Winning trainee hopes to inspire others

Geraldton’s Reggie Richardson hopes to inspire other apprentices and students to nominate for the 21st annual WA Training Awards.

Ms Richardson was named WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year at last year’s awards.

The WA Training Awards recognise outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees and vocational students, and the contribution to training made by trainers, training organisations and employers.

There are 13 categories in this year’s awards, including seven individual and six organisation categories.

Winners will be announced on September 4.

The winners share in more than $80,000 in cash and prizes, and may be eligible to compete at the Australian Training Awards in Hobart on November 19.

Applications for the 2015 WA Training Awards close on May 8.

Ms Richardson has made huge progress in the past 12 months towards her dream of working with young children living with and experiencing trauma in the past 12 months.

She was awarded a Career Pathways scholarship through the Aboriginal Employment, Education and Training Committee, completed her Diploma of Community Services and Diploma of Counselling and completed specialised trauma training.

She is now enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Work through Central Queensland University.

“Since winning the WA Training Award, I’ve been on top of the world,” she said.

“The WA Training Awards provide a terrific means for you to grow professionally and personally, and you just don’t know where they will take you.”