WESTERN AUSTRALIA

7NEWS Young Achiever Awards WA

2022 Winners

2022 Winners with the Hon Dave Kelly MLA, Minister for Youth; Water; Forestry

Overall Winner - Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year

Katlyn Yeeda, 25 of Derby is a proud local Indigenous working at The Derby Visitors’ Centre. She shares her experiences of the Kimberley, exuding enthusiasm when speaking to clients. Known as ‘The Jetty Queen’ for her prowess in catching big fish, she advises clients where and how to be in the best spots. Katlyn is also a Director and Treasurer for the local Warrawa Corporation.”

Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Sia Spark, 29 of Lesmurdie founded The Verso Project, a domestic violence non-profit organisation. Sia has experienced the gaps in our justice system, and is passionate about reform. She has since successfully assisted over 100 women to file for family violence restraining orders. Sia consults with Aboriginal elders and cultural and linguistically diverse women’s community groups to make The Verso Project more accessible’

Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award

Jack Anderson, 21 of Applecross founded ThrivEd, where he has managed to bring together talented writers to work together to author Year 12 textbooks. Proceeds for every two sales are used to produce a third textbook for a student who would benefit from the same resource. Jack is the founder at LifEd which uses non-fiction books and documentaries to educate young people on important life skills.”

Spirit Super Create Change Award

Dr Hayley Passmore, 29 of Mount Lawley is a child health researcher who is helping improve outcomes for WA’s most vulnerable youth, such as those involved in the justice system and who have neurodisabilities. Hayley pioneered Reframe Training, an evidence-based training intervention to help justice staff better manage and support young people with neurodisability. She has delivered the training to over 600 justice and community services staff.

Surge Fitness Sports Award

Emily Suvaljko, 21 of Byford is a harness racing driver. She has driven 170 winners nationally and 169 in WA and now has a career tally of 353 winners. Emily began working in harness racing stables in late 2018. She is now the leading female driver of all time in WA. Every year, Emily actively participates in a national fundraiser that raises awareness of Ovarian Cancer.

RiverBank Estate Restaurant Food and Beverage Excellence Award

Emily Jones, 27 of Orelia is the Head Chef at Republic of Fremantle. She has developed an eclectic menu of small share plates celebrating local Western Australian produce to complement their signature cocktail list. Emily previously worked at a three-Michelin star restaurant in Norway but returned due to the pandemic. In 2021, Emily was awarded Young Chef of the Year at the 2021 WA Good Food Guide Awards.

Pan Pacific Perth Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Award

First National Real Estate Innovation Award

Alexis McDonald, 19 of Bunbury created ‘HerHelp’, after struggling with bullying throughout her schooling. The app offers a safe space online to encourage, guide and support women and girls through daily challenges. Alexis only learned how to make an app through YouTube. Since launching the app in July 2019, it has had over 10,000 downloads. Alexis will launch a new version of the app in 2022

Qoin Small Business Achiever Award

Blake McFarlane, Blake's Chooks and Eggs, 16 of Forest Hill runs a fully operational family business that now provides over 1,000 chooks and over 400 dozens of eggs weekly to Mount Barker, Albany and Denmark. In 2020, they started buying hyline chicks as day-olds, which is a sustainable decision. In 2021, Blake’s Chooks and Eggs began looking into more regenerative farming practices, such as purchasing sheep to run over the pasture.

Awards Australia Regional Service Award

Chloe Gault, 28 of Brookton has been volunteering for the Brookton Sub Centre St John WA for eight years. Chloe started as a volunteer ambulance officer and took courses as Emergency Medical Technician to increase her clinical capability. Chloe has taken on various roles as a sub-centre committee member. In 2018, she became a Volunteer Development Officer. In 2020, Chloe started training as a nurse.

2021 Winners

2021 Winners with the Hon Dave Kelly MLA, Minister for Youth; Water; Forestry

Sophie Stewart, 26 of Burswood is the Campaign Director working with guidance from Aboriginal chairpersons for Social Reinvestment WA, a coalition of not-for-profits working to end the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system. They released a podcast amplifying lived experiences and launched an initiative, ‘Olabud Doogethu’, resulting in new jobs and reduced burglaries. During Covid-19, Sophie coordinated 36 organisations to ensure the safety of people inside WA prisons and at-risk young people on the streets. Sophie is also the Founder and Director for Swim for Refugees, a non-profit that teaches people from the refugee and asylum seeker community to swim.

Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award

Andrew Bannister, 29 of Sorrento was born with rare brain malfunctions, including Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia (PVNH), but these have not stopped him from achieving many things. Inspired by the story of Ella, whose mother organised to light up the Perth Bell Tower in 2018 after Ella died of PVNH, Andrew decided that he would organise to light up more locations to bring awareness to the condition, and later, of all rare diseases. In 2020, Andrew organised 35 landmarks in Australia and around the world to be illuminated for Rare Disease Day in February. He has already organised for 50 landmarks to be illuminated for Rare Disease Day 2021.

Surge Fitness Sports Award

Tegan Reder, 17 of Cloverdale is the only swimmer competing in Australia under the S11 category, a classification for blind swimmers. She was born completely blind but has never let this prevent her from achieving her goals. At the Western Australia Championships, she broke eight Australian age and open records. Currently sitting third in the world for the 50-metre breaststroke, she will be trialling for the Tokyo Paralympics in June in Adelaide. Tegan was awarded a scholarship through the WA Institute of Sport and is part of the AIS Para-Development Squad. In December 2020, she was granted early acceptance to study Law at UWA in 2022.

RiverBank Estate Restaurant Health and Wellbeing Award

Trevor Menmuir, 25 of Derby works as the Senior Youth Services Team Leader for the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley. He co-ordinates, plans, supports, and organises a range of Youth and Community-related activities and programs, including engaging in sports and delivering healthy food programs for kids and families. Trevor is Chair of the Youth Network Meetings and the Youth Representative in the Derby Interagency Meetings. He is responsible for voicing issues and concerns for the youth and coordinating programs and solutions in the Youth and Community space. Trevor is a founding member of the Derby Basketball Association He previously worked as the Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer at Derby District High School.

Elders Agricultural Achievement Award

Hamish McKirdy, 26 of Salter Point is a third-year Agricultural Science PhD student at Murdoch University. He has closely aligned his research to address wine industry needs and identify areas of concern, such as moving away from traditionally used agricultural chemicals. As a result, Hamish co-invented two new pest control technologies. The first involves the application of ethyl formate and nitrogen both as quarantine and post-harvest fumigant. The second is the application of synthetic amorphous silica dust as both a trunk drench and foliage spray. Hamish received the Wine Australia Award from the 2020 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

First National Real Estate Innovation Award

Eldin Rostom, 26 of Salter Point is passionately empowering the next generation of medical entrepreneurs. After receiving a scholarship with Accelerating Australia to participate in the Perth Biodesign Project Hospital to generate insights about clinically unmet needs, Eldin was first placed in the Burns Unit of Fiona Stanley. He then attended a short intensive bootcamp in Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat medical innovation at Stanford University. In 2019, Eldin spun out both ideas from his experience, co-founding two start-ups: Calor Medical, which aims to standardise first aid methods for burn injuries, and Diag-Nose Medical, which aims to combat antibiotic resistance by reducing antibiotics over-prescription for common respiratory diseases.

Woolworths Youth Group Achievement Award

MAN UP of Wembley Downs hopes to create emotionally capable, purpose-driven young men. Founded in 2019, MAN UP is an organisation run by young Perth men, for other young men. They aim to redefine what it means to ‘man up’ by providing small, workshop-style sessions with groups of young men. They hope to change the attitude, approach and language around modern masculinity and allow high school boys to embrace positive ideals over toxic ones at an early stage. MAN UP’s main target audience is middle-high school age young men in years 9-12 but they run sessions at residential colleges in addition. They also run community check-in sessions.

Qoin Small Business Achiever Award

Kiya Watt Aboriginal Art of Albany is creating art that is reflective of her people and their creation stories, and that strengthens cultural connections in her community. Kiya is a proud Menang Gnudju Noongar artist who specialises in murals, corporate commissions and cultural art workshops. She launched her artistic journey after her twin sons had a NAIDOC event that required them to work on a project together. Kiya’s work has since included the first Indigenous doll to appear on Playschool and a line of earrings that feature animals belonging to the Menang Boodjah land. Kiya Watt Aboriginal Art has been featured in New York Fashion Week.

Awards Australia Regional Service Award

Tom Wheeler, 25 of Newman is the Manager of Waste Services at the Shire of East Pilbara. He and his team have made significant changes to the treatment process of the Newman Wastewater Treatment Plant after its operations were suspended. Tom identified the source of the issue through data analysis, conducted a water balance model and identified the best method for a clean-out. Tom and his team received the Waste Authorities Waste Sorted Grant, which will engage community members in adopting better waste management practices through tools translated into Martu Wangka, the language spoken by the Custodians of Newman. They also received e-waste collection infrastructure funding.

