Narrandera High School Year 12 student, Tahlia Gilbert, has been named Riverina Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander VET Student of the Year for 2024.

She now moves on to the state finals.

Tahlia is in her final year of her school-based traineeship – Certificate III Human Services with Murrumbidgee Local Health District working at the Narrandera Hospital.

Her family members including proud parents Richard Gilbert and Amy Bolton, grandparents Basil and Merran Bolton, Narrandera High School Year Advisor Mrs Elizabeth McLay and Careers Advisor Mrs Judy Ing all attended the awards ceremony in Wagga Wagga last week.

She is a proud Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman living on Wiradjuri land completing Year 12 at Narrandera High School whilst completing a School Based Traineeship (SBAT) with Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD), studying to become a qualified Assistant in Nursing (AIN) through TAFE NSW.

Tahlia was nominated for this award by Narrandera High School Careers Advisor, Mrs Judy Ing.

Her enthusiasm, self-motivation and drive had been evident to her employer since she started her traineeship and she took every opportunity provided to her as a chance to learn and hone new skills.

Regarded as a highly adaptable student her peers said she worked well individually and as part of the team and had a high level of communication skills.

Tahlia is a Narrandera High School Captain and its first indigenous female captain. She also finished second in the NSW/ACT division of the Zonta Achievement Award for Young Indigenous Women.

In Zonta’s words “Tahlia was ranked second in NSW/ACT having demonstrated an outstanding account of the service, leadership and initiate demonstrated in her life at school. Her determination to succeed in her HSC studies is an example for other younger students.”

She was nominated by Deputy Principal Helen Langley.

Tahlia was also an integral part of the Barradambang Dancers (Riverina Public Schools Aboriginal Dance group) which performed at the Riverina Dance Festival in Albury.  

This article appeared in the  Narrandera Argus, 20 June 2024.