Rum Jungle Project team congratulates 7 Aboriginal Territorian graduates
Seven Aboriginal Territorians robed up to celebrate the completion of a Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure Work Preparation and one, received a Certificate III in Business Administration.
The Rum Jungle Project team attended the beautiful ceremony, held at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, to watch the first of several formal Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications these trainees will obtain. This certificate is part of an 18-month employment pathway program, which engages with the Rum Jungle Project.
Krystal Fitzgerald
“I have really enjoyed my journey over the past year as I’ve learnt a lot of new things. I can’t wait to finish my studies and graduate again next year for the courses I am currently enrolled in. It’s been a great experience and I’ve really enjoyed my journey so far. I look forward to hopefully gaining a full-time job with the Rum Jungle Project and help rehabilitate the site and get Country back to how it was.”
Sharnice Verburg
“I’m excited about today especially to have all my family here to watch me graduate with a Certificate III in Business. They’re really happy for me and my accomplishments. I’m currently doing my Certificate 4 and will hopefully graduate next year at the same time. I have come out of my shell and have learnt a lot about the importance of good communication and how to work properly in the workplace.”
Jude Lami Lami
“I am a Warai Traditional Owner and feel pretty good that I graduated doing the Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure Work Preparation. I will probably look for the right job. I would like to work at Rum Jungle and see what happens after that. I’ve enjoyed driving the machines. It was pretty fun.”
In 2022, 10 Aboriginal students successfully completed a Conservation and Ecosystem Management traineeship and several of these trainees were then employed as members of the Project team to carry out Land Management activities.
This cohort is the first of several formal Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications these trainees will obtain as part of an 18-month employment pathway program delivered through the Rum Jungle Rehabilitation Project to support the future employment of Aboriginal Territorians.”
Patrina Triantafillou, Rum Jungle Trainee Coordinator and Jackie Hartnett, Executive Director, Rum Jungle Project
“I am really happy and excited for what’s to come. I’m really proud of them, they have done a great job. They have come a long way. I see more confidence in all of them. People who weren’t asking questions, all ask questions now. They now speak up and communicate better. The trainees graduated in the Certificate 2 in Resource and Infrastructure Work Preparation Course. They are moving on to their Cert 3 in Civil Plant Operations and other VET qualifications which they will finish at the end of this year.” - Petrina Triantafillou
The Rum Jungle Project team aim to create sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities from entry level jobs through to professional level and high-skill roles.
About the Rum Jungle rehabilitation project
Rehabilitation planning has been underway since 2009, with several project stages (stages 1, 2, 2A and stage 2B) having been completed. The Australian and Northern Territory (NT) governments have entered into partnerships to deliver these stages under the federation funding agreement framework or preceding national partnership agreement framework. The Rum Jungle rehabilitation project aims to improve the environmental condition onsite and downstream and improve onsite environmental conditions to support future land use, including cultural values. Visit the Rum Jungle page for more information.
