ACT-based Ngemba woman, Emma Brown, has been named the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year at the Australian Training Awards held in Hobart on Friday night. 

Now in its 30th year, the Australian Training Awards rewards and recognises apprentices, trainees, VET students, teachers, practitioners, employers and training providers from around Australia.

Emma joined the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program in the Australian Public Service and now has a permanent position as a customer service officer at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

She said that part of her motivation for VET study was to give back to the community and be a role model by demonstrating that people can achieve anything if they give it a try.

Canberrans were runners up in the Vocational Student of the Year and Trainee of the Year categories.

Runner up in the Vocational Student of the Year category, Marija Rathouski, completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health. She said her passion was to support people through practical strategies and with compassion, empathy and understanding.

Runner-up Trainee of the Year, Cyrus Wren works as a career and transitions project support officer at the ACT Education Directorate.

Working within the VET sector for over two years, while simultaneously undertaking a VET pathway, Cyrus said he had  developed a passion for vocational education and training, which he uses to support others into training.