More RED Carpet Youth Award nominees

It's not long to go until the 2019 RED Carept Youth Award winners are announced.

Here's our nominees in the Young Carer and Young Worker categories.

Young Carer Award:

Teagan Carmosin, 17

Teagan is always putting others first, in particular her family, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is passionate about helping others improve themselves and enjoys working out ways others can help themselves in challenging times.

The teenager is both a student and a young carer.

Teagan lives in Wodonga with her family, including one older sister and two younger brothers.

She is a carer for her father and brother, which she does because she loves to support people.

Not many of her friends know what Teagan does to support her family, but the ones who do know are supportive and understand if she can’t make it to events or hang out with them.

Teagan is completing year 12 at Wodonga Senior Secondary College and has found it challenging to stay on top of her schoolwork but has had some supportive school staff who have helped her on the journey.

Rachel Campbell, 21

Rachel has a soft spot for people who have difficulties with everyday life.

She grew up with two brothers who have vision impairments and her parents took on five young foster boys who became brothers to her.

Rachel now works at Connextions, a support service for people with a range of disabilities and thoroughly enjoys the work.

Her role involves being a friend, making new opportunities accessible and assisting with their physical needs.

On Friday nights, Rachel volunteers at Wodonga Baptist Church where she gets to spend time building relationships with young people.

Rachel truly believes that caring for people holds its own reward.

Abigail Malpass, 17

Abby knows a thing or two about making personal sacrifices.

The year 12 student is a member of a nine-person family after her parents took in foster siblings four years ago.

Abby is the loving big sister to four young and vulnerable foster siblings, as well as two biological siblings.

The Malpass family became foster carers with Challenge Children’s Services, initially as respite carers in 2015.

They began with a short-term placement of the four children, however, were approached by the agency to consider taking on the children permanently.

Going from a family of five to nine has not come without its challenges, but the family have adapted amazingly.

Abby loves all of her ‘siblings’ the same and shows incredible care towards them all.

She has shown strength and maturity in caring for these young siblings, despite how challenging it can be, both in the tangible sacrifices and in the ways that many don't see.

On top of this, Abby continues to volunteer at her local netball club as an umpire and at her local church.

Abby’s caring nature is amazing as she makes personal sacrifices for others and often puts their needs before her own.

She has managed to balance her schoolwork, volunteer work and other commitments, as well as her family.

Jack Redcliffe, 16

Jack is always helping others.

His selfless approach sees him give back to the community in many ways including volunteering with community organisations such as Carevan.

The year 11 Wodonga Senior Secondary College student has two brothers who have personal challenges that have a big impact on the family and how they function.

Jack is always able to see the bright side of things and is an advocate for marginalised people.

His passion for helping others is evident when he helps cook each week for Carevan and makes sandwiches for local primary school students who may go without.

Most recently, Jack helped host a movie night to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention for the Winter Solstice for Friends and Survivors of Suicide.

Jack is also a supporter of the Wodonga Jets, an all-abilities football team that he helps by running water to players, working in the canteen and scoring each week at home and away games.

He also assists the players with emotional support, encouraging and motivating them at training and during games.

Mentoring is a role that Jack enjoys on a weekly basis.

Every Tuesday night he takes a young man aged in his early 20s to the gym for boxing classes to build the young man’s social capacity and help his fitness.

Young Worker Award:

Alannah McKeown, 23

Living with Down syndrome has not stopped Alannah from making the most of the opportunities that have come her way.

From work experience at a swim school, an op shop, a clothing store, a supermarket, and Target (where she received a customer service award) to a chemist, Alannah developed skills and confidence that ultimately led to her being offered a paid contract.

Alannah worked a weekly shift at a local chemist as work experience that eventually became a paid position.

She brought a support person with her from 2017 through 2018 and into 2019.

In April this year, Alannah began working without a paid support person.

With each subsequent shift her confidence has grown and the staff and customers’ acceptance, understanding and confidence in Alannah has grown, too.

Alannah is proud to have a staff uniform and be accepted as part of the team.

She is looking forward to completing the pharmacy assistant online training and to be given more opportunities at work.

This year Alannah has also completed a Certificate II in Kitchen Operations and hopes to find work in this field as well.

Along with her work, Alannah has been a founding member of the Ovens and Murray Special Olympics swim squad, representing Australia at the World Games in 2015.

She was also awarded 2017 Wodonga Young Citizen of the Year; carried the Commonwealth Games Queen’s baton in 2018; spoke at the International Day for People with a Disability in QEII Square and has just returned from a trip to the Philippines as one of a team of eight who taught school children water safety and swimming skills.

Future goals include gaining her Austswim Certificate so she can teach swimming in Australia.

Ben Warhurst, 18

Ben has dreams to one day open his own restaurant.

He is currently a second year apprenticeship at Wodonga’s fine dining restaurant Miss Amelie.

Catering for an event through school last year sparked his desire to be a chef.

Alongside working full-time this year, Ben created a new regional food and wine event called The Border Food Forum.

The event was an amazing success and one Ben looks to recreate next year.

While working in the industry, Ben has made an effort to speak at local schools, join a hockey club committee and meet with other local business owners.

He looks forward to running his own restaurant one day and teaching others about the hospitality industry.

Jordan Gavin, 18

Those who know Jordan all have a good word to say about the enthusiastic and hard worker.

He has been involved in scouts for the past 11 years, helping with the younger age groups and planning many activities over the years.

Jordan is also a team member with the Beechworth CFA, jumping at every opportunity to obtain qualifications since joining more than two years ago.

A highlight for Jordan is walking behind the CFA truck to collect donations for the Good Friday Appeal.

Through school, Jordan has participated in raising money through selling soup with St Matthew’s Church to help the homeless and has been involved in a program with Mercy Connect to spend time with the disabled.

Jordan carried out work experience at Macfab Engineering before acquiring an apprenticeship last year at RC Metalcraft.

He often gets up at 4am to go to work and comes home at 5pm.

Jordan expresses his commitment in doing this because even if he has TAFE, he goes into work early to do a few hours before going to TAFE for the day.

Jasmin Carew, 18

Jasmin is proof that hard work and determination pays off.

A year and a half ago, while at school, Jasmin was undertaking a certificate IV in Information and Technology.

She was motivated to gain experience within the community and was connected with Wodonga Library’s information technology general help desk.

From there she became a volunteer with the program, gaining invaluable experience in both information technology and customer service.

The experience was invaluable and opened up even more opportunities.

Shortly after starting as a volunteer, Jasmin was given the chance to sit in on a monthly information technology class aimed at teaching seniors on how to use their devices, which was hosted by a local computer repair company.

After gaining a considerable amount of experience, Jasmin was then given another incredible opportunity with Baranduda Community Centre where Jasmin was offered a paid placement as an IT tutor for a seniors program.

Jasmin was offered casual work with the Wodonga Library, much to her overwhelming appreciation and excitement.

She looks forward to continuing work with the library and gaining even more experience and connections.