PUTTING THE BURDEKIN ‘IN THE MIX’ - CERVONI NAMED NORTH QUEENSLAND TRAINING AWARDS FINALIST

Former Burdekin Youth Mayor Nicole Cervoni has added another accolade to an already fruitful year, being named one of three Trainee of the Year finalists in this year’s Queensland Training Awards. Photo supplied.

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Former Burdekin Youth Mayor Nicole Cervoni has added another accolade to an already fruitful year, being named one of three Trainee of the Year finalists in this year’s Queensland Training Awards.

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The recognition caps an outstanding 12-month period as a Burdekin Library trainee, during which she became an important part of the team on her way to being named as Burdekin’s Young Citizen of the Year in the 2025 Australia Day Awards.

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She will now attend the North Queensland Regional Final in Townsville later this month, which will bring together high-achieving individuals within Queensland’s vocational education and training (VET) sector.

The youngest finalist in her division, Ms Cervoni admitted any further success would be a bonus for an already “exciting” achievement.

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“I got the phone call, and I was very excited—but very surprised,” she laughed.

“The other finalists in my category are amazing, and they’ve done so much to deserve it … I’m just really excited to put the Burdekin in that mix as a little girl from Millaroo.”

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The former Burdekin Catholic High School student joined the Burdekin Library team in 2025, and was the public face of a number of projects from her position at the library issue desk.

Early that year, Burdekin Library became the first library in Queensland to deliver the State Library of Queensland’s Digital Mentors program. The program paired young volunteers with older residents to help build confidence with everyday technology, from smartphones to online services.

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Ms Cervoni was a major part of the program’s success, coordinating sessions, communicating with participants and troubleshooting problems. Meanwhile, her Cricut courses had become a community hit, teaching participants new skills while facilitating friendships and connections.

As part of her traineeship, Nicole also studied a Certificate III in Business through TAFE Queensland alongside her work at the library. Despite also juggling Youth Mayor responsibilities, she completed the course two months ahead of schedule.

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Ms Cervoni said that while finalist recognition for her efforts was rewarding, the traineeship itself had already proved a dream come true.

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"I have wanted to work at the Burdekin Library since I was little. I had been going there since I was a baby, doing Baby Rhyme Time and everything, and I just loved it,” Ms Cervoni said.

“I was doing work experience at the library before I even got the job [last year], and my mum drove me there every day—an hour drive each way.

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“I’ve now learned so much as a person through this job … [and] got to give back to those that supported me, that wanted to see me succeed, and those that still always stop my mum in the street asking, ‘what’s Nicole up to nowadays?’”

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Ms Cervoni now studies primary education in Townsville, where she balances her studies with work.

She looks ahead to this month's North Queensland Regional Final, where success in her division will earn her entry into the state awards later this year.

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