ECEC trainee Lachlan honoured in Hunter and Central Coast Training Awards

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) trainee Lachlan Carey has been named as Trainee of the Year in the 2024 Hunter and Central Coast Training Awards.

Mr Carey is completing his traineeship at Newcastle’s A Magical Time Children’s Centre, cherishing the opportunity to create a positive and nurturing environment for young children.

“When I was halfway through Year 10, I suffered two strokes which required me to have multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery time. I was unable to return to school or play rugby league, which was so important to me,” he said. 

“I know what it is like to experience challenges, setbacks and trauma. If I can be a role model and make a difference for a child and help them develop strategies to learn, be accepted, or simply just cope, then this is where I want to be.”

Mr Carey was one of seven award winners announced at an awards ceremony held at Newcastle Town Hall, celebrating the Hunter region’s most outstanding individuals and organisations in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

Hundreds celebrated the achievements of all category winners, including apprentices, trainees, students, businesses and trainers who champion vocational education, with the event highlighting the critical role of VET in shaping a skilled and resilient workforce in New South Wales.

Fellow winner Jacinta Ferris was named Apprentice of the Year for her exceptional performance and dedication as an electrician at AGL Macquarie. Warrali Griffiths was named as the regions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year, Dascha Harrison the School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year, Seth Newton the VET in Schools Student of the Year, Jenny Gurr the VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year and Lori-Anne Brown the Vocational Student of the Year.

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, praised the winners and finalists at the regional awards.

“Congratulations to Jacinta Ferris and Lachlan Carey for their remarkable achievements. Their stories exemplify the transformative power of VET and the opportunities it creates for individuals to thrive and make a significant impact in their communities,” Mr Whan said.

“We know that many jobs created in the next decade will require vocational qualifications. These awards celebrate the young workers, trainers and businesses working to ensure we meet this challenge.”

Presented by Training Services NSW, the awards emphasise the importance of providing real skills for real careers and underline the NSW Government’s commitment to building a highly skilled workforce.

Learn more about the awards here.