Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year

This award recognises the achievement of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who is undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship, or a course of study leading to a nationally recognised qualification. The award recognises the student has been outstanding in all aspects of their training.

Meet the finalists in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category for the 2024 South Australian Training Awards – what a talented group of individuals!

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BHP


Cloe Zielke

Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Training Provider: TAFE SA

Employer: River Murray Mallee and Aboriginal Corporation

Cloe Zielke’s Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management complements her ranger role for the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation at Berri in the South Australian Riverland.

Through her studies, Cloe developed the knowledge and confidence to perform her job well and make improvements in her life and the lives of her family members. She also developed a keen knowledge of and love for the environment, and a better understanding of her culture.

Cloe hopes to share the enthusiasm, knowledge, and experience imparted to her by her Aunties, workmates, and lecturers.

Cloe’s training highlights? Monitoring native animals, participating in ranger exchange training, flying drones, surveying for rare orchids, and working with industry experts.

Cloe’s dream of supervising a ranger team and representing the land conservation goals of Aboriginal people in the Riverland starts with the Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management at the TAFE SA Aboriginal Access Centre.

Ebony Karpany

Certificate III in Horticulture

Training Provider: TAFE SA 

With a Certificate II and a Certificate III in Horticulture from the TAFE SA, Ebony Karpany is on the way to achieving her goal of a career in the horticulture industry, specialising in conservation. 

Ebony is keen to gain industry experience on country, especially Ngarrindjeri land, so as to contribute to restoring and maintaining native Australian ecosystems of fauna and flora. She also eager to pass knowledge down to the next generation of indigenous and non-indigenous peers about the importance of the environment so that they may enjoy our unique country for many years to come. 

She is honoured to have met and learnt from her inspirational teachers and lecturers whose encouragement and positivity helped her to overcome learning challenges. 

 Ebony hopes her hard work and dedication to achieving her goals will be a good example for her 2 young children, extended family, and friends.

Stephanie Hernandez

Diploma of Nursing

Training Provider: Australian Nursing Midwifery Education Centre

Employed by: Flinders Medical Centre, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Inc

An enrolled nurse at the Flinders Medical Centre, Stephanie Hernandez’s pathway from a Certificate III in Individual Support to a Diploma of Nursing via an Australian Nursing and Midwifery Education Centre (ANMEC) cadetship, has fulfilled her wish to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people in the South Australian community.

Stephanie offers Aboriginal patients an opportunity to build trust in and connection with the health sector, something she believes is essential to improve health services for Aboriginal people.

She is an enthusiastic advocate for training pathways that support people in overcoming learning barriers. While the challenges of leaving school in Year 10 and raising 3 children prevented formal training, the cadetship pathway approach has enabled Stephanie to gain practical workplace experience while studying and been an invaluable experience.

Stephanie also supports ANMEC Diploma of Nursing students, speaking with them about cultural awareness and supporting Aboriginal people in the health care workplace.

Tracey Rigney

Certificate II in Community Services

Training Provider: Bradford Institute of Advanced Education

Employed by: Collab4Good

Tracey Rigney achieved her Certificate II in Community Services through the Inclusive Work Program (IWP) at the GOGO Foundation. From there she secured work as a Peer Support Worker at Collab4Good, working alongside women exiting prison to provide positive guidance and practical support for their safe reintegration into society.

Growing in confidence, and with expanding networks and opportunities, Tracey is undertaking a Certificate IV in Community Services with the Bradford Institute of Advanced Education at the Tauondi Aboriginal College and is enrolled in the First Nations Kinship Care Program.

A mother of 11 children and carer for 2 grandchildren, Tracey is of Kaurna, Narrandjeri, and Narrunga heritage. She is a role model in her community, promoting education to Aboriginal women, who may not have faith in their ability to re-enter a learning pathway, by demonstrating that age is not a barrier to learning when education is accessible and appropriately delivered.

Trent Stewart

Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

Training Provider: TAFE SA

Employed by: Programmed Skilled Workforce limited

Host Employer: Santos Limted

Trent Stewart worked as a field assistant in a First Nations pathways position with Santos, which led him to pursue an electrical and instrumentation employment pathway. After achieving a Certificate II in Electrotechnology, he secured an apprenticeship and undertook a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician through Programmed Skilled Workforce, hosted by Santos.

Trent has a deep connection with the Cooper Basin and surrounding country. Being a proud Dieri man, he feels at home walking on the land where he spent school holidays camping with his grandparents.

Trent aims to motivate, educate, and provide employment pathways for other Indigenous people from the Cooper Basin and beyond by inspiring them to undertake an apprenticeship or participate in a First Nations training and employment pathways program with similar opportunities.

Trent wants to achieve his potential within Santos to repay them for their belief in him and their efforts in developing his career.

See all 2024 South Australian Training Awards finalists


See all finalists