Meet our nominees for the Queensland Training Awards!

Ahanu Dewhirst knew from a young age his passion for technology, but the challenges of working while attending university for four years were not for him. He settled into management roles in the customer service industry, but Ahanu never stopped dreaming of a career in IT. He enrolled in a Certificate III in Information Technology with the Australian College of Commerce and Management and was hosted at Support Centre in our IT team. Eager to prove he had what it took to be successful in the industry, Ahanu wasted no time completing his qualification in only seven months; 17 months earlier than scheduled!

Since completing his traineeship, Ahanu has been hired permanently as a Service Desk Technician with Endeavour Foundation and has been nominated for three #TeamPossible Reward and Recognition awards! His next goal is to become a Software Engineer, acknowledged by Chartered Engineering Australia and we have no doubt he will achieve this.

Blaze Morandin went to a rural school in Far North Queensland where the subjects offered to her were limited, and lacking topics like Business Studies. So, to exceed in an industry Blaze dreamed of, she knew she would have to use her initiative. Before completing a Certificate III in Business Administration, Blaze worked in early childcare, education, hospitality, delivery services, and even the volunteering industry but was yet to find a job that fulfilled her passion and drive. A traineeship was the perfect opportunity to achieve her goal of a career in business, something that she had always envisioned for herself.

Blaze’s unwavering dedication to her studies allowed her to finish her traineeship in just under ten months instead of twelve, allowing her to be interviewed for a contracted job just before it closed. Blaze was successful in securing the role of Procurement Officer at Cassowary Coast Regional Council, in her beloved hometown.

Carol Kale has always been an introvert, often struggling to speak to new people, shying away from public speaking, and rarely venturing outside of her inner circle. When her three young children were old enough to start school, Carol decided to re-enter the workforce. After spending eight years raising her family, Carol was naturally nervous and lacked confidence in her abilities. When she arrived at Community Solutions on her first day, she almost didn’t get out of the car! But she was determined to teach her children about courage, hard work and overcoming fears.

Carol successfully completed a Certificate III in Business and was permanently employed as a Project Support Officer at RoadTek, a division of The Department of Transport and Main Roads. Her confidence has improved massively and she has not looked back!

Mitchell Bennett previously worked at Dominos working his way up from delivery driver to store manager. He reached a point in his life where he wanted to find a rewarding career where he had access to explore his passion for motor skills and building things.

Mitchell made the big decision to change his career and first undertook a Certificate I in Automotive. He then went on to begin a Certificate III in Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing that he is currently completing while placed at Vision RV. Through his studies, he is learning how to create and build recreational vehicles from the ground up, including chassis assembly, brake, and suspension systems with the inclusion of multiple other types of trades building mobile homes.

Nicole McConnell made the brave decision to push past her challenges with anxiety and explore rewarding career options through Community Solutions DES service. Nicole was then referred to Community Solution’s Pre-apprenticeship Program where she worked closely with the team’s support to gain a Certificate I in Engineering. She always had an interest in hands-on work and learning how to build things but was always anxious about not being successful in a predominately male-dominated industry.

She persevered and one week into the course she was welding chassis and working with cabinetry and electrics. She was sold! Passionate about her new skills, Nicole now finds herself working on projects at home, such as general maintenance, building a desk, and recently a plant stand. Now post traineeship, she’s well on her way to a trade qualification in Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing.

Robert Sariman moved to Australia from Papua New Guinea (PNG) at the height of the pandemic. Naturally, this was a challenging time to find stable employment. After working a few casual hospitality jobs, Robert enrolled in a Certificate III in Business Administration to build on the skills he learnt in PNG. He dreamed of a career in administration and wanted to explore various employment opportunities in Australia.

Coming from a diverse linguistic background, throughout his traineeship Robert has been a strong advocate for non-English speaking background (NESB) colleagues and those who are hard of hearing by raising awareness around Australian colloquialisms. He also implemented various environmental practices throughout the organisation.

Robert is currently completing his traineeship at PlanPac, with offices based in his hometown, Port Moresby and Robert says he feels proud to bridge the cultural gap between the two offices. He will soon complete his traineeship and it is ‘highly likely’ he will be offered a permanent position.

Rochelle Hudson is an independent woman, and after leaving high school, she immediately enrolled in a Certificate III in Business Administration, placed at Cassowary Coast Regional Council in Far North Queensland. At first, she was sceptical, as her only comparison to working in a team environment was at high school. However, she soon found support and – despite workplace challenges – adjusted well into her new team. Her traineeship experience had a profound impact on her, teaching her the value and significance of teamwork in the workplace.

Rochelle is now employed directly through Cassowary Council Regional Council as an administration officer in their ICT team. She advocates for breaking down stereotypes of young people in the workforce.

Tahnee Ambrum has always been interested in the business industry as she knew it would offer several different pathways and opportunities. She studied a Certificate III in Business Administration and was placed with Cassowary Coast Regional Council as an Infrastructure Trainee.

Tahnee identifies as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander, and is a strong role model not only for Indigenous youth but for all young people no matter their ethnic or cultural background. Her motto ‘you can achieve anything you put your mind to.’

In her community, Tahnee is an Indigenous Leader and Sports captain. These experiences pushed her to do her best in her adult career where, despite still being a newbie at Cassowary Coast Regional Council, she teaches her colleagues about computers and certain software programs and regularly encourages staff to celebrate specific cultural and religious events throughout the year.