Last Friday night, Xavier College and St Patrick’s Technical College alumni, Tayla Carll, was one of 12 talented young people to take out a Young Achiever Award, in recognition of all she has accomplished. Tayla, 18, won the Outstanding Apprenticeship Award, which aims to highlight those working hard to learn skills in their field and using their apprenticeship to launch a successful career.

She also took out the highly sought-after People’s Choice Award, receiving 25 per cent of the 10,000 public votes. Tayla said the awards, which were announced virtually in an online event, were recognition for all she had overcome.

Tayla, the now 18-year old is about to enter the third year of her fabrication engineering apprenticeship at Stratco and registered with TAFE SA at Regency Park. Tayla specialised in the metals and engineering field at St Patrick’s. Her high-functioning Autism has made her a more visual person who excelled in the practical and technical subjects. Despite dealing with anxiety disorder and speech and learning delay, Tayla has completed work at Levett Engineering, Century Engineering, Air Force, and Defence, Science and Technology Organisation. Due to her determination, her employer enrolled her into extra courses with TAFE SA for additional qualifications. From there she has aspirations of doing a diploma, getting her supervising degree and then going on to university for a Bachelor of Engineering Design, with the ultimate goal of becoming a qualified draftsman.