joined recipients from across Australia, who shared inspiring stories of achievement, resilience, and dedication.
“The whole week was a real spiritual experience, being welcomed on to country and getting to learn with the other finalists,” Ms Brown said. “It was so special to win the award, I couldn’t believe it, it was surreal.”
Canberrans had a strong showing, with runners up in both the Vocational Student of the Year and Trainee of the Year categories.
Marija Rathouski, runner-up in the Vocational Student of the Year category, completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health while working as a case manager at YWCA Canberra. She is an ambassador for Homelessness Connect, and plans to join the Australian Federal Police. Her passion is to support people through practical strategies and with compassion, empathy and understanding.
Cyrus Wren, runner-up Trainee of the Year, works as a Career and Transitions Project Support Officer at the ACT Education Directorate.
Working within the VET sector for over two years, while studying a diploma of project management, Mr Wren developed a passion for vocational education and training which he uses to support others into training. He believes he can impact the lives of every ACT public school student. He was nominated for the Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards last year.
“Congratulations to Emma, Marija, Cyrus and all ACT finalists at the 2023 Australian Training Awards,” Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Skills, said.
The awards not only recognise students but pay tribute to employers, teachers, and trainers who support them throughout their VET journey.
The CIT was also represented at the Australian Training Awards by two other finalists, Peter Redfern-Elliot (Finalist VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year) and Poppy Chalmers (Finalist Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year).
The awards follow a significant period of investment and growth in skills and training in the ACT, including through the National Skills Agreement, Fee Free TAFE, and the construction of a new CIT Campus in the Woden Town Centre, Mr Steel said.
“It’s an exciting time to be a student in the ACT with a variety of courses on offer. Fee-Free TAFE, the National Skills Agreement, and our plans to grow our workforce to 300,000 jobs by 2030 are combining to provide all Canberrans the chance to develop skills that are in high demand and improve their job prospects.
“We are ambitious for Canberra, the growth of our economy, the capability of our workforce, and the great jobs our thriving local industries can offer.”
For more information on the Australian Training Awards and the winners, visit australiantrainingawards.gov.au.
