Maddison Lea McCormick named top Aboriginal NTCET student for 2023

The top Aboriginal NTCET student of 2023 was surprised – but ecstatic – after her ATAR win. Here’s how she did it.

Maddison Lea McCormick has been named the NT’s highest-achieving Aboriginal NTCET student for 2023.

Ms McCormick said her family was ecstatic when they heard the good news.

“You go into Year 12 and you’re like, ‘okay, I’m Indigenous, but it’s sort of not that big,” she said.

“Then you come out at the end, getting a phone call – ‘Hey, you’re the top Aboriginal student’ – I didn’t think that would happen.”

Maddison Lea McCormick was the top Aboriginal NTCET student of 2023. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Palmerston College graduate achieved an ATAR of 83.25 after taking literary studies, general mathematics, psychology, and legal studies in her final year of school.

But her studies were not limited to the typical classroom.

“I had a VET course which was the Northern Territory Police, Fire, and Emergency Services cadets that I did two certificates through, which really helped,” Ms McCormick said.

“It was stressful – everyone says it’s stressful, you don’t think it’s stressful, and then you get into Year 12 and it’s a lot.”

Ms McCormick said time management was key to nailing her Year 12 coursework.

“Keep on top of that, and everything else comes easy once you’ve got everything sorted,” she said.

“Apply yourself – if you want it, you’ll get it.”

Originally published as Maddison Lea McCormick named top Aboriginal NTCET student for 2023