My Pathway - Remote

Thanks to the ongoing support for Kuku'nathi Services' Paid Work Experience, two more Western Cape Jobseekers are now getting their start with Evolution Mining and Civil Pty Ltd.

Glenda has been working with the local business to help Xander and Brayden prepare for the Rio Tinto traineeships they would ideally like to take up. Their 13-week placements with Evolution will allow them to develop valuable skills and experience while earning real wages, and stand them both in good stead to take their next career steps in just a few short months.

The jobseekers are pictured here with Glenda and members of the Evolution team on their first day.
Congratulations all, looking forward to seeing your progress!

indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA).

Ahead of the ABF Future Immortals Tour game in Hope Vale last weekend, the mighty Hope Vale Warriors took on Pompuraaw to select the players for the Future Immortals game.

The Warriors sported their new kit, provided by the sponsorship of our partners in the Cook region, Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation, Hope Vale Foundation, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and ourselves.

The Warriors truly embodied the saying, "look good, play good," with a performance that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Ephraim Claudie was a standout, steering the team with precision and delivering an impressive kicking game. His leadership on the field was instrumental in maintaining the team's cohesion and drive.

The front row rotation were also nothing short of exceptional. They led from the front, setting a strong example for their teammates with their powerful play and relentless effort. Despite the challenging windy conditions, the back 5 displayed remarkable resilience and skill, consistently bringing the ball back and keeping the pressure on Pormpuraaw.

The game was ultimately declared a draw and a combined team took on the greats for the showcase game.

Photos from the day thanks to Charlene Hart.

🏎️🔧Efforts "wheely" paying off for Ros'heta!🚗🚙

Ros'heta identified a mechanical trade as an area of interest early in her journey with us, and just last week started a new CDP Boost paid work experience position at her local Tyrepower store.

🛑Not content to stop there, she has applied for her 18+ card and is also working hard hard to complete her online Prep L driver test on her way to obtaining her Learners License.

Congratulations Ros'heta!!!🚘
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA) Hope Vale Foundation, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation

Seth is growing his skills with the CDP Boost Intern program available in the Cook region.

He is hosted as a nursery hand and field labourer by Rainforest Rescue, a not-for-profit organisation that has been protecting and restoring rainforests including the Daintree for more than 20 years.

They do this by providing opportunities for individuals and businesses to ‘Protect Rainforests Forever’ and Seth has jumped straight into the work. His first day was spent planting trees alongside NAB Banking staff attending a team building tree planting day in the rainforest. Seth has also got his hands dirty learning how to pot up plants, prepare the plants for dispatch, planting more trees and applying fertilizer.

Rainforest Rescue Manager Marine Deliens said she is very impressed with Seth’s performance so far.

“He is a quick learner and follows direction well and we are particularly impressed with his potting up.”

With the organisation’s ambitious goal of planting 150,000 trees each year in view, this is a great skill to be recognised for and Marine reported he had already managed a whopping 300 seedlings some days with each one perfectly positioned in the pot.

“It’s great to have such a young, motivated person on our staff and we look forward to continuing working with him over the coming months” She said.

Seth is equally happy with the role, saying that he is enjoying being outside and working with people who are passionate about what they do and the impact they are having on the local region’s rainforest regeneration.

We are proud to support Rainforest Rescue with this valuable internship and look forward to Seth’s ongoing progress in his role.
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA), Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation, Hope Vale Foundation, My Pathway

The Kuku'nathi team were out at the Western Cape Careers expo last week, sharing all the great programs they have on offer for the region's Jobseekers, and handing out some new merch too!

If you want to find out what some of these programs are, check their site or get in touch with the team: https://www.kukunathi.com.au/
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA)

The Ngooderi team and participants got a lift out of a visit from Martyr Training Services Pty Ltd late last month.

The Mount Isa based training provider brought two vehicles to the remote gulf community so that Karen could undertake driving lessons for participants while Dave led Manual Handling, Working Safely at Heights and White Card modules. The two trainers also combined their wisdom to deliver hands-on first aid training too.

It was great to have the local organisation, who know the industries and landscape of the NorthWest deliver training, ensuring it developed locally employable skills and addressed barriers.
Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA).

Not only did Kuku'nathi Services host their regular Kuku'nathi Konnect training in the Napranum hub for the first time last month, but the move and the growing momentum of the training program made the paper too!

