Nicole is Pride of Australia
While many school leavers party at Schoolies this year USQ Headstart student Nicole Reggett will travel to Africa to work in orphanages as part of the RSL Youth Development Program.
It won't be the first time the Year 12 student has shown maturity beyond her 16 years - she has already begun her tertiary studies in psychology at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Springfield campus through the Headstart Program.
She has also won several youth development awards and has helped raise funds and awareness of youth and homelessness issues through her position on the Ipswich City Youth Council.
A recent winner of the Pride of Australia award in the Young Aussie category, Nicole has helped establish a student welfare fund for her school and raised funds for her local veteran community.
'I was amazed and shocked when I found out I had won the Pride of Australia award. There were so many fantastic and deserving people nominated and I am still amazed that someone nominated me and I won,' Nicole said.
As a result of her own experiences Nicole is also developing a support group for children of defence personnel who have returned from overseas with depression or post traumatic stress disorder.
'My father served in Somalia in 1994 and returned suffering with post traumatic stress disorder, so I know what it is like to deal with these issues as a child.
'I know other kids of different ages who have had the same experiences as me who don't understand what is going on in their families.
'With many defence personnel now returning from Iraq there will be many children who have to deal with this issue in their families.'
Nicole will depart for Kenya and Tanzania on 29 November for three weeks to work in a Masai orphanage with disadvantaged children at the Nelson Mandela Primary School, climb part of Mt Kilimanjaro and spend some time in the Serengeti desert.
'I won't be climbing all the way up the mountain as I already know I suffer from altitude sickness, so I will only go part of the way and then climb down to meet with disadvantaged children in the area.
'I am really looking forward to meeting and playing with the children and going on a safari while I am there. But meeting and talking with the children will be my top priority.'
When she returns Nicole will prepare to continue her studies in the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at USQ Springfield campus.
'Everyone has always suggested I do psychology and I was at one time considering a career in the Police Force, so psychology would have been a great fit for that. But now I am thinking of more just working as a psychologist when I have finished.'
Media Contact: Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096