Siobhan Hogan picked up the gong for her work as a school-based trainee with Rio Tinto.
Her hard work to obtain her Certificate II in Engineering paid off as she was offered a role with the Weipa-based mining company.
Siobhan is both an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and is proud of her heritage.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui applauded her dedication.
“Siobhan got this qualification after securing a diesel fitting traineeship to follow her interest in mechanics, and gain knowledge through hands-on learning,” Ms Lui said.
“Siobhan is proud to be working as a First Nations woman in a non-traditional field and hopes that her experience will help her to advocate for more girls to pursue similar pathways.
“Her goal now is to complete Year 12 and continue her training with an apprenticeship.”
Siobhan’s achievements were celebrated with family and staff from Western Cape College at a special event at Rio Tinto’s lodge on Friday afternoon.
Other local finalists were also invited to watch the awards ceremony on a live stream.
Weipa’s Reece Zamiak was a regional finalist in both the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year categories.
Western Cape College student Jakub Wone was a finalist for the School-Based Trainee or Apprentice of the Year.
New Weipa resident Delaney Allen flew under the radar and won the 2021 Equity VET Student of the Year for the region.
Ms Allen is a proud Indigenous woman and single mother of four.
Juggling study and family was challenging for her, but they were also her biggest motivations to keep going.
After completing her Certificate III in Education Support last year, she was offered a student support position at Weipa Cape College.