Over two days a total of eleven participants attended the latest two modules of this culturally appropriate training, which is specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced in remote communites and equip participants with skills that are useful both in and outside the workplace.

Read all about it in the latest Cape York Weekly: https://capeyorkweekly.com.au/cape-york-weekly-edition-187/9985/

The next modules, covering workplace culture and getting and keeping jobs, are scheduled for later this month (June). They are free to attend and open to anyone in the Western Cape. Please speak to the Kuku’nathi Services team to find out more if you would like to get involved.
Corporate Culcha, indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA)

Karen Mundine National Reconciliation Week 2024 Bundjalung woman and Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine addresses the theme for National Reconciliation Week 2024 and the role RAP partners play in p...

Kuku'nathi Services partnered with the Construction Skills Training Centre - CSTC RTO No: 0699 to offer a weeklong Certificate II in resources and Infrastructure work preparation course to jobseekers in Mapoon last week.

Five local jobseekers undertook units that covered workplace scenarios from cleaning up a spill, learning how to load a car/ute correctly even how to work at heights. Two jobseekers were also able to use the opportunity to secure their construction white cards, and four took part in a day of heavy machinery training to further develop their skills. This final aspect was made possible by the generosity of Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council and local plumber Jason, who both provided the equipment needed to demonstrate and practice the use of these machines.

CSTC Trainer Sebastian Hunter training said he had really enjoyed his time in the remote Western Cape community, spending some time outside the learning with the participants, who even took him down to the beach to try his hand with the cast net!

"I got to make friends with the students as well as being their trainer, which I love."
"I always remind my students that we all start somewhere and that I was once in their shoes."
"Doing this course is a huge leap forward and will help them in many aspects of life!" he said.

Kuku'nathi has already locked in dates in early June to bring Sebastian back up to Napranum to replicate the valuable course there, so please get in touch with the team if you would like to get involved.
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA)

🎉 More modules completed! 📖

Kit and Jodi from Corporate Culcha were back in the Western Cape last week to deliver anther round of Kuku'nathi Konnect training to participants.

Over two days attendees at the free training learnt about managing conflict, problem solving, communication, team building and teamwork. All of these skills are useful both in workplaces and in everyday life, and participants are seeing the benefits. Some of the feedback received from the group was that they would like even more training than the monthly visits, and that they were beginning to apply some of the learnings outside the classroom already.

Kuku'nathi Services and Corporate Culcha are planning to run more training modules later in May, so stay tuned for details of these and get involved in this great opportunity.

indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA), Corporate Culcha.

🍔 Have you heard Napranum has a brand new Takeaway? 🍟

Andrea Lui has been working to get the local business ready to open for some time. When she saw us promoting Kuku'nathi Services' Paid Work Experience Program, she realised how beneficial the program could be for the new business.

She reached out to the Kuku'nathi team and was able to provide opportunities for four of their participants through the preparation stages, to assist with the opening, and now to work in the running business.

The Napranum Takeaway and Catering business has been created not only to feed the community, but also to provide ongoing employment opportunities for locals. Angela expects to employ a full time cook, three kitchenhands and as many casual staff as she needs to keep up with demand. She is keen to keep working with Kuku'nathi Services to ensure at least some of these positions are available to those in her community that most need the assistance to gain employment.

The business is benefiting from the supports included in the Paid Work Experience program and Angela urges any other business to "give the program a go, and give local jobseekers the opportunity to get into the workforce and gain employment."

So if you are in the Western Cape, drop by this new takeaway, grab a tasty feed and in doing so, support the Napranum community too!
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA), Napranum Takeaway and Catering.

Great to see our partners out and about in community, connecting with employers and participants.

Glenda from Kuku'nathi Services visited Napranum on Wednesday to spend some time with Dwayne and Jo from Rio Tinto's Indigenous Employment & Development team.

The Rio team were holding an information session on their "Local Aboriginal Person (LAP)" employment programs, so the visit was a great opportunity to discuss the opportunities Kuku'nathi Konnect training and Paid Work Experience are providing local jobseekers and how these could feed into this large employer's programs.

It was also a chance for Glenda to ensure any of our participants coming past got a personalised invite to have a chat, and were supported to find out the things about the LAP that might help them in their employment journeys.

There is a similar session planned for Mapoon next week. Reach out to the Kuku'nathi team if you want to find out where and when.

