Benalla's Nicole Barrow is officially the state's best trainee for 2020.
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Nicole, who started as a trainee veterinary nurse at Rose City Vets three years ago, has had a busy year.
After graduating from Box Hill Institute of TAFE she went on to be named its student of the year for 2020.
That honour led to her entering the Victorian Trainee of the Year awards and last week Nicole got the call to say she had won.
"I opened an email which said I was the winner for the Victorian Trainee of the Year," Nicole said.
"I was actually shaking. I couldn't believe it and was very shocked.
"My initial goal was to become a veterinary nurse, and I graduated at the start of the year.
"Then to be named student of the year for Box Hill was an honour.
"But to be named Victorian Trainee of the Year is way beyond what I thought I would ever achieve.
"I was shocked and very honoured and grateful; it feels like all my hard work has paid off."
Nicole's journey to this award began when she finished her schooling at FCJ College.
Her boss, and owner of Rose City Vets, Peter Bartram said he was looking for a nurse at the time and put the idea to her parents.
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"She was just starting her school holidays and hadn’t really decided what her future was going to be," Peter said.
"We took her on and found that we’d hired someone who was a bit better than just average.
"She’s been a fantastic employee. She’s conscientious, methodical, caring, always keen to learn new things and take on new responsibilities.
"She’s the young employee that everybody wishes they could have."
Peter said he was very proud of what Nicole had achieved.
"This is a training award held across all training disciplines throughout Victoria to recognise performance and excellence," he said.
"Whether they're cabinet makers or builders or fitters and turners or vet nurses it’s something that you can aspire to as a student.
"I’m very impressed that Nicole has been able to perform so credibly in what is a very wide open, but very intense competition."
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After being entered as a finalist in the Victorian Trainee of the Year Awards, Nicole decided to go over and above in her application.
"I had to put in a written application," she said.
"Then I added a video of a day in the life of a vet nurse. Which is not something we had to do, it was just something extra.
"I made a video of me dealing with patients, placing intravenous catheters, anaesthetising patients and intubating them.
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"I was also clipping and restraining animals, helping with surgery by monitoring anaesthetic and recovering patients. Lots of exciting stuff.
"From there I was short-listed into a top three.
"That was followed by an interview, a virtual interview, with a panel of five judges.
"And the next thing I knew I'd been announced the winner."
The award not only comes with a cash prize and a trophy it also gave her the opportunity to enter the Australian Trainee of the Year for 2020.
On her chances of winning that Nicole is pragmatic, but quietly confident.
"I don’t know, Australia is pretty big, but I’ll give it my best shot and see what happens," she said.
While her achievements this year are significant they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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After missing out on a traditional graduation ceremony, and having her student of the year accolade awarded virtually, she will also have to settle on a Facebook ceremony for this award.
"Usually they have it at Crown Casino which would have been really amazing, but it’s okay," she said.
"I can always go to Crown on a different day."
On her chances of taking out the national award, Peter said he would not be shocked to see that happen.
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"I suspect she will acquit herself very well but by the time you get to that level every candidate that has been considered will have been through a very intense selection process," he said.
"Just to get this far is an extreme honour, anything else would be icing on the cake.
"But there’s nothing to give me any reservations, I’m sure Nicole will be equal to the task of winning the whole lot given the opportunity."
Nicole chose to study remotely at Box Hill TAFE after a recommendation from Peter.
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"There is a really good veterinary nurse course at GOTAFE Wangaratta as well," Nicole said.
"But Peter recommended Box Hill so I decided to do it there online.
"To actually complete the course you need to be doing a minimum of 15 hours per week in a clinic anyway. So you’re here working and studying at the same time."
Peter said he has had an excellent experience whenever dealing with Box Hill TAFE.
"It’s more about the quality of the feedback that you get from the training institution, and the interaction the students have with the training staff," he said.
"They’ve been on call and they’ve been good at keeping us in the loop.
"Nicole’s found them very responsive to any questions she has or any problems she’s had, and they’ve been fantastic."
When the Ensign spoke to Nicole last week she was eagerly awaiting her trophy being delivered — which it may well have been by now.
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So the only thing left is to celebrate.
"I will probably go out to tea with family and friends and all with my work colleagues as well," she said.
"We’ll find a nice restaurant for that. We can actually go to restaurants now so that’s good.
"I’m really very grateful to all my teachers, to my employer and all the people I work with, and my family and friends and my fiancé.
"I feel like I couldn’t have done it without them."
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