Ellen Bouquet, Senior Officer Aboriginal Employment, Aboriginal Employment Unit
Ellen Bouquet is a proud Gadigal woman from the Eora nation. Ellen successfully completed Transport’s VET Cadet Program in 2018.
- Why did you apply for the VET Cadet program?
I applied for the VET Cadet program because I was in a dark place mentally and going from job to job with no career in mind. I had seen my cousin do the program and the way she turned her life around and thought, ‘if I can put in this effort, I too could create a better life’. - How was your experience being part of the program?
Being part of the program was an emotional roller coaster. I had so many ups and downs and times where I thought, ’this isn’t for me, I can’t do this’, but the support network my cohort had created really carried all of us through. I have made brothers and sisters for life from the program. - What was a highlight or impactful moment from your time as a VET cadet?
Finally finishing something I started. I was becoming a professional student, starting a course and never finishing, so the moment I received my certificate and shook the hands of my teacher and the Secretary of Transport, I knew I had made it. I lost my Pop during the program, and he was my biggest supporter, so being able to finish knowing he was looking down on me was one of the proudest moments of my life. - How did the program benefit you and your career? What are some opportunities the program has given you?
The program gave me not only a job but a career. I have been working at Transport for five years and climbed from a grade 1 to a grade 7 role. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be able to provide for not only myself but also my family. I am the first in my family to buy a home and am grateful for the stable career at Transport that gave me and my fiancé the opportunity. - Why do you believe it is important for Transport to run this kind of program?
These programs give Aboriginal people the opportunity to change their lives, not just for themselves but also their community. I left school in year 10 to get a fulltime job to help my family with bills. If it wasn’t for these types of programs, I would have never had the chance to prove I am enough to represent my community in the state government sector. - What advice would you give someone looking to apply to the program?
Just apply because you have nothing to lose, you will only take steps to create a better life.