2020 Winners

The 2020 Winners with MC for the evening, Amelia Broun from Channel Seven at the Hyatt Regency Perth. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Overall Winner - Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year

Iris Smit, 24 of Subiaco is revolutionising the beauty industry. Iris created The Quick Flick, a unique eyeliner tool that combines a wing stamp with a felt tip eyeliner pen. Within the first year, the product earned attention from multiple media agencies and beauty influencers. Iris is an interior architecture graduate who used her skills and own struggles with drawing the perfect winged eyeliner to create an original product design, logo, packaging and website. Her appearance on Shark Tank saw her revenue grow by 5,000%. In 2019, Iris won EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 (Emerging Female Category, WA Region) and Momentum Visionary Woman of the Year.

Hon Sue Ellery MLC, Minister for Education and Training presented Iris Smit. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

First National Real Estate Innovation Award

Rob Druitt, Director First National Druitt & Shead Scarborough, First National Real Estate presented Iris Smit with the Innovation Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Town of Victoria Park Arts and Culture Award

Scott Elstermann, 25 of Kardinya is a Junior Australasian Jazz Champion and Youth Queensland Ballroom Dancesport Champion. During his Year 12 WACE exams, he was accepted into the Bachelor of Arts (Dance) at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Scott has performed for leading dance artists and won the Overall Dance and Physical Theatre Award at the 2016 Perth Fringe World Festival. He was audition dance assistant for Matilda: The Musical, Artistic Team Leader for Ausdance WA and teaching artist for the West Australian Ballet. In 2018, Scott became the first Australian and youngest ever to receive the Pina Bausch Fellowship for Dance and Choreography.

Mayor Karen Vernon of the Town of Victoria park presented Scott Elstermann with the Arts and Culture Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Elders Agricultural Achievement Award

Kayla Evans – Generation Ag, 26 of Perth is committed to uniting primary industries. Kayla is a passionate young agriculturalist who co-founded Generation Ag, a podcasting platform that celebrates stories of people working in all areas of primary industries, with a focus on the next generation. The podcast hopes to bridge the ‘rural-urban divide’ while tackling bigger issues such as gender issues in agriculture and mental health. The podcast has so far amassed 3,000 downloads, interviewed over 16 guests and has gained listeners in over five countries. In 2020, they plan to run workshops to teach other agribusinesses how to run podcasts and speak to millennials and Generation Z.

Simon Wilkinson, Area Manager WA, Elders presented Kayla Evans with the Agricultural Achievement Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Woolworths Youth Group Achievement Award

Robe River Kuruma Youth Council of Karratha is dedicated to providing support to young people. Following a number of youth suicides, Daniel Farmer established the Robe River Kuruma Youth Council to discuss how to combat youth issues. They have since developed a youth case management team to further youth education, gain employment and seek help. The Youth Council will create a Pilbara Aboriginal Youth Council and work with local and state government to develop a Pilbara Youth Report and Pilbara Youth Strategy Plan as a co-designed solution. The Youth Council has developed a Financial Literacy Program and Life Skills Program and plans to employ Aboriginal Peer Educators.

Michelle Dropulic, Culture & People Project Manager – SA/NT/WA, Woolworths Supermarkets presented Robe River Kuruma Youth Council with the Youth Group Achievement Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award

Ashleigh Gibson, 22 of Bentley is an advocate for children with disability. Ashleigh volunteers at Perth’s Children’s Hospital (PCH), where she had been a patient since she was six months old. Despite her severe Scoliosis and severe lung disease, Ashleigh has been helping kids to be calm and entertained while they wait for their surgery at PCH. She is on the Disability Advisory Board of the new Children’s Hospital and attends monthly board meetings. She has been directly involved in making sure that the hospital is accessible and follows the Disability Inclusion Act. Ashleigh is currently completing her third year of Uni, studying Primary School Teaching.

Peter Kirwan, Grand Master, Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA presented Ashleigh Gibson with the Community Service and Volunteering Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Tradie Business Blueprint Trades Business Award

Ashleigh Hiemstra, 29 of High Wycombe is helping promote, inspire and encourage females to enter the industry. Ashleigh is a qualified carpenter, registered building practitioner and Owner and Director of a registered building company, Merge Building. Before starting her apprenticeship, she completed her diploma of Building and Construction – Builder’s registration. She spent three years as apprentice at her dad’s business, Banken Building Carpenters. After seven years, she applied for a building practitioner’s license, which led to her forming Merge Building in August 2018. Ashleigh is a member of Trade-Up Australia, National Association of Women in Construction, Fusion Biz Co (female networking group), and Housing Industry Association.

