A Carinity Education Gladstone student has been recognised as one of Australia’s top vocational learners.
Maddison Walker is one of only eight school students across Australia to be presented with an IVET Excellence Award, which recognises excellence, leadership and dedication in their VET studies.
The Year 12 student received the award for her outstanding accomplishments in completing four Certificate II courses in the fields of community services, work skills, active volunteering, and vocational pathways.
The certificate studies were completed through IVET, a nationally recognised registered training organisation (RTO) with which Carinity Education Gladstone has partnered to offer more learning opportunities for its students.
This year, the school offered certificate courses in Hospitality, Workplace Skills, Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways, Community Services, Self Awareness and Development, and Active Volunteering.
Carinity Education Gladstone VET Coordinator, Karen Larose, said Maddison commenced working towards her certificate qualifications last year.
“I am very proud of what Maddison has achieved. She also completed a different certificate with another RTO, so she has five certificates altogether. She also passed her QCAA (Queensland Curriculum) subjects,” Karen said.
“She was a pleasure to teach and certainly deserves the credit for her responsible attitudes towards achieving her personal goals.”
With a passion for helping young people, Maddison hopes to do further study to gain qualifications that enable her to work in the youth justice system.
“Maddison was unsure of how she could accomplish her dreams, so we discussed various pathways so she could take the right step towards working within youth justice,” Karen said.
“She certainly was dedicated and worked hard to complete her studies and was always willing to put in the hard work.”
The IVET Excellence Awards are run by education and training organisation IVET, which has partnered with over 480 schools across Australia and engages more than 30,000 students annually.
ABOUT CARINITY
Since 1949, Carinity as an outreach of Queensland Baptists has been making a real difference in people’s lives through comprehensive and integrated community services. These include caring for the frail aged in their homes or in integrated seniors’ communities, helping families and young people through difficult times, and supporting people with disability. Carinity also provides shelters for homeless youth, alternative education for teenagers who struggle in traditional schools, and prison and hospital chaplaincy.
Need guidance on senior pathways?
If you’re looking for pathways and want practical advice from experts, make sure you visit the Education Fair. It’s the ultimate one-stop event where parents, educators, and schools come together to share insights, answer questions, and support families through every step of the school readiness journey.
Upcoming Education Fair dates:
Brisbane | Nissan Arena: 23 May 2026
Sunshine Coast | UniSC Arena: 25 July 2026
Gold Coast | Runaway Bay Stadium: 17 March, 2027