The 32nd Achiever Awards presentation event celebrated and rewarded the incredible spirit and determination of young people with a care experience who are pursuing their career goals through further education and training.
Thirty-five young people were honoured across three categories – the University Achiever Award, the Registered Training Achiever Award for a young person who is commencing their first registered training course and the Apprenticeship or Traineeship Achiever Award for a young person who is commencing their first apprenticeship or traineeship.
Nearly 200 people attended the awards at Hackett Hall in the WA Museum, Boola Bardip, with friends, family, carers and child protection staff joining nominees to celebrate their success.
Former child in care and Achiever Award winner Shell shared her story and spoke inspiring words to motivate the 2022 winners.
“While I was writing my speech, I realised the importance of sharing our hard times and accomplishments to open that door so that people are aware of the challenges and triumphs that children in diverse situations may face,” Shell said.
“I received an Achiever Award in 2009, after being in care for 11 years.
“Just like all children in care, I experienced my fair share of hard, enduring times.
“I know first-hand, that it takes immense drive and determination to get here and pave your own future.
“I always say… You don’t know what you are capable of until you are put in a situation where being strong is your only choice.
“I’m sure that the recipients here today would attest to this. Receiving this award is a testament to your determination, drive and willpower, despite facing immeasurable challenges.”
Shell is now a teacher, with a permanent role teaching year threes. She has built her own house and was recently engaged with plans for a wedding in 2023.
Shell built strong relationships with Communities' staff members Tania Dasilva and Nick Nowrogee while she was in care.
“Rick was some stability that we previously didn’t have,” she said.
“To this day, we still go to Rick’s for Christmas dinners with his family and I’m so grateful for that.”
As part of the program, an Achiever Award winner receives the Community Spirit Award, which recognises and celebrates a commitment to community service and leadership. Jett, who lives in Margaret River, was chosen as the 2022 winner.
Jett is deeply committed to his local community and is involved in a wide range of community and sporting groups. He was a school council representative during year 12 in 2021 and organised and facilitated the Jump Start program, for young Aboriginal men to address mental health issues, which meets weekly. He is an ambassador for Headspace and created the Aboriginal art that is now on display at the Margaret River Headspace office and the local primary school. He also finds time to organise and facilitate a twice weekly social sports group, coaches teams playing soccer, netball, AFL and volleyball, and plays senior men’s soccer for the Margaret River Soccer Club.
For the past eight years, the Achiever Awards program has recognised a worthy child protection staff member for going above and beyond in the education and training space. The award is all about promoting positive education and training outcomes in child protection and nominations are put forward by peers and colleagues.
Missy Nesbitt from the Target 120 team in the Kalgoorlie office was this year’s winner. She has spent countless hours attempting to get the young people she works with to school, through finding alternative schooling methods for at-risk youth. This includes talking to schools about alternative schooling schedules (attending school for less time a day, less days a week) and assisting with transporting the children to school. In doing so, children have begun schooling again after prolonged periods of non-attendance in a way that is manageable for the children, and progressively leads to the children attending school for longer hours once they feel more confident in themselves.
Missy has worked closely with families in the program to assist with school clothes, school supplies and lunches. She is a mentor to these children, takes the time to sit and talk about their worries, and provides the support where she can include referrals to other services.
In 2022, the Achiever Awards are supported by the following partners: Curtin University as our major sponsor; CCI Apprenticeship Support Australia; Edith Cowan University; The University of Notre Dame Australia, and The University of Western Australia.
Congratulations to all of this year’s Achiever Award winners!
