A year ago, Lacie Johnstone walked into Gunnedah Shire Council as a trainee. Now she’s a fully qualified Compliance Officer and the region’s 2026 Trainee of the Year.
Ms Johnstone received the award at the Gunnedah and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2026 Business Awards presentation dinner on Friday, 6 November.
She started at Council as a Trainee Compliance Officer, moved quickly through her training, and stepped up to the role of Compliance Officer in May.
Johnstone said receiving the award was “truly emotional and something I will never forget”.
“I felt incredibly grateful and humbled to be recognised for doing a job that I genuinely love,” she said.
“Looking back on my journey, from starting as a trainee to becoming a qualified Compliance Officer, made me proud of how far I have come.”
“It was a special moment that reminded me that hard work, passion, and dedication really do make a difference.”
She was nominated for the award by Council’s Manager Community Safety Tony Krawczyk. He said she “took the challenge of trainee Compliance Officer with both hands and hasn’t looked back”.
“Lacie came to Council seeking a career change to add further challenge to her life and she [has] grown in leaps and bounds,” Krawczyk said.
“Her dedication and commitment to the profession, whilst also juggling young children has seen her grow in the position and obtain respect from her peers.”
“Lacie gained the full-time Compliance Officer position because of this unselfish professionalism, her personal attributes, and her ability to grasp the ever-changing realm of Compliance.”
Krawczyk said she had matured quickly in the role.
“She has shown a marked maturity and strove to better herself, becoming the excellent Compliance Officer she is today,” he said.
“Gunnedah Shire Council is proud to have Lacie on board as she builds a career in Compliance, whilst also being an ambassador for Council.”
For Johnstone, the move from trainee to full Compliance Officer has been “incredibly rewarding”.
“As a trainee, I was constantly learning, building confidence, and developing new skills every day,” she said.
“Over time, I grew not only professionally but personally as well.”
“My traineeship gave me the skills, confidence and support to grow into a fully qualified Compliance Officer in a role I genuinely love.”
She said the traineeship gave her something a classroom could not.
“It opened doors that study alone couldn’t and provided a strong foundation for my future career,” Johnstone said.
“Becoming a qualified Compliance Officer was a proud milestone because it showed me how much I had achieved through hard work and dedication.”
Council’s Training and Administration Officer Robert Carlyon said Johnstone’s success showed the value of Council’s training pathways and the opportunities they create for trainees to excel.
“Lacie is an example of a trainee who was able to gain on-the-job training and mentoring from our experienced professionals in Council, which is the goal of our cadet, trainee and apprentice pathways,” Carlyon said.
“Council sees its commitment to cadets, apprentices and trainees as an investment in our future workforce.”
“Council is proud to provide opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels, and we look forward to supporting the next generation of workers through Council and Office of Local Government programs.”
For Johnstone, the job is about much more than handing out fines.
“Being a Compliance Officer is far more than enforcing rules – it’s about helping people, supporting the community, and finding practical solutions to sometimes complex situations,” she said.
“It’s a career that allows me to make a real difference every day, whether that’s helping residents, protecting community safety, or giving animals a second chance.”
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