Susan Bonham is a finalist in the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category.
 

Susan Bonham - an office administrator with our medical records team at Canterbury Hospital - has been named as a finalist in the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category at the 2025 NSW Training Awards. 

A proud Wiradjuri woman, Susan completed a Certificate III in Health Administration during a 12-month Aboriginal Traineeship Program at Sydney Education which delivers education and training in facilities in Sydney Local Health District.

A solo parent to four children, Susan was inspired by her sister to complete the traineeship in 2024 which involved six weeks of study and a paid workplace placement at the hospital.

“I'd like to acknowledge my sister because she put me into the mindset to love admin work. And, if it wasn’t for her, I might not have applied for the traineeship,” she said.    

Susan’s teacher, and Sydney Education’s Aboriginal Traineeship Coordinator, Maria Galao nominated her for the award.

“Susan exhibited remarkable enthusiasm, motivation and dedication to her studies. She actively engaged in class discussions and applied her learnt knowledge and skills effectively in the workplace,” Maria said.

“She consistently demonstrated exceptional qualities that make her a deserving candidate for this award,” she said.

An award finalist for the Southern and South Western Sydney region, Susan had to juggle family commitments with her studies.

“Some of the challenges that I’ve overcome, though the journey, are balancing my studying and being a mum. And just making sure that my kids understand that if I’m not at school events it’s because I’m doing my study and I’m working,” she said. 

She’s thrilled to be named as an award finalist.

“Being nominated for Student of the Year means a lot to me because I’ve never stuck at anything before and just to get their acknowledgement that I’m a good student and to show that I did it,” she said.

The award winners will be announced at a special ceremony at Parramatta Townhall on Friday 20 June.

Susan would encourage others considering doing a traineeship to sign up.

“The advice I would give to other Aboriginal trainees considering the same path... is don’t doubt yourself. Just put your mind to it. You can do it.

Susan is now employed in a full-time role at the hospital.

To learn more about the Aboriginal Traineeship Program at Sydney Education please visit https://slhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sydney-education/courses-programs/aboriginal-traineeship