Weipa’s Sean Slack has been named the 2024 Tropical North QLD School-Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year. Photo: Supplied.
Western Cape York is celebrating after two students claimed major wins at prestigious 2024 Queensland Training Awards last week.
Western Cape College’s (WCC) Sean Slack was named the School-Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year (Tropical North QLD) last week after making it to the regional finals in Port Douglas alongside two other nominees.
The 17-year-old was nominated by his work experience host, Rio Tinto, where he is currently undertaking a traineeship in diesel fitting.
“I was pretty surprised,” Mr Slack said of his win.
“The recognition as one of the top school-based trainees across the business is a moment of gratitude, affirming that I’m on the right career pathway.
“It definitely makes me more confident knowing that being given this award makes my resume look better.”
Mr Slack said as a Weipa resident, going into a trade was a no-brainer, adding that he hoped to stay with Rio Tinto for an apprenticeship after he completed his traineeship.
“I guess it’s really just the environment we live in, having Rio in Weipa, everyone around me is doing a trade or working in the mine, so I thought I’d give it a go,” he said.
“Everyone’s supported me a lot; I work every Tuesday and it’s a different crew every time, so I work with heaps of different people.
“It’s good, because I can see how other tradies do things and figure out the best ways to do different things.”
In another Rio Tinto-themed win, Aurukun’s Rhonda Woolla was crowned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year after completing her Certificate IV in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Response while working for the mining giant.
WCC principal Dan Tonon congratulated Mr Slack for his hard work through the school’s program.
“This is an incredible achievement for Sean as an individual, but also for the program we run for our school-based trainees and apprenticeships here at the college,” Mr Tonon said.
“We have one of the highest numbers of school-based trainees and apprenticeships in Queensland.
“We’re also widely recognised in the industry as preparing our students exceptionally well for the workforce, and we’ve got a long history of student success in these awards.”
