Natalya Gauci: The Ready Foundation Growth Award Winner

When Natalya Gauci was called into a meeting under the guise of discussing an ArtsReady alumni story, she had no idea she was about to be recognised. Instead, she was named the 2025 National recipient of The Ready Foundation Growth Award: Resilience & Growth.

 

“I was a little confused at first. I knew I’d been nominated, but I hadn’t heard anything, so I didn’t really know what was happening. But I was excited. All my hard work paid off.”

 

Natalya’s journey began after high school, when she realised university wasn’t the right fit. Encouraged by her mum, she applied for an ArtsReady Events Assistant traineeship with the City of Sydney’s Major Events team. It was a steep learning curve—her first time working in a large team, using professional systems, and even commuting into the city alone—but she quickly adapted.

 

 

Over two years, Natalya grew from trainee to trusted team member, eventually coordinating transfers and accommodation for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve event. 

 

“That was a huge responsibility… That job role didn’t even exist before and now it does.”

 

Her supervisor Sarah said this was the moment she saw Natalya’s growth shine through

 

“It was the moment I realised I could give her something and she’d run with it. She understood the systems…and that confidence showed.”

 

Since completing her traineeship, Natalya has continued to thrive, securing an Events and Admin Assistant role at Jubilee Oval. She credits the support of ArtsReady and her training experience for giving her both practical skills and the confidence to succeed.

 

The Ready Foundation Growth Award celebrates a trainee who has shown remarkable perseverance, personal growth and the ability to overcome challenges in the workplace. 

 

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