Hedland student named 2025 WA apprentice of the year

Hedland Senior High School student Cadie Doyle was named the WA School-based Apprentice of the Year at the 2025 WA Training Awards.

Cadie has been working toward a certificate II in engineering while completing Year 11 and 12.

She has spent one day a week at BHP, and four at school and will begin a boiler making apprenticeship next year.

Moving to the Pilbara at 12, she told ABC Pilbara that she never expected to end up in mining and loved the hands-on approach to learning.

"I believe a school-based traineeship, or even hands-on work in school, can be eye-opening for most students. It gives you so much more opportunities and experience,” she said.

“It has helped me build confidence and optimism within the workforce and out of the workforce as well. It has helped me so much.

“It’s extremely hands on and I love it.”

Cadie will join fellow WA Training Awards winners at the Australian Training Awards, in Darwin, in December.

The WA Training Awards was held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on 5 September. The presentation ceremony showcased the success of 43 finalists, comprising 32 people and 11 organisations throughout WA.

Public education employees, students and facility finalists:

• Finalist WA Trainer of the Year – Rebecca Davis, John Curtin College of the Arts
• Finalist WA Small Training Provider of the Year – The Western Australian College of Agriculture Denmark

Finalist WA Vocational Student of the Year:

• Holly Hunter, Rossmoyne Senior High School and is studying Certificate II in Electrotechnology
• Harrison Wilcox, WA College of Agriculture Narrogin and is studying a cert II in Furniture Making Pathways.

Finalists for WA School-based Apprentice of the Year:

• Sienna Bennett, Hedland Senior High School and is studying a Certificate II in Sport and Recreation
• Leonard Golding, Rossmoyne Senior High School and is studying a Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation
• Lucas Grieve, Wesley College and is studying a Certificate II in Government and completing a traineeship at the Department of Education.