Marie-Louise MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Freemasons WA presented Ashleigh Hiemstra with the Trades Business Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Courtney Marie Gratteri, 28 of Cardup is a passionate youth worker at one of Perth’s leading CARE Schools. Courtney co-designed and led Strong Hearts Strong Minds workshops to benefit young people’s social, emotional and mental wellbeing. She led Back to County camps and early intervention programs, helping Aboriginal children learn about Nyoongar culture and to encourage time spent with Nyoongar elders. Courtney was Finalist at the Armadale Community Citizen of the Year Award 2018 and Auspires 2020 Young Australia of the Year Award. She was recognised at the Catholic Education Department’s 2017 LEAD and 2019’s Young Leadership Awards and was Anglicare’s 2019 Most Professional Youth Worker of the Year.

Dr Deb Sayce, Executive Director, Catholic Education Western Australia presented Courntey Marie Gratteri with the Young Leadership Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Surge Fitness Sports Award

Rhiannon Clarke, 17 of Kingsley bravely overcomes her disability. Rhiannon has Cerebral Palsy, which means her muscles are tight and weak and easily get fatigued. Despite that, she is a full-time student and elite athlete of track and field. Rhiannon won Silver at the Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold at Arafura Games 2019, and Bronze at the World Para Athletics Championships 2019. She holds multiple national records, and was a 2019 WA Sports Star Awards Finalist. Rhiannon received the National Athlete Support Structure – Athletics Australia and West Australian Institute of Sport IASP Athletics Scholarship 2018-2020. She has completed education programs on nutrition, recovery, personal excellence and mental strength.

Viresh Naik, Fitness Manager, Surge Fitness presented Rhiannon Clarke with the Sports Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

Awards Australia Regional Service Award

Shaun Kay, 29 of Bindoon is creating awareness around the importance of self-care and mental health. After struggling for years with his own mental health, Shaun created SMILE TEACHERS. The company helps teachers look after themselves physically and mentally. They run workshops with students on mindfulness, breathing activities and exercise all over Australia. Shaun’s online professional development day course can be accessed by teachers 24/7. He helps teachers understand why some students act out and misbehave and gives them tools to support their students. He runs a teachers’ retreat in Bali twice a year. Shaun is a qualified physical education, health, science and maths teacher.

Ashley Talbot, Principal Business Development Officer, DPIRD presented Shaun Kay with the Regional Service Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO.

2019 Winners

The 2019 Winners with MC for the evening, Susannah Carr from Channel Seven at the Pan Pacific Perth. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Overall Winner - Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year

Jilen Patel, 29 of Sorrento is a paediatric dentist committed to helping the vulnerable and disadvantaged families in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley, homeless people, refugees in the Perth metropolitan area and children with complex medical needs. He developed the Kimberley Dental Team, providing oral health education and volunteer-based dental services to cohorts across WA. He spearheaded the implementation of Strong Teeth for Kimberley Kids School tooth brushing program. He developed a multidisciplinary oral health education and prevention program for resettled refugee children. Jilen also pioneered the use of digital technology to better facilitate the surgical repair of neonates with cleft lip and palate.

Hon Peter Tinley AM MLA, Minister for Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth; Asian Engagement presented Jilen Patel. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Surge Fitness Sports Award

Brianna Throssell, 22 of City Beach is a champion swimmer. She won gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and made Commonwealth games record in the 4 x 200m Freestyle and won bronze in the100m butterfly. She was a finalist in the 200m 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing 8th overall. She won 6 medals at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics and finished 4th at the 2015 World Championships in Russia. She was named Western Australia’s Swimmer of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Brianne is an advocate of the Notre Dame and Elite Athlete Program. She dreams of becoming a Physiotherapist and a Doctor someday.

Viresh Naik, Fitness Manager, Surge Fitness presented Brianna Throssell with the Sports Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award

Peter Kirwan, Grand Master, Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA presented Jilen Patel with the Community Service and Volunteering Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

WAFarmers and Rural Bank Agriculture Award

Daisy Goodwin, 23 of Broome has a passion for environment and sustainable agriculture. She works in rural north WA with Aboriginal agricultural businesses and has so far organised seven capacity building workshops, written 16 grant and award applications for her clients worth $1.1 million and 28 articles published. While studying environmental science, she completed self-funded research trips to rural areas in QLD and NSW. After graduation, she became a graduate development officer for the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in the Aboriginal Economic Development Program. Daisy is involved with Kiva, a not-for-profit organisation offering micro-loans to mostly agricultural businesses in developing countries.

