How Indigenous Employment Program helps job seeker get work at Ayers Rock Resort

Find out how an Indigenous job seeker (Chetesha) took a leap of faith and is now working as a Food and Beverage Attendant at the 5 Star ‘Sails in the Desert’ Ayers Rock Resort.

She was able to accomplish this despite living on the Mid North Coast and being dependant on her parents.

Read on and view the video to see how Chetesha achieved this with the help of ETC’s Aboriginal Employment Advisor.

 

 

How Aboriginal Job Seeker gains Voyages Indigenous Traineeship

Originally from the Mid North Coast, 20-year-old Chatesha finished school in 2016 and then found herself unemployed, living with her parents and doing nothing for the next year.

Feeling stuck and wanting to do something with her life she reached out to us, her local employment service provider, who linked her with our Aboriginal Employment Advisor Jennie Rosser.

“Jennie organised for me to attend an information session with Voyages Indigenous Tourism and I was offered to trial working at Ayers Rock Resort,” Chatesha said.

“At first I was hesitant about moving out there, but Jennie was very encouraging and gave me the confidence I needed. I took a leap of faith, went out there for a week and then I was offered a role.”

Chatesha was enrolled into the Voyages Indigenous Traineeship Program where she completed a Certificate III in Hospitality.

“The Traineeship was great – we were assigned a mentor who helped us during the contract and there was a lot of support for us as Trainees. I obtained things like my RSA and Safe Food Handling as part of this,” she said.

First, Chatesha started working at a small café called Kulata where she began to learn a range of hospitality skills and then moved onto the 5 Star Resort Sails in the Desert.

“At first when I got the job at Sails, it was a bit overwhelming. There was a lot of pressure and I was thrown in the deep end, but eventually, I found my way. Meeting new people helped me to ease and settle into the job.”

How Chatesha’s life has changed and what her future looks like:

Chatesha says her life has had a huge change since moving to the Northern Territory – becoming more independent and confident.

“I’m living without my family and earning my own money. I have to go to IGA and spend my own money on food and drinks, and look after myself. But it has been the push that I needed, as I was way too dependent on my parents.”

So what does the future hold for Chatesha?

“I’d definitely like to travel the world. Now that I have my Certificate and experience working at a 5 Star Resort – I can put that on my Resume. I’ll visit home every now and again, but I have no plans to move back there. Hopefully, I can move into a higher position like a Shift Leader or Supervisor or Assistant Manager.”

Chatesha shares her advice for other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers:

“Take a leap of faith, sign up to that course or go for that job and don’t hold back. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need.”

“ETC helped me greatly. Everyone at ETC is so nice and helpful. Doesn’t matter who you are, they will help you.”

Chatesha officially graduated from the Voyages Indigenous Traineeship Program in June 2018 and this is the speech given by her Team Leader:

“Chatesha with her bright bubbly personality, big smile and energy, is always fun to work with. She has a great ability to brighten a team and has a high level of customer service. Changing from Kulata to Sails had its set of struggles, however, Chatesha was able to overcome those and now is one of the top-performing staff. She has now secured a full time role with us and is a very valuable member of the Alcurry team. We wish her all the success and hope that she stays funny as always.”

Jennie Rosser is extremely proud of Chatesha and her success.

“Chatesha stands tall and is proud of all that she has achieved as a young Aboriginal lady since living and working at the Resort.”