Gifted and Talented alumni are making their mark

From ballet studios to engineering labs and even the glamourous Academy Awards stage, Western Australia’s Gifted and Talented alumni are achieving their career goals after beginning their journey in a public school classroom.

Applications are now open for the 2027 Gifted and Talented program. For anyone looking for inspiration to nominate, several former students have reflected on how the program shaped their pathways and contributed to their success. 

Ballet dancer Declan Gaines 

John Curtin College of the Arts graduate Declan Gaines went on to further study at the Australian Ballet School and now dances with the Queensland Ballet. 

Declan says the Gifted and Talented program played a major role in shaping his pathway. 

“The Gifted and Talented program was critical in my training to become a professional ballet dancer,” he said. 

“I gained knowledge and experience on what a typical ballet training day would look like and I got to work with great coaches and teachers along the way.” 

Artist Shaun Tan 

Animator, sculptor and Academy Award winner Shaun Tan began his artistic journey at Balcatta Senior High School, where he was a Gifted and Talented art student. He travelled 30km each day to pursue the opportunity. 

“At first, I felt quite alone, but I was surrounded by a bunch of artistic kids…we quickly formed a peer group that lasted the five years of high school,” he said.  

“We would share the things we were learning in a really nice and cooperative way.  

“The most interesting part of the program for me was going back into school very Saturday morning and being taught by art tutors who were actually practicing artists.” 

Engineer Caitlin Revell 

Mechanical engineer Caitlin Revell is thriving in her career at Woodside. A Beazley Medal winner with a 99.95 ATAR, she studied at the University of Western Australia, where she was also valedictorian. 

“I’ve already had the opportunity of a placement in Paris working on the energy transition and in the future,” she said. 

“I’d like to do more work in the new energy products area. 

To read more alumni stories and find information on how your child can be part of the program, visit the Department’s Gifted and Talented webpage.