James Robinson, Head of Sales, Rural Bank presented Daisy Goodwin with the Agriculture Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

The Diamond Club Online Achievement Award

ACE Tutors, 23 of Nedlands is determined to create innovative solutions to problems in the private tutoring industry. ACE Tutors was founded by Gwyn Durbridge, Raphael Watt and Robert Pennefather while studying at the University of Western Australia, driven by a desire to democratise education and provide students with convenient and reliable access to the support they need to achieve their full potential. It was accepted into the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research & Innovation Start-up Programme in November 2017 where its office is currently based. Over 1,000 students, parents and tutors based in Perth have signed up since it launched its app in February 2018.

Rini Stobbe, e-Learning Specialist, Risk Management Technologies presented ACE Tutors with the Online Achievement Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Krista Dunstan, 28 of Bayswater seeks to create a community where every child is given equal opportunity. She is a proud Nyoongar woman, lawyer, and human rights advocate. She was advisor to the minister for Aboriginal Affairs of the WA Aboriginal Advisory Committee. Despite being a full-time carer to her disabled mother and sister, Krista volunteers as Celebrate WA board member and Noongar Charitable Trust Advisory Committee member. She was part of the organising committee of the 2018 and 2012 National Indigenous Legal Conference. She also helped establish the Museum of Freedom and Tolerance and represented Australia at the United Nations for Children’s Rights.

Dr Deb Sayce, Executive Director, Catholic Education Western Australia presented Krista Dunstan with the Young Leadership Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

First National Real Estate Innovation Award

Briege Whitehead, 27 of Karrinyup is a talented storyteller. She is a producer, director and writer who has worked on multiple international factual series such as “72 Places to Live” and “72 Cutest Animals” produced for National Geographic and Netflix and “The Antarctica Experience,” a ground-breaking VR documentary. She owns White Spark Pictures, a production company specialising in international factual television and Virtual Reality. Briege was nominated for ‘Best Interactive’ at the Australian Atom Awards and WA Screen Awards. Her short drama “Crumbs,” has earned official selection in Cannes Antipodes, St. Kilda Film Festival, St Tropez International Film Festival and Perth International Revelation Film Festival.

Jonathan Clover, Sales Director, First National Real Estate presented Briege Whitehead with the Innovation Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Scott Print Environment and Sustainability Award

Jason Pitman, 27 of Belmont has a passion for environmental education. It started when he was only 15, when he assisted in wildlife conservation projects in the Peel and Mandurah area. Since then, he has worked on a wide diversity of environmental projects and different working groups. He is currently a Strategy Coordinator at Perth National Resource Management, spending much of his time managing the Swan Canning River Recovery program and eradicating hydrocotyle weed from the river system. Jason delivers Swan-Canning River School talks for primary and secondary schools around Perth and has so far educated over 1,200 students and engaging over 2,000 community members.

Tim Scott, General Manager, Scott Print presented Jason Pitman with the Environment and Sustainability Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Royal Flying Doctor Service Regional Service Award

Joella Ashwin, 26 of Wiluna is an inspirational young Martu woman who works for her Wiluna Martu community as an enrolled nurse and acting practice manager at the Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Service. She is the first to attend University, study nursing, and graduate from the University of Notre Dame. At NAHS, she works closely with the maternal and child health nurse to ensure that young Martu children are receiving ongoing and regular health care. As a result, more Martu parents have increased confidence and trust in NAHS. Despite being a young mother, Joella is committed to improving the health outcomes for her own people.

Craig Spencer, General Manager Strategy and Performance, Royal Flying Doctor Service presented Joella Ashwin with the Regional Service Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

Woolworths Youth Group Achievement Award

Willetton Senior High School Interact Club offers a welcoming environment that encourages students to collaborate. The Club is rn by students, but with adult support and guidance from facilitators, school administrators and the Rotary Club of Willeton. With students coming from different cultural backgrounds, the Club aims to develop a generation of knowledgeable, community-focused young leaders who have fun while developing skills in problem solving, teamwork and communication. In 2018, the Club raised almost $7,000 which was distributed to several not-for-profits. Outside school, its members provides essential assistance to the Rotary Club of Willeton’s Rotary Fair and the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landscape.

Anthea Halliday, State Marketing Manager SA, NT and WA, Woolworths presented Willetton Senior High School Interact Club with the Youth Group Achievement Award. Photo taken by FAHM FOTO

2018 Winners

The 2018 Winners of the Western Australian Young Achiever Awards with The Hon Peter Tinley AM MLA, Minister for Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth.

