Graduation just the beginning
LAST Friday Kaitlyn Lodewikus was one of 30 indigenous students from the Rockhampton region to graduate from a Certificate II in Community Services.
While it may have been the end of the course, for the 17-year-old from Mount Morgan it was just the beginning of her studies.
The graduation ceremony, held at the Rockhampton Leagues Club, celebrated the completion of a six-week training program at Buderoo Employment and Training, delivered by Smart Skills and Learning Network Queensland.
The program was funded by Queensland Government Employment Initiatives.
"I've always been interested in youth work," Kaitlyn said.
"I just really want to help disadvantaged kids.
"The program was really good, everyone was really nice," she said.
Acting employment adviser for the funding body Fiona Mikkelsen said this was the first time the course had been offered, but similar programs had been running for almost three years.
"When you sit in the room at a graduation like this you get a real feeling of the sense of hope," she said.
"It's a program which broadens horizons and gives indigenous people a pathway for the future.
"It helps them understand personally they can do anything."
A second group of students are currently completing the same course.
Kaitlyn is now undertaking a Certificate II in Security Operations.
She is planning on furthering her community services qualification by completing a Certificate IV in the field.
