Council safety employee recognised as Student of the Year

On Saturday 1 July at the Mackay Convention Center, amongst hundreds of high calibre nominations, sat Sharon Atkinson and her team of supporters, eagerly awaiting the announcement of Equity Student of the Year. 

Sharon, who completed her Certificate III in Work Health and Safety with council in February 2023, couldn’t believe it when her name was announced.  

‘I was so surprised’ she said.   

‘The other finalists in our region were very worthy, so to win this award is a validation of the hard work and challenges I have had to overcome,’ she continued.  

After a 20-year career as a chef, Sharon pursued her passion for work health and safety through a traineeship and is now a safety mentor with council.  

Sharon, who is no stranger to adversity has had time to reflect on her journey and says that ‘sometimes you can be so focused on moving forward, it’s hard to look back and see how far you have come’.  

As a deaf person, Sharon was able to access assistive technology to manage communication difficulties during her studies.  

She describes being deaf as extremely isolating and one of her biggest challenges.  

‘Overcoming shyness, and not being able to easily participate in groups means I spend a lot of time out of my comfort zone,’ she said. 

Sharon is a testament to this attitude of resilience, independence and determination, and council is proud to have her on board as a valued member of our team.  

If you have any enquiries, please contact council on 1300 242 686.