From Small Beginnings, Great Things Grow!

In our first enews we shared some of the success stories of our growing workforce of Future Stars. We also invited more Territorian Employers to join with us in pushing to Close the Gap. Easy words to say...but on the ground, not so easy to achieve.

We work on the formula of starting slow...placing our graduates into a workplace that will build their confidence and develop the positives of a working career. While workers build their employability skills, our mentors are working behind the scenes to assist remove some of the barriers.

Gradually we are building the capacity of our Future Stars to take their place in full time work. Indeed some are motivated to work towards to developing their own small businesses.

We are heartened by the growing brigade of employers ready to come on board. In this area, our partnership with the Australian Employment Covenant is invaluable. Through their work there is increasing recognition of the immense importance of an empathetic workplace. But also recognition that business must also be allowed to flourish.

In this issue, we have many more stories of courage and commitment to share. So many of our Future Stars are grasping opportunity with both hands, and making the kind of life they want for themselves.

Each success and new step to the future taken by our wonderful people, spreads to their wider family and friends, encouraging new people to improve their own lives. Most importantly this creates a new environment for the next generation to build and work to realise their own dreams.

Best wishes,

Karen Sheldon
Managing Director
Karen Sheldon Training & Development

You're Invited!

Team Building Day – Naidoc Olympics

What an awesome day!. We gathered in Bicentenial Park, The Esplanade, Darwin for a picnic lunch and then broke into teams for our Fun celebration of NAIDOC – Olympic Style!. 

There was the Three Plate Relay, The Waiter's Glasses-on-a-Tray relay, and many more crazy events. Some of the blokes carried their trays with the greatest skill! Not a drop was spilled.

Karen Sheldon was our guest Judge and handed out the fun medals and trophies to all winners.

We thank our special guests – Jasmine Yim from Skycity and Sandra Alley from Serco – two valuable employer representatives who made the day especially enjoyable for all. A great way to acknowledge a great Event!

Gwen Walla Starts at Westpac

Gwen Walla with Westpac Regional General Manager, Suzi Hullick, and Katherine Branch Manager Amanda Haynes; celebrating the appointment of Gwen to the position of Trainee at Westpac Katherine. She starts in late November.

Suzi comments; "Karen, Thank you for presenting such a wonderful candidate, her positive attitude and smile really was appealing to us. I look forward to the continued the work we can do together" .

Gwen was a star during our course after being a "professional Mum" for many years. (She and husband Alex have 5 lovely little girls ranging in age from 2 to 12!!)

Gwen immediately secured work with the amazing Helen and Nathan at the Paraway in Katherine and then applied for the Westpac position as it came up. We will be working with Westpac to provide intensive mentoring during her training.

Good Luck Gwen!!

Get involved like Westpac

Thank you Bernie & the Staff at All Seasons

Bernadine O'Sullivan is Manager of Housekeeping at All Seasons Motel, Katherine. Bernie has provided work for many of our participants and is an outstanding and untiring on the job mentor.

She is seen here with Rachel Palmer, Kaylene Hayes, Robert Lowe and Shaunette Mumbin, all graduates of the Future Stars Program in Katherine.

We are extremely grateful to Berni not only for providing jobs, but also for being a wonderful employer and mentor to her staff.

Good news from Darwin
- Sam signs up as an Apprentice!!

Sam Adjrun tells us he has always been passionate about everything to do with food!

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

Sam was channelled to other jobs after the Course, but he always came back to work with us on functions and we were delighted when he told us that cooking was the career for him!

Recently, we were proud to sign him up as an Apprentice Chef. Although Karen Sheldon Catering is an RTO, with Commercial Cookery on scope, we have decided that Sam will benefit from Training through CDU at Palmerston, and we will be working with him to ensure his training is of the highest quality.

We want to give him the best possible chance to be the next Indigenous Aussie SuperChef!!

Celebration for a Job Well Done...

A large group of Future Stars Graduates really starred at the Darwin Race Carnival this year. It was a pleasure to see so many Indigenous faces enjoying the atmosphere as they earned good money and provided excellent service to the thousands of racegoers.

On Ladies Day, this group worked so hard and did such a wonderful job that Chef Jules made a big Celebration Choc on Choc cake – richly deserved and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Stars Shine From Afar

Often we lose contact with our Future Stars as they make their own pathway in life. It is great when they get back in touch to tell us of their achievements.

Just this week we have heard from....

Andrew Pocock
One of our very first Stars, started at Maccas in Ludmilla, Andrew showed great promise and enthusiasm towards the course. Andrew is now working for BHP in WA.

Iesha May
Iesha is blitzing the kitchen of the Eldorado Motel, Tennant Creek.

Peter Rautoka
This young man of many talents sang for Andrew Forrest at the Gen One launch. Peter is now excelling in the hospitality industry and has just gained a Cookery Apprenticeship in Cairns.

We have invited all our past and present Future Stars to the Big Christmas Celebration Bash at Kantillas this week.
Some people wont make it – and they have the very best excuse - they are two busy working!!

Check out this month's brightest Stars

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!