By DAN RYAN
Cowra’s Rebecca Hambrook has been named Vocational Student of the Year at the 2025 Western NSW Regional Training Awards, held in Orange this month.
The awards celebrated the achievements of students across the Western NSW region, where Ms Hambrook was celebrated as Vocational Student of the Year for her studies at TAFE NSW. Currently studying a Certificate IV in Community Services, Ms Hambrook's work at Weigelli Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre was also acknowledged as a key part of her excellence in the classroom, and the community.
The award celebrates not only academic commitment, but also the personal journey that has inspired her work. A survivor of childhood trauma and addiction, Ms Hambrook has turned her lived experience into a powerful tool for change, helping others navigate the same path to recovery.
“Being a survivor of childhood abuse was the big thing that led me toward addiction,” she shared. “People going through that often face domestic violence, homelessness, trouble with the law, and even time in jail.”
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It was during her own rehabilitation in Canberra that Ms Hambrook found inspiration in the support workers around her, many of whom had walked similar paths. After moving to Cowra to live with her mother, she began setting goals and enrolled in TAFE.
“I saw a job come up at Weigelli and thought, ‘I really want to work out there.’ Since I’ve been there, it’s been fantastic,” she said.
Located on farmland around 25 kilometres from Cowra, Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation provides culturally sensitive support for First Nations people recovering from addiction. The centre’s location - peaceful, remote, and deeply connected to the land, Weigelli offers a restorative environment that Ms Hambrook believes is essential for healing.
“Where it’s situated is good for recovery. Being away from the hustle and bustle really helps you get your mind back on track,” she said.
Ms Hambrook credits her colleagues with lived experience as helping her realise her own potential to support others. “About six months after I came to Cowra, spending time with people who’d been through what I had that really planted the seed for me.”
She’s now passionate about advocating for Aboriginal Australians, who are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. “One thing I really wanted to do was get into that space and help First Australians.”
Currently completing her Diploma in Alcohol and Other Drugs, Ms Hambrook hopes to expand her impact - but she’s in no rush to move on from Weigelli. “I’d like to stay there for many years to come,” she said.
When asked what people often misunderstand about addiction, Ms Hambrook said that trauma plays a major role. “The patterns of thinking and behaviour that come from trauma can be hard to understand if you haven’t lived through it.”
Her message to those struggling with addiction is one of self reflection and strength to ask for support. “I think it's really important to know that a better way of living is possible," she said.
"Follow your intuition, look inside and reach out - there’s support if you ask. You can go from victim to survivor, from thriver to an inspirer.”
