Indigenous Employer & Employee Case Studies June 2013

QTIC would like to acknowledge funding provided by the Government to support the revision of the resource. Introduction

2. Coolgaree Bay Bistro Indigenous people continue to play an BUILDING COMMUNITIES integral role in Queensland’s tourism 4. Industry Accreditation industry landscape. The following stories CONNECTING TO COUNTRY highlight both individuals and teams’ 6. CaPTA Group achievements in a particularly competitive FINDING HER FEET and challenging environment. 8. Yurri Muntha Café MAPPING THE FUTURE

Enjoy the 2013 installment of 10. Minjerribah Camping Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s FEEL THE SPIRIT ‘Case Studies’. 12. Mossman Gorge Centre HOUSE OF JOY

Acknowledgements. The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) wishes to thank the following This document was designed for organisations for their contribution to this document: Coolgaree Bay Bistro, Industry Accreditation, on screen reading. Please think of Capta Group, Yurri Muntha Café, Minjerribah Camping, Mossman Gorge Centre our great land before printing. 1 Coolgaree Bay Bistro Building Communities

Coolgaree Bay Bistro commenced However, the establishment of The menu reflects a conscious effort trading on 4 October 2012 and is this facility, other infrastructure, to educate Indigenous people in centrally located on Palm Island. a committed Mayor, Councillors healthy eating habits and is structured Palm Island is predominately an and Council staff to economic around a balance of all five food Indigenous settlement and is situated development, has seen a groups. some sixty five kilometres north - west transformation that all of Townsville in tropical northern and sundry, can and are, Queensland. extremely proud of. It is a remote and isolated community The ‘brain child’ of ex There is a positive ‘feel’ and Information Technology and has had a somewhat chequered confidence on Palm Island… past. expert, Shane Stratton, the Bistro has become a meeting place for the local Indigenous population and the preferred employer Shane reflects on the culture of on the Island. the business, ‘We have created The operation was made possible a competitive workplace, an through a grant from the Palm environment where employees Island Council and in a understand the importance ‘fashion’ is an up market of customer - not a replacement for the island means to an end, but canteen that ceased an opportunity to operation in 2008. create and reaffirm relationships’. It is owned by the Council and operated under a lease ‘The Bistro is a place arrangement and serves where everyone is given anywhere between 200 a chance. Give and take and 250 meals per day. make up a large portion of our daily mantra - the employees here really want to work and forge a career pathway in food and beverage’.

2 Coolgaree Bay Bistro Building Communities

‘We have never had the need to The Coolgaree Beach Bistro also advertise for employees, the Palm provides work experience placements Island grapevine works very quickly for the local Community Development and the available positions are filled in Program (CDP). This has enabled hours’. participants to remain local and The facility is dual purpose, a bustling eliminates the need to leave family Bistro by day and a commercial and friends support networks to travel kitchen to the adjacent licenced to Townsville and beyond for crucial premise by night. work experience. Coolgaree Bay Bistro employs seven permanent and four casual Indigenous people as part of the team that Specific training has been identified delivers seven day a week service to and implemented for those seeking the resident population of around four thousand people. management opportunities. Multi - skill ‘on the job’ training underpins Shane’s engagement Shane Stratton’s closing remarks strategy with the staff. He sees capture the essence of the community his overall role as the guide and impact the Coolgaree Beach Bistro has mentor for the new employees and had on the people of Palm Island, ‘A empowerment as the methodology place has been created that is highly best suited for the experienced crew. respected and where all people are Furthermore, he believes an inclusive acknowledged and welcomed. It is approach helps identify leadership place to be proud of, a place for locals talent and keeps everybody on track, to learn new skills and a place where in the ‘know’ and moving in the locals can call home’. same direction. The staff members are particularly reliable, honest and outwardly promote a cohesive team environment.

