Indigenous Community Worker Leah Garling was honoured as Equity Trainee of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards over the weekend.

Ms Garling was one of two Award-winners from Centacare FNQ.

Representatives from Centacare FNQ were on hand to accept the awards, including manager Andrea Obeyesekere of the workplace trainee program, Upcyclinc, for Training Initiative of the Year and Ms Garling.

The wins will see Centacare FNQ now go on to contest both training categories at the National Awards event held in Canberra in December 2024.

Ms Garling was overjoyed to receive the endorsement from the training industry, especially the nomination of her employer, Centacare FNQ, for facilitating a Certificate 1 in Workplace Skills (through Skilling Queenslanders for Work).

She said the training opportunity provided a pathway to a better future and has led to her current employment as a Community Worker at Centacare FNQ's Manoora Neighbourhood Centre.

Ms Garling is a First Nations woman who took full-time care of her grandchildren after losing her only child in 2022. Since then, she has embarked on a transformative journey of growth. She also completed her training as part of Centacare FNQ's Park Hub Traineeship, designed explicitly for the Cairns Villas / Cairns West community.

Centacare FNQ's director of Shared Services, Chris Warner said Ms Garling has continued to successfully balance her professional development and caregiving responsibilities.

"This award is a testament to the value of targeted training programs and, importantly, Leah's unwavering commitment to community service, balancing her professional development with caregiving responsibilities. We could not be prouder," he said.

Centacare FNQ Community Worker, Leah Garling. (Image: supplied)

Centacare also succeeded in another field with the organisation's Upcylinc initiative being honoured as the winner of the Queensland Training Awards' Training Initiative of the Year.

Upcyclinc is an innovative program that in 2023, supported 30 trainees through various Workplace Traineeships, enabling them to complete their Certificate I in Construction and Business Workplace Skills.

Mr Warner further said Upcyclinc is a hands-on, results-based program that equips participants with valuable skills and career pathways, that will benefit them both now and into the future.

"Congratulations to our team, which has worked hard and deserves this recognition. Upcyclinc exemplifies excellence in community-focused training because it does not take a one-size-fits-all approach but is tailored to translate into jobs and careers," he said.

Centacare FNQ specialises in family and children services, mental health, care coordination, and multicultural services. Centacare Multicultural Services (CMS) leads the Upcyclinc initiative, providing transformative spaces for migrants, refugees, and First Nations job seekers to access integrated training and employment pathways.

Over the past five years, the Upcyclinc initiative has helped over 400 migrants and refugees from 27 nationalities find meaningful employment. Centacare FNQ is the peak service for the multicultural sector in Far North Queensland.