A Richmond Valley Council trainee who says her TAFE NSW traineeship helped shape her ambition for a career in politics has taken out one of the top honours at the 2026 TAFE NSW Student of the Year Awards.
Ruby Beckenham (pictured) was awarded Schools Based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year, beating nominees from across the state.
The former Casino High School student completed a Certificate III in Business while finishing her HSC through a school-based traineeship with Richmond Valley Council, gaining hands-on experience with the Council.
She says her win was both unexpected and deeply rewarding.
“When they announced that I was the winner, I was so proud to represent my school, Richmond ValleyCouncil and TAFE NSW.”
TAFE NSW says Ruby’s pathway reflects the value of pathways such as traineeships, with employers placing increasing value on practical, job-ready skills.
The latest Hays Skills Report shows communication, teamwork and problem-solving are now among the most in-demand skills for employers.
At the same time, the nature of work is changing rapidly. More than 90% of new jobs are expected to require post-school qualifications, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
Richmond Valley Council General Manager, Vaughan Macdonald, acknowledged Ruby’s efforts.
“Through her school-based traineeship as part of the Richmond Valley Council Youth Employment Strategy (YES) intake, Ruby experienced a wide range of Council roles and responsibilities, including library, administration, and People and Culture.”
“We are proud to see her hard work at Council recognised through her award win and wish her further success in what we know will be a bright future,” he said.
Ruby said her traineeship helped her build independence and workplace confidence.
“I missed out on some things socially and had to work hard to keep up with school, but this shows the extra effort was worth it.”
Her traineeship introduced her to local government and business, ultimately shaping her decision to study a Bachelor of Business and Political Science at the Australian National University.
“One of the biggest things I gained was being an independent learner, including managing my time, communicating professionally and keeping on top of things. This has made the move to uni a lot easier,” she said.
A strong advocate for education pathways, Ruby urged young people to stay engaged with school while exploring practical options like traineeships.
“There’s more than one path. Doing a traineeship lets you get real experience to see if it’s the right fit for you,” she said.
