Ten top students skilled and ready for workforce

Ten Charles Darwin University students are poised to enter the workforce after becoming the first graduates of an innovative work-readiness program at the Gulkula Regional Training Centre in East Arnhem Land.

CDU’s Vocational Education and Training Executive Officer Barbara Cram was among 200 well-wishes to congratulate the students at an end-of-year celebration near Nhulunbuy recently.

“We were delighted by their high levels of commitment and attendance, and their enthusiastic approach to work placements and employment,” Mrs Cram said.

“We were equally delighted to be invited by Gumatj Corporation and the Yolngu community to be part of this exciting new program to build the region’s future workforce of young Yolngu men and women.”

CDU was the primary trainer in the program, developed by the Gumatj Corporation to attract, train and support this group of aspirational job seekers.

“The program was quite different to other vocational education and training programs that have been delivered in the Northern Territory and interstate,” Mrs Cram said.

“Training was embedded within Yolngu culture, with participants living, studying and working in culturally significant surroundings at the Gulkula Centre.

“We delivered a broad, flexible 17-week program that comprised theory with hands-on practical experience in the mining, construction, civil engineering, business and cookery sectors.”

Students were enrolled in either a Certificate I in Hospitality / Cookery, a Certificate II in Construction Pathways, or a Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure Work Preparation.

“All graduates will now move into traineeships and local employment with employers such as the Gulkula Mining Company, Rio Tinto, Deltareef Gumatj and the NT Government,” she said.

Mrs Cram said CDU was looking forward to next year when the program would be delivered twice more.