Stephanie is no stranger to winning awards
3 May 2002
Stephanie Matejka.
The winner of Kangan Batman TAFE's Award for Outstanding Student in VET in Schools, Stephanie Matejka, believes in taking her future in her own hands. From a young age Stephanie, of Sunshine, knew that she wanted to become a nurse. To pursue her goal she started taking part in community service projects.
In Year 9 she took part in a Student Community Involvement Program (SCIP) run by the Red Cross that wetted her appetite to follow her dream of nursing. The program involved voluntary community work one day a week. Her stint at the Footscray Hospital convinced her she was on the right track.
She also undertook the Victorian Youth Development Program in Year 9 and 10 which included a class project where the requirements included spending a certain amount of hours in community work. For this Stephanie and her class won the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award presented by the Victorian Government to encourage youth involvement in the community.
At just 18 years of age Stephanie is an excellent communicator with highly developed interpersonal skills. Her ability to show empathy towards those in need with good listening skills and general consideration of others will make her an excellent ambassador for the profession.
According to Stephanie, the Certificate III in Community Services (Community Work) that she undertook in Year 11 and Year 12 through Kangan Batman TAFE helped boost her confidence to pursue nursing at university. She has recently started her first year of a bachelor degree in nursing at the Australian Catholic University and looks forward to the years ahead. She is not daunted by all the hard work that comes with a university degree as she can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The Certificate III in Community Services (Community Work) that I did at Kangan Batman TAFE was a progression for me from the community related programs I undertook in Year 9 and Year 10. For me community work and nursing have been a passion and Kangan Batman TAFE helped me further my ambition.”
“The course also helped me find the right practical placements. From these I have gained a firm understanding of the community services industry. My placements in a childcare centre and a local hospital helped affirm my belief that after completing a nursing degree I want to either branch out into midwifery or paediatric nursing.”
StephanieÂ's desire to help others has also been acknowledged by the Sunshine Rotary Club. The club has awarded Stephanie with a $1000 scholarship to be put towards her tertiary education. The award was in recognition of her contribution to the community. Stephanie was recommended for the award by her school, Braybrook Secondary College.
The ambition and drive that Stephanie exhibits at such a young age will no doubt pave a smooth path for her in whatever she decides to do in the future.
Kangan Batman TAFE has 24,000 students across its six campuses in Broadmeadows, Moreland, Richmond, Coburg, Avondale Heights and Essendon.
Each year in May, Kangan Batman TAFE conducts two graduation ceremonies at the Moonee Valley Racecourse to accommodate all of its graduates and award-winning students.
The first ceremony, at which Stephanie received her award, was held on Friday 3 May. The Hume City Council was major sponsor of the ceremony, while Broadmeadows Town Centre was supporting sponsor.