Community-based and external support organisations have banded together and established a team of interns to boost the cleanup efforts in Wujal Wujal following what is now regarded as the wettest tropical cyclone ever recorded hitting the mainland.

Hosted by Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation and working in close collaboration with Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, the ‘Wujal Wujal Community Disaster Resilience Project’ is facilitated through the 'CDP Boost' Employee Intern Program available in the Cook region.

These local organisations are supported to deliver the project by My Pathway and EMG Workforce, both providing back-end administration and management assistance.

The great story has been covered in the Cape York Weekly here: https://capeyorkweekly.com.au/interns-help-prepare-wujal-wujal-for-community-return/9091/
And on the My Pathway Website here: https://mypathway.com.au/gungarde-community-aboriginal-corporation-interns-help-cleanup-in-wujal-wujal/

Click through to the stories to learn more, or just have a look through the pics of some of the efforts of the team below.

indigenous.gov.au, , National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA)

Bronson has been an active participant of Ngooderi’s My Job Readiness Program (MJRP) and volunteering his time and efforts in a number of ways both through the program and alongside it.

The Ngooderi team seized the opportunity provided by the ILDU visit to the community earlier this month to assist Bronson to get his identification and driver’s licence. Bronson was supported to compile the identification documents he needed, perform the Hazard Perception test and even provided a Ngooderi vehicle to undertake the physical driving test. Less than two weeks later, his new licence has already allowed him to secure an ongoing role, and he’s not stopping there.

“This is the first time I have had my full licence, now I can do lots of jobs that I couldn’t do before” he said. “I’m very thankful to Arlene and the Ngooderi team for helping me.” Bronson is pictured here with the new Ngooderi Remote Program Manager, David.

Bronson has even set his sights on a longer-term career goal of travelling to Cairns to become a concreter and work on large building projects now that he has greater freedom.

Congratulations Bronson, and to the Ngooderi team.
If you want to know more about the MJRP and the supports it can provide, please speak to the Ngooderi team today.
Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA),

It was fantastic to see Corporate Culcha's gun trainers Jodi and Kitrina back in the Western Cape last week to deliver Kuku'nathi Konnect training modules in digital literacy, decision-making and resilience.

A core group of participants made use of the FREE training opportunity to learn skills useful both in and outside the workplace.
The participants were motivated to learn, and the yarns and story sharing over both days were heartfelt and positive.

Feedback from the group was extremely positive, with Patricia telling us "the training was really informative and opened my eyes to some new possibilities."

LIz felt the training helped her feel more confident and taught her new skills and processes that she was keen to put into practice.

Seri attended both days of training back-to-back and was the first participant to take home the incentive voucher on offer for monthly attendance at Kuku'nathi Konnect Training.

The dates for the next two modules have been set now too and we look forward to: Managing Conflict and Problem Solving on Tuesday 23rd April and Communication, Team Building and Teamwork on Wednesday 24th April. Please let the Kuku'nathi Services team know if you would like to get involved.
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA),

Ngooderi's Pathways to Real Jobs program has not only helped Leeara sweep through her paid work experience, but also land an ongoing role at the Doomadgee Guest House!

Leeara loved the hands-on experience she got in the paid work experience program, and feels it provided her with a great opportunity to prove her commitment to the role to her new employer.

The program also boosted her confidence and she is recommending anyone else eager to gain experience in the workplace drop in to talk to the Ngooderi team about paid work experience opportunities in Doomadgee.

Leeara is pictured receiving her certificates and vouchers from the program, and told the team she was thrilled to be rewarded with the bonus on top of now having a valuable and ongoing job.

Congratulations Leeara from everyone at Ngooderi and My Pathway/EMG Workforce.

indigenous.gov.au, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA),

EMG Workforce are looking for a Support Officer for the Western Cape region (Weipa/Napranum/Mapoon).

The position is responsible for providing administrative support to Kukunathi' Services Engagement Officers, ensuring smooth and effective delivery of community initiatives.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, possess strong organisational skills, enjoy supporting a dynamic team, and are in the Western Cape Region please apply now.

Send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] or use the same address to ask any questions you may have about the role before applying.

The Indigenous Drivers Licensing Unit will be in Doomadgee from Tuesday next week.

Not only an opportunity to renew or even get your drivers licence, but also other forms of ID too.

The Ngooderi team can help their participants to book appointments for testing or to complete the hazard perception test ahead of any physical driving tests.
Drop in and see them this week so you are ready for the ILDU visit.

