PROUD Wiradjuri woman Emily Behrendt is still striving toward more goals to further her career after earning the People’s Choice Koorie Student of the Year at the Victorian Training Awards.
Ms Behrendt graduated from SuniTAFE after completing her two years of nursing studies and was then referred by the TAFE as a nomination in the Victorian Training Awards.
“Winning the People’s Choice award means so much to me, because it’s my peers that voted for me, it’s people that know my story, people that work with me, and it’s just knowing they all believe in me,” she said.
“The whole journey has been a huge personal growth for me, and I want to strive for more and keep striving for better so I can prove to myself and inspire others that have struggled to do the same.
“That was my main goal with this Vic training awards was to inspire, not just the other First Nations people but anyone who’s struggled that if you really put your mind to it you can do it.”
Now in her graduate year, Ms Behrendt is content working the rotations across departments at Kerang District Health and learning all she can from the team, but she was keeping a look out for future opportunities.
“I’m at the start of my career and there’s so much out there for me,” she said.
“There’s future studies I’ll probably enrol in and there’s a lot out in the world for me to see as a nurse, so I’m just hoping I can get more skills and try different areas and find what’s for me.”
Ms Behrendt thanked the team at SuniTAFE and Kerang District Health for supporting her, as well as her friends and family.
“Reaching out for those supports that you do have as a First Nations person is really important, and staying in touch with those supports is a big help,” she said.
