SKILLS TRAINING FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES - BUNDABERG, QLD

Often, one community development project leads to another.

We were recently approached by Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation about a project, which soon expanded into two projects running alongside each other.

Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation is a traditional owner group for the custodial land of Bundaberg in Queensland, providing services in cultural heritage, land management, and tourism.

Our initial project was to assist in developing a soft skills employment program to support people to engage in further education and build capacity in the Indigenous community. Our Community Development Officer, Gwen, worked alongside Taribelang and engaged local Elders to design the training program focused on tourism employment.

It soon became clear that funding was required to get the program off the ground. So, our second project came to life as we were invited to train Taribelang staff and board members to write funding submissions and assist with the development of a template to streamline the application process. They now have a clear understanding of the requirements to lodge a successful grant application. The community put their newfound knowledge into practice, with volunteer support, and lodged a grant submission for funding to roll-out their soft skills program.

The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Employment Program in Tourism will provide soft skills training to young people aged 18-25 and mature aged people who wish to upskill or change careers.