Stirling leads the way for the next generation of rangers

Yarrabah’s Stirling Ludwick has turned his training journey into a pathway for the next generation of rangers, growing from a trainee ranger into a leader, mentor and promising trainer.

Stirling was named the 2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards for his commitment to training, leadership, community and representing the culture.

Stirling began his journey as a trainee ranger with the Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Prescribed Body Corporate (GMYPPBC) in 2023 through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, before progressing to supervise the 2024 cohort of trainee rangers.

In January 2025, he stepped into the role of Junior Ranger Team Leader, supporting young people to develop practical skills and learn ’On Country’.

He completed the Ranger to Trainer Pathway Program and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in 2025, giving him the skills to eventually deliver accredited training within the GMYPPBC Ranger Program.

For Stirling, training is about more than gaining a qualification, it is about passing knowledge on and creating opportunities for young people in his community.

Stirling is now preparing to work alongside the TAFE Queensland Cairns teaching team to deliver training to the 2026 Junior Ranger cohort of Year 10 students from Yarrabah State School.

His commitment to learning has also taken him well beyond Yarrabah representing GMYPPBC and his community at conferences and forums across Australia including Darwin, Melbourne, Karratha and Brisbane.

Through each opportunity, Stirling has continued to build his confidence as a speaker, leader and advocate for culturally grounded training.

He embodies the GMYPPBC motto, “Show up to Go Up!”, demonstrating how vocational education can build confidence, leadership and meaningful career pathways while strengthening the community.

Stirling said winning the 2026 Queensland Training Award Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year was a mind-blowing achievement.

“When I started with the Queensland Indigenous land and Sea program, I didn’t have so much confidence in myself, self-doubt. But getting exposed to all these areas … brings you out more.

“I want to thank them for giving me the opportunities and the networking …I just love it.

“Training has been so important to me because with me getting my training, I can pass the knowledge over to the next generation or next leaders in our community.

“The biggest lesson that I've learned so far is you gotta show up to go up. I always tell my young community members to stay in school, you’ve got great opportunities now so take it with both hands and just run with it,” he said.

Stirling will now progress to the Australian Training Awards to be held in Sydney on 20 November 2026.

Learn more about Queensland Training Awards.