From participant to champion: Far North Queensland youth worker takes out nation’s top traineeship honour
Vocational Partnerships Group (VPG) Youth Worker Kayla Gagai has been named the 2025 Australian Trainee of the Year, completing a sweep of Far North Queensland, state, and national titles. Announced at the Australian Training Awards in Darwin, the award recognises Kayla’s excellence in vocational training and on-the-job performance during her Youth Work traineeship at VPG.
Kayla’s journey began years earlier as a VPG participant herself, seeking support to navigate the job market after finishing school. She returned in 2022 as a Business Administration Trainee, where she discovered her passion for youth work and transitioned to a Youth Support Traineeship while completing her Certificate IV in Youth Work through TAFE Queensland.
Kayla draws on her own experience as a participant to inspire and support the young people she works with.
“I was in their shoes once, and so to be on the other side of the table as a youth worker helping young people succeed, that’s what drives me,” Kayla said. “Being a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman, representation in the workplace matters. And I wanted to be that familiar face for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth who came into VPG.”
At just 25, Kayla facilitates VPG programs including Respect Me, a respectful relationships education program in schools, and Ready for Work, which helps young people prepare for the workforce. She is also an integral member of VPG’s First Nations Leadership Team, helping guide culturally safe practice and strengthen engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Young people are the future of our workforce, and we need places like VPG, and people like me who put young people first,” she said. “I go above and beyond for every young person I work with. Not because I have to, but because I care.”
Through VPG’s training and support, Kayla has experienced significant personal development during her traineeship. As someone who describes herself as “a quiet person of nature,” public speaking and group facilitation initially terrified her. However, she credits her on-the-job training with opening doors to growth.
“I read a quote once that said, ‘you need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, otherwise how do you grow.’ That shifted my mindset a lot,” Kayla explained. “VPG believed in me and gave me the space to grow. It started with shadowing a senior team member, then delivering parts of a session with them, to now delivering an entire program from start to finish on my own.”
VPG supported Kayla throughout her Certificate IV with TAFE, providing a dedicated workday each week to focus on her studies and offering ongoing guidance when needed. This commitment was crucial to her success in balancing work and training.
VPG CEO Maryanne Tranter said Kayla’s national recognition reflects her exceptional dedication and the impact she has on young people’s lives.
“We are incredibly proud of Kayla and everything she has achieved,” Ms Tranter said. “From day one, she brought warmth, authenticity, and a deep commitment to supporting young people. Watching her grow over the years has been inspiring.”
“Kayla’s success is also a reminder of why traineeships matter. They allow us to grow our own workforce while creating real opportunities for young people to build careers through on-the-job experience and formal training.”
“When you invest in young people with the right training and support, this is what’s possible. Kayla is proof of that.”
Reflecting on her national win, Kayla said the recognition was a beautiful reminder of her journey rather than the destination itself.
“I never expect recognition for anything I do because when you’re doing what you love every day, you don’t need to be reminded,” she said. “But this recognition was a really beautiful reminder of the journey – and I couldn’t have done it without VPG backing me every step of the way. For me, it’s not about the destination, but the journey you take to get there, and who walks alongside you. That’s what makes it meaningful.
In a moment she describes as “surreal,” Kayla celebrated her win alongside VPG colleague and friend Ryhanna Mundraby, former VPG trainee Cedella McGrady, and her sister.
“It’s an amazing achievement; I’m still pinching myself that I won it,” Kayla said.
As the 2025 Australian Trainee of the Year, Kayla will now champion vocational education pathways while continuing her work at VPG with young people across Far North Queensland.