Overall Winner - Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year

Radheya Jegatheva, 18 of Joondanna is a filmmaker, artist, poet and writer. His films have been played in more than 400 film festivals around with world. Radheya, who taught himself animation, won more than 180 awards for his films iRony and Journey between 2016-2018 and has been selected to 5 Academy Award Qualifying festivals. His animation of William Blake’s poem ‘The Tyger’ won international acclaim and is being used as a teaching tool in schools around the world. Radheya volunteers at community and school events.

Hon Peter Tinley AM MLA, Minister for Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth presented Radheya Jegatheva as the 2018 Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year

Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Shelley Cable, 23 of Griffith is a Nyoongar woman. She is undertaking CPA studies and is passionate about Indigenous business and financial inclusion. Shelley presented recommendations on financial literacy to the UN which were accepted and formally endorsed. She co-directed the social media campaign '100 Days of Deadly Mob', promoting 100 Indigenous heroes, reaching over one million readers. Shelley was elected to attend the Uluru Convention on Constitutional Reform, which resulted in forming the Uluru Statement.

Dr Debra Sayce, Acting Executive Director, Catholic Education Western Australia presented Shelley Cable with the Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

First National Real Estate Innovation Award

Ciara Duffy, 23 of Willetton is completing a PhD investigating the ability of honeybee venom to treat triple-negative breast cancer. The Cancer Council of WA is supporting her research to find an alternative to treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. As team leader in the Perth Ride to Conquer Cancer she rode 200km and raised over $6,500 for cancer research. She volunteers for St John Ambulance and has been donating blood for eight years.

Mostafa Mahmoud, Sales Consultant - FN Genesis (Mt Hawthorn) presented Ciara Duffy with the First National Real Estate Innovation Award

Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award

Nikki Wormald, 21 of Silversands founded a Friday Night Girl’s Program for her local Police-Citizens Youth Club. She project manages a basketball program for at-risk youths and raised $14,000 for the program through grants and fundraising. Nikki sourced government funding to train and source referee jobs for program participants. She simultaneously studied social work and worked for a youth drop-in centre. Working for Mission Australia, she started her own recreational program for homeless young people.

MW Bro Dr William Babe, Grand Master, Freemasons WA presented Nikki Wormald with the Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award

School Drug Education and Road Aware Health and Wellbeing Award

Scott Guerini, 11 of Alkimos started ‘Scott’s Great Walk’ at age four to raise money for sick children. Since 2010, he has walked 340.5km and raised over $140,000 for Telethon. Scott illustrated and published his book 'Did You know You can Change the World’. He is a regular guest speaker, talking about his journey, determination and courage. Scott ends his speech with his motto “it’s easy to make a difference, what can you do?”

Anne Miller, Acting Manager, School Drug Education and Road Aware presented Scott Guerini with the School Drug Education and Road Aware Health and Wellbeing Award

Scott Print Environment and Sustainability Award

Tanya McKenna, 28 of Perth had her sustainable home featured on TV for its unique and influential design. She has since executed other renovation and building projects, developing eco-friendly apartments as part of her ‘Nature Inspired Eco House’ campaign. Tanya worked for Ecologia Environment as a graduate and undertook post-graduate studies in Sustainability. She accompanied Premier Colin Barnett as Parliamentary Advisor during the termination of mining rights in the Kimberly region for conservation purposes.

John Scott, Joint General Manager, Scott Print presented Tanya McKenna with the Scott Print Environment and Sustainability Award

Surge Fitness Sports Award

Kara Donnellan, 25 of Willetton is the Captain for the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL Women’s League. She has also completed a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education. She has been four-time captain for the Swan Districts Football Club, and Best and Fairest three times. Kara manages ‘V Swans’, the education and community development department of the Swan Districts Football Club. Through sport programs she has reintegrated 300 previously incarcerated men into the community.

Viresh Naik, Fitness Manager, Surge Fitness presented Kara Donnellan with the Surge Fitness Sports Award

The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award

John Lazarou, Director, The Coffee Club presented Radheya Jegatheva with The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award

The Diamond Club Online Achievement Award

Jaimen Hudson, 27 of Esperance is an Aerial drone photographer & cinematographer. In 2008, he had a motorcycle accident that left him a Quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair. Jaimen has raised the profile of Esperance with his aerial footage being aired to audiences around the globe. He held Tourism Australia’s number #2 top social media post for 2016 and his Instagram, Facebook and Youtube videos and images has amassed over 250 million views.

