Community
17 December, 2025
Youth worker tops nation
CAIRNS youth worker Kayla Gagai has been named the 2025 Australian trainee of the year, completing a sweep of Far North Queensland, state and national awards.
The Vocational Partnerships Group (VPG) youth worker received the honour at the Australian Training Awards in Darwin, recognising her performance during her youth work traineeship and her commitment to young people across the region.
Ms Gagai first came to VPG as a participant seeking support after finishing school. She returned in 2022 as a business administration trainee, later discovering a passion for youth work and transitioning into a youth support traineeship while completing a Certificate IV in Youth Work through TAFE Queensland.
“I was in their shoes once, and so to be on the other side of the table as a youth worker helping young people succeed, that’s what drives me,” she said.
“Being a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman, representation in the workplace matters. And I wanted to be that familiar face for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth who came into VPG.”
At 25, she facilitates programs such as ‘Respect Me’, a respectful relationships education program in schools, and ‘Ready for Work’, which prepares young people for employment.
She is also part of VPG’s First Nations leadership team, contributing to culturally safe practice and strengthening engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“I read a quote once that said: ‘You need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, otherwise how do you grow?’ That shifted my mindset a lot,” she said.
