Chisholm’s youth work student Lauren Johansson has been named Victoria’s Vocational Student of the Year in the prestigious Victorian Training Awards (VTA) held at Docklands’ Peninsula Room.
Entering the VTA a favourite, Lauren has already been a recipient of Chisholm’s own 2007 Vocational Student of the Year Award and only recently last month was named the 2007 Vocational Student for the Community Services and Health Industry Training Board (CS&HITB) – an industry award bestowed upon a student demonstrating best practice.
The VTA saw Lauren (Rosebud resident) short listed amongst some of the Victoria’s most talented and highly skilled vocational students and she said being named the state’s top vocational student has been both an honour and surprise.
“It was extremely exciting,” she said, “It hasn’t quite sunk in. I honestly didn’t go into the awards thinking I would win but it is such a nice feeling to be recognised by my industry and by the training awards.
“Receiving Victoria’s highest training award will certainly open up new doors for me. It is such a great opportunity and already I’m setting my goals higher as a result,” she said.
Lauren now becomes a strong Victorian hopeful heading into the Australian Training Awards which will be held in Darwin later this year. Lauren’s mentor, and Chisholm youth work trainer Keith McGinn, saying he was quietly confident.
“We’re so proud of Lauren, we knew she would do well,” he said.
Keith said Lauren has established a career in community services marked by advocating for the rights and best interests of the young people she works with and by providing them with the highest quality care.
“Her dedication to ongoing professional development was demonstrated throughout 2007 by her outstanding job of juggling work and training.
“She maintained a full case-load and exemplary professional standards of work throughout the year whilst being thoroughly committed to and actively driving her negotiated training regime,” he said.
Becoming interested in pursuing recreation/adventure-based therapeutic interventions through programs/projects that have youth recreation as the primary focus, Lauren most recently joined the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council as Youth Recreation Officer.
Lauren has also held various roles with the Salvation Army Peninsula Youth and Family Services (PYFS) organisation. These included Family and Community Enhancement Worker, Mentor Recruitment Worker, Case Manager, and Recreational Co-ordinator. In all of these roles, her ability to develop rapport and trust, while demonstrating commitment to many young people facing difficult circumstances, proved to be significant achievements.
Lauren began the Certificate IV in Youth Work with Chisholm in 2002, her principal aim to pursue a career pathway which she felt passionate about. Lauren has since completed the Diploma of Youth Work as well as qualifications that will allow her to pass on her skills to others as a trainer herself.
Chisholm Deputy CEO and Executive Director Programs, Maria Peters, said Lauren epitomises everything the Institute would want to see in a student.
“She was an outstanding candidate for the Victorian Training Awards and excellent practitioner in her chosen career."
The Victorian Training Awards highlight the important contribution made by apprentices, trainees, students, teachers, employers, training providers and industry in building a world-class VET system for Victoria.
