Leticia Quince has won the 2021 Young Achiever Award Transgrid Indigenous Achievement award.
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"I'm overjoyed," Miss Quince said.
"It really still hasn't sunk in even now, I'm still feeling it all, the emotions, and having the conversations, sharing the news around."
Ms Quince was presented with her award at the 2021 Young Achiever Awards Gala Dinner presentation in Sydney at the end of April.
She told the Daily Liberal when they announced her as the winner, she couldn't believe it.
"They asked us to prepare a speech in case we won, so I did, but I forgot to take it up with me. My friend had to run up with it, and she threw it on stage.
"But I knew what to say so I didn't need it, and then I did the thank you in Wiradjuri language as well."
To have had recognition on such a high level for just being me, I don't have the words for that.
- Leticia Quince
Miss Quince said while she had faced her own hurdles which shaped her has a person, what she did was just part of who she was.
"To have had recognition on such a high level for just being me, I don't have the words for that."
"This [award] really recognizes young people in the community ... there are so many young people who have gone beyond the stigma; everyone should have been a winner."
Miss Quince said she had to give credit to the judging panel, who had it tough.
Miss Quince grew up in the region and lived in a number of surrounding towns, before moving to Dubbo when she was 17.
She now lives in Newcastle after moving in January and her graphic design business has taken off. The business focuses on branding and identity for Indigenous-owned business and community development, embracing her culture along the way.
"I'm a business owner, but it's not just graphic design. I'm adding an element of mentoring and independent public speaking into it as well.
"I'm still working on other things when I can with people in out of home care, and human rights."
In her citation at the awards it said Miss Quince was 'committed to improving services for children and young people using her own experience in the child protection system.'
More than 400 guests gathered from across NSW and the ACT for the awards.
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