The Bomaderry High HSC student and school captain took out the School Based Apprentice and Trainee of the year (SBAT) award at the 2020 NSW Training Awards recently.

In addition to her HSC studies, school captain duties and traineeship in the threatened species department at Shoalhaven City Council, Cassandra has also undertaken a number of environmental initiatives off her own bat.

"You can always spare 30 minutes or an hour to do something out of your down time," she said.

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Those "somethings" include creating the Sustainable Schools Competition, helping injured wildlife during and after the bushfires, and documenting fatalities and epicormic regrowth after fire, compiling data around weed invasion, feral predation, sedimentation of creeks, and species proliferation.

She also volunteers for National Parks and Wildlife, has spoken at Nowra's School Strike for Climate rally, is a joint recipient of the Victor Chang Science Award, and a participant in the Sonder Youth Leadership Program.

However, she was quick to credit her mother, family, friends, colleagues and school for supporting her to achieve her goals.

Cassandra said growing up near the Morton National Park fostered her passion for the environment.

"I think nature teaches you a gentle ruthlessness," she said.

"You have to be purposeful but thoughtful, and I apply that to a lot of my daily life."

Cassandra said she was delighted to receive the prestigious trainee award.

"I would highly recommend VET as it boosts your employability and gives you practical training," she said.

"Most importantly, you meet new people who will open doors and help you.

"I've learnt about the legal procedures and acts you have to abide by, how to use computer software for analysing data and how to behave in a workplace."

The bright and tenacious teen is not sure what she wants to after high school, but she's positive being an advocate for the natural environment will be her top priority.

"Long-term I'm really torn - I feel a sense of duty to do something that can create large-scale change but I also just want to live in the bush, and be sustainable and self-sufficient," she said.

"I could do a bit of both! I'm thinking of going to the University Of Wollongong and doing a bachelor of conservation biology, and I'll see what happens after that."

The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by the NSW Department of Education in recognition of outstanding achievements in VET.