Maddison Peisley gets recognised after enrolling in Business Admin
Social worker Maddison Peisley knows well what young indigenous women can achieve in the face of adversity. Now she’s setting the bar for others.
NSW
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Social worker Maddison Peisley knows well what young indigenous women can achieve in the face of adversity.
Growing up in a low socio-economic household, experiencing racism at school and constant setbacks in her studies, including having a “really premature” baby, she is fulfilling her dreams thanks to TAFE NSW.
Miss Peisley, 20, from Lake Illawarra, has been nominated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year after enrolling in Business Administration.
“Basically I knew what it was like growing up as a disadvantaged youth and I wanted to help change stereotypes of my people and help them achieve what are capable of achieving,” Miss Peisley said.
“I knew how to do the physical side of my job but the theory components I wasn’t very good at and doing a course in business admin showed me the skills I need to be the best I could be at my job.”
For Miss Peisley, completing the TAFE Vet Course has been anything but smooth sailing but the young woman has jumped over every hurdle she’s faced.
“I didn’t know I was pregnant when I enrolled in TAFE and then I actually ended up having my baby really premature and was sent to emergency at a Sydney hospital,” Miss Peisley said.
“This was right in the middle of Covid so I was on my own, not knowing what was happening and still trying to finish my study component of the traineeship.”
“When I started to recover I was ready to get back into my training but all of my work for the course on my USB and backup USB had been lost in the meantime.”
“I had to restart all of my studies which was very frustrating but that was a time when I had two options. I could have just given up then and there or restart everything and get to where I want to be.”
Miss Peisley said she used to avoid telling people she was indigenous because of the stereotypes associated with it and hopes to “help young people from experiencing this.”
“I want young indigenous women to know they can succeed, even when things don’t go as planned.”
Miss Peisley’s trainer Jodie Moyes said she is a fantastic example of how training can provide people with the skills to take charge of their lives.
“Despite hurdles including a premature baby and having to become primary breadwinner due to Covid, Maddison successfully completed her studies with a smile,” Mrs Moyes said.
“I’ve had many students in my classroom over the past 20 years, Maddison is one of the few who’ve made a distinct impression.”
Maddison peisley has been nominated for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award.
To vote for the People’s Choice winner in the NSW Training Awards go to https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/peoples-choice
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