Rebecca Hambrook Takes Out 2025 Western Nsw Regional Training Award

Cowra’s Rebecca Hambrook took out Vocational Student of the Year at the 2025 Western NSW Regional Training Award in Orange last Wednesday.

Studying a Certificate IV in Community Services, she was one of two people nominated for the award, with 18 exceptional students nominated for all seven award categories.

The award caps off an inspiring life turnaround for Rebecca, who works at the Weigelli Aboriginal Corporation - a local support and rehabilitation service.

Overcoming addiction, incarceration and childhood trauma, Rebecca has used her lived experience to work as a support worker and advocate for First Nations and rural people at the Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation.

While in jail, Rebecca was inspired by her inmates to turn her life around and take on a Certificate IV in Community Services which now sees her supporting clients with medication, making education more accessible by transporting them to TAFE and using gentle art therapy.

She says her studies and life experience have made for a powerful combination to transform people’s lives.

To other people who have experienced what she has, Rebecca says that they should not be afraid to seek help to reach their goals, especially as their survival skills can translate into positives for their future. Her favourite part of her job is seeing a ‘bit of light return to their eyes’.Looking to the future, Rebecca is hoping to earn a Bachelor in Social Work to further her vocation as she currently continues her education with a Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs.

She will now go on to represent Cowra and the wider Western NSW region at the 2025 NSW Training Awards in September.

Presented by Department of Education’s Training Services, the NSW Training Awards recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector, with this year marking the 70th anniversary for the awards.

• Topics:
• Education
• Awards
• People