Rini Stobbe, Digital-Learning Expert, The Diamond Club presented Jaimen Hudson with The Diamond Club Online Achievement Award

WAFarmers and Rural Bank Agriculture Award

Tom Curnow, 20 of Scaddan intends to be a sustainable and innovative farmer who can encourage young people to follow in his footsteps. He has dedicated himself to the farm after his father died two years ago defending their community from a large bushfire. The fire burnt through much of the community, including the family farm. Tom advocates within the media for fire safety as a member of his local fire brigade. His father would be proud.

Trent Kensett-Smith, CEO, WAFarmers and Simon Dundon, Rural Bank presented Tom Curnow with the WAFarmers and Rural Bank Agriculture Award

WFI Insurance Small Business Achiever Award

Jordan Foster, 27 of Innaloo founded ySafe whilst completing her Masters in Psychology. Employing psychologists, educators, and law enforcement personnel, ySafe has delivered cyber safety education to 70,000 students, 10,000 Parents and 1,000 teachers. ySafe saw a 110% increase in profit in 2017 and was an Australian Anthill Cool Company Awards Finalist. ySafe is a regular point of contact for the media on cyber safety stories.

Brian Nicholson, Distribution Manager, SME, WFI Insurance presented Jordan Foster with the WFI Insurance Small Business Achiever Award

2017 Winners

2017 Winners with the Honourable Peter Tinley, AM, MLA, Minister for Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth

Overall Winner - Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year

Pavitra Aran, 26 of SOUTH PERTH is completing her Masters of Clinical Psychology. She has volunteered for Zero2Hero, a youth suicide prevention group delivering 30 school workshops and was a delegate at the West Australian Catalyst Youth Summit. Pavitra founded a social media project; Young Refugees of Western Australia, creating positive media about young migrants and refugees. She is an active speaker and panellist, and the recipient of a Highly Commended Outstanding Contribution to Multiculturalism Award.

WAFarmers and Rural Bank Agriculture Award

Jessica Andony, 23 of HARVEY graduated with an Animal Science degree with honours. She supports the WA dairy industry, through research and volunteers at youth cattle camps and the cattle show circuit. Jess is the Young Dairy Network co-ordinator and was integral to the organising of the WA Young Dairy Farmer of the Year Award. She also co-ordinated and delivered fire response requests to the Yarloop dairy farmers affected by the Waroona/Harvey fires, including her own family’s farm.

Jessica Andony was represesnted by her mother, Lisa Andony

The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award

Alister Yiap, 29 of NOLLAMARA is a jewellery designer. He designs jewellery pieces for Runway, Commercial and Gallery. His unique creations for runway shows are fantastical and theatrical "wearable art". He has exhibited nationally and internationally and has won many awards including second place in the 2016 Australian Pearl Jewellery Design Awards. He is also a Design Lecturer and judge of art and fashion events. Alister is on Arts industry panels and Jewellery groups and volunteers to review student’s portfolios.

School Drug Education and Road Aware Health and Wellbeing Award

WFI Insurance Small Business Achiever Award

Ryan Beckmand, 22 of BALDIVIS is an award-winning technical entrepreneur, transforming learning by using virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and analytics. His startup, Sciosity aims to improve education and high risk training sectors by integrating virtual reality. Sciosity is undergoing early operations in Asia, with a combined sales pipeline expected to exceed six million dollars by December 2017. Ryan is currently working in the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) sector creating counter-narrative campaigns to prevent extremism, which he presented to the United Nations.

Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Jennifer Edwards, 27 of GERALDTON is passionate about improving early childhood and education outcomes. She played a leading role in establishing the Child and Parent Centre in Rangeway and is Chairperson of the Rangeway Primary School Board. Jennifer took a leadership role with the Midwest Early Years Network and was instrumental to the success of the Network. She coordinated the annual “Volleyball Against Violence” event, raising $4,000 to support a local association who provides education and prevention of domestic violence.

Scott Print Environment and Sustainability Award

James McCarthy-Price, 28 of SOUTH PERTH is a Wave Energy Engineer and an environmentalist. He founded “Entrepreneering”, an educational career pathway event for high achieving students. He also successfully campaigned for the University of WA to introduce a renewable energy subject. James volunteers with the Australian Ocean Energy Working Group reviewing its capacity to become a leader and global exporter of ocean energy technologies. His goal is to harness wave energy and produce the world’s first cost-effective wave energy converter.

