Florence Baitio is up for a youth award.
Camera IconFlorence Baitio is up for a youth award. Credit: Supplied/Emma Goodwin

Greenwood College student a finalist in WA Youth Awards

Lucy Jarvis, North Coast TimesNorth Coast Times

Florence was one of four finalists for the participate category in the awards, announced earlier this month by Youth Minister Tony Simpson.

Her nomination said Florence’s start to life was different to many, having been born in Uganda and raised in a refugee camp, but it shaped her in a positive way.

‘Arriving in Australia in 2005, she quickly became involved in her local community,’ it said.

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‘Florence now works casually as a youth support worker with the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors, where she co-ordinates holiday programs for young people with migrant and refugee backgrounds.

‘Passionate about her culture, she also volunteers to run cultural sessions for young people in her community.

‘She has big dreams and hopes to become a social worker with World Vision to help children less fortunate than her.’

Florence said she had worked in community development and ran traditional dancing workshops for young people.

The Greenwood College student said she wanted to work in community development or do social work in the long term and planned to go to university once she finished school.

The awards presentation will take place in Perth this Thursday and Mr Simpson said the 26 finalists were all young people who had triumphed, often in tough circumstances.