Rory Smeaton says that winning the 2010 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award for his outstanding achievements in his community services studies was one of the most significant moments of his life.
“When my name was called out as the winner, I was like wow, really me? I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d win. I was competing with people who had amazing stories and had come so far in their lives,” Rory said.
Rory said his mum was particularly proud, and the win echoed throughout his community.
“Winning the award meant so much to my family. For many years we struggled to get by and for me to win this award meant the sacrifices our mum made for us didn’t go to waste.
“My uncles and aunts and my wider Koorie community were also very happy for me, and what I had achieved. they knew my story would encourage the younger generation coming through.”
Rory’s fondest memories of the Australian Training Awards are the friendships he formed along the way.
“The best part of it all was the friendships I made. From the moment I met up with the Victorian group at the airport, we backed each other the whole way through the week. All of us still stay in touch,” Rory said.
Rory has had a career that has grown in leaps and bounds since winning the award. At the time he won, Rory was the Koorie Liaison officer at the Kangan Institute, and soon after winning he was offered the position of Indigenous Liaison officer at Swinburne University of Technology. Now almost four years later, he works as the Indigenous Recruitment officer for Crown Melbourne – two time winner of the Employer of the Year Award at the Australian Training Awards.
“Working for Crown Melbourne has been my biggest achievement in my career. I am working with one of the largest private single site employers in the southern hemisphere and fulfilling one of my career goals in helping Indigenous people get into sustainable employment and matching them with opportunities they never thought they would have,” Rory said.
Rory’s future goal is to continue giving back to community. Working at Crown Melbourne has broadened his knowledge of the opportunities in the corporate world.
“In 20 years from now I hope that I will have started a family, and continue to have a career where I get to meet lots of different people. Eventually, I would like to be running some sort of business whether it be in education, sport or some sort of mentoring role. As long as I can be helping my mob better themselves then I will be a happy man!” Rory said.