Surge Fitness Sports Award

Curtis Luck, 20 of WOODLANDS is an Australian amateur golfer. In March 2017 he became the world number one ranked amateur golfer, heading the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He won the US Amateur Men’s Championship and has secured a spot for the upcoming US Masters tournament in April at Augusta. Curtis also volunteers and assists at junior clinics and state events, including the Western Australia Open. He was involved with two charity golf days, raising $200,000 for local charities.

Curtis Luck was represesnted by his father, Stuart Luck

Awards Australia Community Service and Volunteering Award

Dylan Collard, 24 of EAST VICTORIA PARK is a voluntary founding member of the Victoria Park Aboriginal Engagement Strategy Group. The group educates on reconciliation and culture using mediums of art, music, photography, story-telling and performances. The group has performed at NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week. Dylan was a Youth Panel member at the KickArts Festival and provides voluntary speaking presentations on Aboriginal culture. Already a Law Graduate, Dylan will also graduate as a teacher this year.

2016 Winners

2016 Winners with the Honourable Martin Aldridge MLC, Member for Agricultural Region

Overall Winner - Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year

Elizabeth Brennan, 29 of Wongan Hills is a proud advocate for rural Australia, and a role model for young women in agriculture. She is President of the Australian Women in Agriculture and a member of the World Farmer’s Organisation Women’s Committee. Elizabeth was a key member of the organising committee for the 2015 ANZAC Centenary and she volunteers with Meals on Wheels. Elizabeth volunteered with AusAID in Papua New Guinea for two years and received a Women in Australian Agribusiness 100 Outstanding Emerging Leader Award.

The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award

Kathryn Osborne, 28 of Mount Lawley is a director, producer and theatre maker. She co-founded The Duck House, an ensemble of five theatre makers that have presented nine professional and original productions over the past 5 years. As General Manager of The Last Great Hunt, Kathryn has produced nine new works, launched ten international tours and secured state funding worth $600,000. She is now the artistic director for the Riptide Youth Theatre Company and a producer at CircuitWest. Kathryn was awarded Best New Play at the 2015 Performing Arts WA Awards.

Kathryn Osborne (right), with John Lazarou (left), Director, The Coffee Club

Scott Print Environment and Sustainability Award

Christine Parfitt, 29 of Cottesloe has a passion for marine conservation and is undertaking a PhD in Environmental Education. She developed Bottle for Botol, partnering Australian and Indonesian students to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics. Her charity has worked with over 12,000 Australian students and 7,000 Indonesian students to raise awareness of the detrimental impacts of plastic on the marine environment. Since 2013, more than 100,000 plastic cups and bottles have been saved from release into the ocean, with numbers expected to be over one million this year.

Christine Parfitt (left) with Tim Scott (right), Joint General Manager, Scott Print

Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Ashlee Harrison, 28 of Churchlands founded “Zero2Hero” after losing her step-father to suicide. Zero2Hero facilitates educational programs to ensure every young person is educated and empowered to effectively deal with mental health issues. The program now reaches more than 70 schools and over 80,000 students. Ashlee volunteered with Lifeline WA, was a seminar leader and coach with Landmark Education and participated in the Young Social Pioneer Program. She was recognised as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence.

Ashlee Harrison (right) with Dr Tim McDonald, CEO, Catholic Education Western Australia

Goodlife Health Clubs Health and Wellbeing Award

Claire Willis, 26 of West Leederville is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, completing her PhD focussing on the participation outcomes of children with disabilities. She has presented at professional development workshops to increase the understanding of paediatric exercise for allied health professionals and teachers. Claire has had eight abstracts accepted for presentations at leading childhood disability conferences, some of which have been published in high ranking journals. She attended the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability and was awarded the MindLink Brightwater Interdisciplinary Focused Research Award.

Claire Willis (left) with Kyle Edmonds, Fitness Director, Goodlife Health Clubs

Awards Australia Community Service and Volunteering Award

Elizabeth Brennan (left) with Geoff Griffin (right), Director, Awards Australia

AustralianSuper Career Kick Start Award

Connie Yarran, 21 of Kellerberrin is the manager and lead choreographer for all Aboriginal, youth hip-hop dance crews, Static Crew and Lil Sparks. Connie has choreographed over 25 routines, and become a mentor and role model for her dancers. They have performed for Celebrate WA, the 2014 Youth Awards and several NAIDOC Opening Ceremonies. Impressed by Connie’s initiative and leadership potential, Community Arts Network have offered her a position as a regional Youth Arts Officer and assisted her to obtain a Certificate 4 in Dance Instruction.

Connie Yarran (right) with Margie Hill, General Manager People and Culture, AustralianSuper