STAWELL’S Chelsea Chatfield was awarded the most outstanding Koorie student in the state under the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) program.
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The former Stawell Secondary student went from organising barbecues and school fundraisers to helping the Cathy Freeman Foundation eventually become the Stawell Gift’s main charity partner.
“It’s pretty special,” Ms Chatfield said.
“I didn’t think what I did would be that big, but it has turned out to be massive.”
The Cathy Freeman Foundation helps Indigenous children and their families recognise the power of education.
It aims to inspire them to reach their full potential at school and beyond.
Ms Chatfield helped form a partnership between the foundation and Stawell Athletic Club.
“I arranged volunteers, tops, hats, posters and made it work throughout the weekend where we had donations, raffles and I sold my sisters art in postcards,” she said.
Ms Chatfield also organised NAIDOC week celebrations at her school last year.
She planned a school mural which shows a representation of every student through a hand print and also organised a traditional land owner to host a smoking ceremony.
“Indigenous education is something that affects me and a lot of people around me,” Ms Chatfield said.
“This is something close to me and I want to support it.”
Ms Chatfield is studying a diploma of beauty therapy at university.
She also has plans to pursue event management.
Stawell Secondary assistant principal Aaron Dalziel said it was a “no-brainer” to nominate Ms Chatfield for the award.
“She has done an amazing job and did an awesome task for her VCAL project,” he said.
“It is really big for us as a school, our VCAL program and of course, for Chelsea.
“A lot of work was done by VCAL coordinator, Chad Frost, and it shows the divide between regional and metro programs is not far at all.”
Ms Chatfield achieved the dux in her VCAL cohort last year.
Mr Dalziel said this award affirmed that achievement and showcased her growing potential.
“Chelsea was a great role model and shows if you work hard you can achieve great things,” he said.
VCAL is a hands-on option for students in Years 11 and 12.
It gives students practical work-related experience, as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work.
