2011 – How the time is flying already!!

We have such a busy year planned and already in Darwin our first group for the year have completed their Four week Pre-employment and Lifestyle development phase of the program and are moving into jobs.

We are honoured that DEEWR Darwin Top End Director, Valerie Rowland was on hand to present Certificates to our Darwin Graduates, and to inspire them with a short story detailing her own personal journey to success. Valerie is a wonderful role model.

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Where do our Future Stars come from?

Many of the participants in our Future Stars Lifeskills and Pre-employment Program are recommended by their Job Services Case Worker, or answer our advertisements in the media.

However, increasingly people are hearing about the program by word of mouth or through family and friends who have done previous courses.

We now have whole families who are Future Stars, and recommending the program to wider family members. We have mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and many cousins gaining success in continual employment. We have wives who join, and then husbands who come along to the next course, juggling their childcare responsibilities between them, but eager to take up the opportunity to live a better life.

This is particularly gratifying because it means the culture of change is spreading through participating family groups. It means that a supportive environment for a working life is replacing the Centrelink dependency model in many homes throughout the Territory.

This bodes well for the present and future children of these family groups who will grow up with positive role models of self supporting and working families, proudly allowing the true strength and creative spirit of indigenous Australians to shine through.

Positive Employers

2011 is shaping up as a good year for workers!

We are gratified that these valued employers are now working harder than ever with us to ensure a smooth transition to work for Indigenous jobseekers.

There are plenty of jobs out there, and plenty of supportive employers. Our job is to link these employers to eager Indigenous jobseekers, and work with both parties to ensure positive outcomes for all!

New Mentor Manager

Meet our new Mentor Manager, Katie Young.

Katie is a local Indigenous lady who has worked throughout the Territory for many years helping others in various community service roles.

She served as a Senior Aboriginal Community Police Officer for many years before taking up challenging Management roles with Regional Night Patrols.

Katie comes to this very demanding position with a wealth of knowledge about the justice system and a wide professional network. She also brings her empathy, her special brand of "tough love" and her amazing organizing skills.

We are very glad to have Katie on our Team!

Tom Crosbie Joins IHG

We are grateful for the support of IHG HR Manager Temira Jackson who has come on board this year, and is looking to provide a variety of positions in their three major hotels in Darwin CBD.

Temira is new to the position here in Darwin, but she has worked at Gagudju in Jabiru for many years, where she was instrumental in getting many indigenous people into employment. Temira is working with Brad Gaddes our Business Development Manager to place suitable people.

The first person to win a placement is Tom Crosbie, an outstanding Graduate who plans to be pave the way for others, Tom is a great role model and has already started mentoring others during the Course. We will support his appointment and work with him over the next six months to achieve his goals.

Congratulations Tom!

Tour Guide Jordan

Jordan Tilmouth is another success story from our first Alice Springs Course. Jordan at first tried working in Childcare, but after finding it was not for her, is now working as a Tour Guide at the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Jordan is proud to be able to share her Aboriginal heritage and stories with tourists who appreciate meeting a real local!

Thank you Raylene from Kungas Can Cook

With our next lot of Future Stars graduating next week, we would just like to say a big thank you to Raylene Brown for being so accommodating to our trainees.

Kungas ('women' in Pintjatjarra) can Cook is a thriving Territory Catering business which has been operating since 2000. Not only is Raylene a successful business woman, but she is passionate about educating others on their extensive knowledge of Indigenous produce.

We are extremely grateful to Kangas Can Cook for their support, and for hosting the Alice Springs Graduation!

Sam starts University!

Sam Adjrun has been working with us for some time now.

Although he had no commercial kitchen experience, we noticed his keen interest in all things kitchen whilst he was completing our Future Stars Course.

He is now off to bigger and brighter things as her starts his first semmester at CDU in March, 2011 studying Commercial Cookery, Certificate III.

We are very excited for Sam, and can't wait to see what the future holds for him!

Donations to KMart Wishing Tree

Our Future Stars always think of people who are less well off than they. Expanding individual horizons to give a better understanding of a sense of time and place is an important aspect of our Course.

Trainers and Participants placed more than 60 presents under the
KMart Wishing Tree last December.

Call to Action...
Do you think it is Time for Change?

Are you ready to take the challenge and assist to Close the Gap?

We can show you how your business can benefit by employing Indigenous Australians. The steps are small...the rewards are HUGE.

We will walk with you all the way.

Talk to a Karen Sheldon Training
Business Development Manager today!