Vocational Student of the Year

Winner: Patrick Rivers, Graduate Certificate in Community Service Practice (Statutory Child Protection) and Graduate Certificate in Community Service Practice (Client Assessment and Case Management)

Employer: Territory Families, NT Government
Registered training provider: Australian Childhood Foundation

Patrick’s VET pathway began in 2013 when he enrolled in a Certificate III in Community Services and the following year in 2014 in the Certificate IV. In 2015 he enrolled in and graduated from a Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention and this year has seen him graduate from a Graduate Certificate in Community Service Practice (Statutory Child Protection) as well as a Graduate Certificate in Community Service (Client Assessment and Case Management).

Patrick is employed by Territory Families, the NT Government agency responsible for the care and protection of children. His commitment to his work and his studies are driven by his own personal experiences as a teenager and being assisted and supported by case-workers to make positive choices in his life.

Patrick is now 24 years of age and was a previous finalist in the 2014 NT Training Awards, Vocational Student of the Year category.

Runner up: Richard Vogt, Certificate III in Fitness and Certificate IV in Fitness

Employer: Rich Life Health and Fitness
Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Richard Vogt gave up a secure job as regional manager with an offshore gas and drilling company to study and graduate with a Certificate III and a Certificate IV in Fitness to follow his passion and start his own fitness business, Rich Life and Fitness.

Richard has worked with the Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services and is keen to develop physical programs specific for Aboriginal people to reduce the risks of lifestyle disease that are prevalent throughout communities. He is also in the process of establishing a fitness studio for his clients and will undertake additional training in ‘core strength’ courses to help clients suffering from back issues.

Richard was awarded the Most Outstanding CDU Certificate III Fitness Student Award for 2016.