Vocational Student of the Year

Sponsored by McArthur River Mine.

Winner: Calista Hudson - Certificate III and IV in Fitness

Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University

Calista Hudson had never dreamed of studying at university, let alone working alongside a group of defence force leaders in a fitness program. But she has achieved these goals and many more since undertaking her Certificate IV in Fitness at CDU.

Her enthusiasm and dedication to her training helped gain employment in the fitness industry within the first month of starting her studies. The opportunity to learn and train on and off the job was an enormous benefit, though a challenge in terms of time management. Calista also started her own personal training business while still studying, and then was offered the position of manager at the CDU gym, a job she embraced.

As Calista puts it, in less than 12 months she had taken up a brand new study challenge, was working in a new industry and had become a respected leader and mentor for others.

She has also undertaken her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, to better assist her staff in training and deliver classes to new learners. She has also discovered through her vocational education and training (VET) that she has skills and experience that can be turned into formal qualifications, so she is currently enrolled in recognition for prior learning for Certificate IV in Human Resources.

Runner up: Jess Hempsall - Certificate III and IV in Fitness

Registered training provider: Charles Darwin University