Indigenous owned-and-run Evolution Mining and Civil Pty Ltd (EVMC) have supported Kuku’nathi Services’ Paid Work Experience Program (PWEP) right from the initial trial.

Their latest participant, Phillip is a few weeks into his role in their grounds team. He is bolstering Evolution's numbers and capacity as the team maintain lawns, hedges and gardens in public areas across Weipa, and growing new skills and experience too. Phillip has started out very well in his new role and is building on the connections he already had to the local business as he works more.

EVMC Managing director Sandra Kemp told us that Kuku’nathi’s PWEP was working well on a number of levels. “It’s going really well for us, it gives us the people to achieve our contracts and provides an opportunity for us to mentor new people working alongside our existing teams” she said.

“Evolution is all about giving people a go, so this is a great opportunity for us to do this in another way for people in our communities.”
We couldn’t agree more, congratulations to Sandra and Phillip for making the most of this opportunity and we think the gardens are looking brilliant in these pics!

The Kukunathi team are working with EVMC to identify other opportunities for participants in the PWEP, and are also keen to hear from other local employers who could mentor and develop participants in a paid role in their own businesses.
Get in touch with the team today if you would like to find out more.
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA), ,

To help the Cow Bay and Cape Tribulation areas continue their recovery following Cyclone Jasper we are hosting Mossman Support Services in our Cow Bay office tomorrow.

This community support organisation are visiting the area to find out what supports are needed most. It is a great opportunity to begin rebuilding connection, contribution and participation in your region, so please drop by between 10am and 2pm and have a chat to their team, or ours, about what is still needed in your area.

Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council

We need to hear from you to know how you are, what you need, where we can assist or what other services or assistance is needed so we are coming on up. Future outreach also planned.

Wik Waya woman Pearl Matthew has been driving a 180+ ton rear tipper in Andoom near Weipa in Far North Queensland for more than a year now, and loves the work. Driving these huge trucks is an exciting role for the young mother who now balances her time raising three children and working with and learning from her Rio Tinto co-workers.

She is one of the many women now working in Queensland's resources sector, which has seen almost a 40% increase in female participation recently. Pearl's entry into the sector was through the Community Development Programme.

Kuku’nathi Services assisted to get her driver's license, apply for the role and provided PPE to complement her employer-provided uniform. She has found Andoom to be a supportive and rewarding place to work, and her greatest wish is to have her children follow in her footsteps and work in the mine one day too.

indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA),

Tinus has his P's, more independence and is a step closer to getting his unrestricted licence and the opportunities that presents, thanks in part to his Kuku'nathi Services supports.

As part of his ongoing development, Tinus asked his engagement officer to help organise and fund the hazard perception and practical driving test needed to progress to a provisional licence. Because Tinus is working most days, scheduling the two tests in the remote community was no mean feat, but one Isabel managed to make happen last week.

Accompanying Tinus to both the courthouse and police station, as was needed to do both tests in a day, everyone was pleased with how well the entire process went, including how easily he passed the tests. Having his green P's gives Tinus more independence and gives him the ability to help his friends and family move around the remote community too.

Congratulations Tinus, we look forward to seeing what you achieve next.
indigenous.gov.au, National Employment Services Association Ltd (NESA),

Two months after the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper saw Wujal Wujal’s Damita and seven others awaiting rescue on the roof of her house, she still isn’t able to return home to the flood-ravaged community.

Showing the same strength that saw her and her neighbours safely off the roof after several hours, Damita decided that neither the community-wide evacuation nor the hardships that come with such a catastrophic event would stop her from continuing her Certificate III in business! Damita had been progressing very well in the traineeship with Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council before the Cyclone, but with no accommodation available for her or her family in the community, could not return to her role there. Thankfully, a timely administration vacancy in our Cooktown office proved the perfect opportunity for Damita to return to work and study.

Just as she did with the council, Damita has taken to her new role quickly and competently, fitting into the team easily. “Damita has an infectious smile and is already a valued member of the Cook Region CDP team and we intend to retain Damita as long as we can!” Regional Administration Officer Markie Harrigan said.

We may have to let her get back to her home and to help the council rebuild the community when the time is right, but until then we are relishing having Damita in the Cooktown office and celebrating her progress towards obtaining her Certificate.

Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council, indigenous.gov.au