Training star aiming high
17 September 2009
By Rebecca Perry
Internationalist ... Queensland School-Based Apprentice of the Year Priyanka Luecke from Brisbane's Balmoral State High School.
Balmoral State High School captain Priyanka Luecke knows the world is her oyster - after all, she is living in Brisbane with a family friend while her parents pursue business interests overseas.
Her international upbringing and a passion for human rights are fuelling the 17-year-old's dream of working for the United Nations in finance and business and a school-based traineeship has helped pinpoint her goals.
'I undertook a Certificate III in Business with a local accountant and it deepened my understanding of the industry,' Priyanka said.
'There is much more theory involved than I thought and it has made me more aware of what I want to do.'
The Brisbane student's dedication and organisation skills recently saw her named the School-Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year in the 48th annual 2009 Queensland Training Awards.
The awards, run by the Department of Education and Training, are the State Government's longest-running industry honours.
Priyanka was one of 11 winners, including students, workers, businesses and training providers, chosen for outstanding vocational training achievements from 48 finalists and more than 640 statewide nominations.
'It was very exciting and a great honour,' Priyanka said.
Time management, working with clients and industry knowledge about issues such as superannuation and the stock market were among the extra skills Priyanka picked up during her traineeship.
She even helped family and friends complete their tax returns and won Martin College's 2008 Academic Excellence Award for her efforts.
Priyanka and the other winners will attend the Australian Training Awards in Canberra on November 19, before she takes the next step towards her dream job.
'I am hoping to study economics law at the University of Queensland,' she said.
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