MLMC student Chloe Baulch (Year 11) has won the Indigenous Student of the Year award at Box Hill Institute (TAFE), accepting a glass trophy at an awards ceremony for staff and students on Thursday 3 May. She was also one of three finalists for the VETis (VET in schools) Student of the Year Award.
Chloe is studying Certificate II in Community Services and has always had a strong interest and passion for helping people with disabilities.
By Chloe Baulch:
With my teachers knowing of my interest in pursuing a career in disability services and my keen interest in social justice, I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to enrol and commence my Certificate II in Community Services at Box Hill Institute as part of a VET course offered by the College. I am enjoying my course and I am finding that it is valuable in that it is preparing me for a career in disability services.
I was nominated for the Indigenous Student of the Year award by my teacher. I was, funnily enough, the only indigenous student in her class and she knew that I was very passionate about my culture so this is why she picked me.
I had to answer questions online and then I made it into the next round, which involved facing a panel of four people. They asked me questions like ‘What would you say to people if they said they were thinking about going to Box Hill TAFE?’ and ‘What does going to Box Hill TAFE mean to you?’ so I answered all of these questions with enough detail as possible.
Four days after my interview I was so excited because I was told that I had made it to the finals and then they sent an invitation for my parents and I to attend.
There were so many people at the awards night and there were awards for almost everything, eg Diploma Student of the Year, VETis Student of the Year and many more. When they called everyone up for the Indigenous Student of the Year they ended up saying that there were 10 people that were nominated and myself and another lady made it to the finals. So they called out our names and we got our participation award and then we were told that I had won the Indigenous Student of the Year for 2018.
I received a glass award and some money to go towards my schooling for next year. Because I have won this award I am now in the state competition for the Indigenous Student of the Year.
