Around the state

Mining their future

Pieta Wakeling and Jordan Marshall are among 15 Indigenous youth from Gulf communities to secure apprenticeships and traineeships at MMG Century’s Lawn Hill site after completing a pre-apprenticeship program.

They are members of the Waanyi, Mingginda, Gkuthaarn and Kukatj native title groups, benefiting from employment and training opportunities guaranteed as part of the Gulf Communities Agreement.

The pre-apprenticeship program not only prepared participants for careers in the mining industry but also helped improve literacy and numeracy skills.

So far, the mine has taken on 58 apprentices and trainees.

Making young leaders

Nine Aboriginal teens recently attended a weekend junior leadership workshop at the State Library’s Kuril Dhagan Centre in Brisbane.  Author Marcus Pedro was among the speakers of the program, organised by Binambi Barambah Aboriginal Corporation and PriceWaterhouse Coopers. The 13 to 16-year-olds learnt about lasting relationships, money management and leadership — and made their own deadly hip hop music video.

G’day neighbour

Luffman Elap and Jack Mills are among the residents of Thursday Island’s first seniors specific public housing. The four two-bedroom units in Douglas Street are close to the hospital and other medical services, ideal for the older residents’ health needs.

Island Kastom comes to Brisbane

Rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the Urab Dancers, a group of 20 community members from Poruma Island in Torres Strait who performed at Queensland Museum and State Library in September as part of their first national tour.

Chillin’

Pedro Day was quick to check out the  new Acacia Ridge Outdoors Youth Space’s skate zone, part of a youth hang-out built by the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council with youth input.

About 170 young people provided ideas to create a friendly space that suits many recreational activities including basketball and futsal competitions, hip hop workshops and skate competitions as well as being a safe family-friendly meeting spot.

Award-winning mentor

Uncle Joe Kirk congratulates Brain Injury Association of Queensland (BIAQ) chief Jennifer Cullen after the BIAQ received a Disability Action Week Award for its Indigenous mentoring program.

Jennifer says mentoring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders working in community services was a highlight of her career.

“It’s about workforce capability — ensuring workers have the technical skills, understand policy and procedures and have the resilience — which helps minimise the risk of burnout and it shows young ones that there is a career path when working with people with a disability. Invaluable friendships and understanding of culture  also formed.”