3 Industry Accreditation Connecting to Country

Dean Nulty is a non - Indigenous, fifty A forty five minute conversation This sensible approach creates two years young trainer of Indigenous with Dean is both refreshing and the opportunity to show case the people who lives in north Queensland enlightening. You cannot help but be Indigenous culture, enables first - and works in the Wet Tropics and Cape caught up in his passion for his work, hand research aspects of particular York regions of the state. his understanding of his craft and the individual clan nuances and capture By his own admission, the body may respect for the people he has had the the thoughts and stories of the be beginning to falter, but the ‘stuff’ privilege of coming into contact with. Traditional Owners. between the ears is still going fine, An experience base thank you very much. of ten years in tour ‘Indigenous people read guiding, throughout the northern extremities of the landscape the way others Australia, has provided read a book’. the launching pad for a successful shift into the training arena. As Dean explains further, ‘It is all Dean and Jacqui Conway’s about being comfortable in the training organisation, Industry environment and having a positive Accreditation, delivers training attitude. Open and honest Certificates III and IV in communication at all times - walking Tourism Guiding for future the walk. Using the ‘Elder’s’ and existing enterprises. knowledge base to keep the culture alive. Establishing Unlike the majority of trust and showing respect traditional classroom for people who have been training delivery, he on this land for sixty believes that the best thousand years. way to connect with I do not see colours, Indigenous people is to I see people’. teach skill sets on country and most importantly in their own environment.

4 Industry Accreditation Connecting to Country

After four years of playing in the I asked Dean what he thought Dean is a particularly well respected Indigenous training space and a stint was some of the challenges facing professional and his wide ranging in Madagascar, Dean has developed a the Tourism Industry in Far North skill base, is often called on by teaching style and methodology that is Queensland and he replied with “the tour operators to take guided tours, underpinned by a simple yet effective transient nature of the Industry makes interview and train new staff and up principle - he calls it the ‘Three Way it difficult to retain quality staff and skill current staff members. Symbiotic Guiding Principle’. It relates the proliferation of tour desks has to the inter relationship between the affected the distribution guide, the environment and the guest. mechanics of some In his own words, smaller enterprises’. ‘The synergy must be there for ‘The synergy must be there for every He added, ‘It is certainly every element of the experience element of the experience or it will not not all doom and gloom, or it will not work’. work’. we have a fantastic The use of theming and images product here, people (visual cues with simple pictures) come to see the World Heritage Reef, of real people ‘on country’ often Rainforest and Tropical Savannahs. assist in breaking done barriers The industry is now recognising the especially in terms of social, cultural, importance of Indigenous tourism, as literacy and numeracy challenges. more and more clients to the region Written assessment is kept to a wish to experience Aboriginal culture. bare minimum, with a concerted There is much that the Traditional effort to move towards testing being Owners can contribute to the visitor based around ‘hands on’ practical experience, and Industry Accreditation experiences and oral exercises. hope to be a small part of that story.

5 CaPTA Group Finding Her Feet

It has been repeated many times Her first, post school decision was for change. It gave her the opportunity throughout my working life - you to leave family and friends in Cairns to work with school age children only get one chance to make a first and move to Port Adelaide in South in culture and dance, preserve impression - and Kylie Singleton has Australia to study at the Aboriginal Indigenous culture and teach nomadic certainly mastered the art. Community College. A love for motor based skills - bush tucker, medicines Kylie lives in Cairns, Tropical North vehicles encouraged Kylie to enrol in and tracking. Queensland and is a direct decedent a male dominated mechanics of the tribe. course which unfortunately only lasted for twelve months. An ‘Find something you are She freely admits that not everything overly competitive environment passionate about and give it has always gone to plan in her life, and a bullying culture made however, perseverance and a life motto learning difficult and remaining all you got, because you are of ‘don’t be shame be game - give it a in the ‘course’ untenable. go, cause you don’t know unless you responsible for your future - try’. Not to be dissuaded from no one else’. furthering her education, Kylie ‘Find something you are re-enrolled at the College passionate about and give it in a legal bridging course with the all you got, because you are aim of studying at degree level responsible for your future - at the Adelaide University. Again no one else’ circumstances conspired against her - has helped this resilient and the study stint lasted less than a young lady find her feet. year. Educated at local, Trinity ‘Jumping right back on the horse’ Bay High, and graduating Kylie by her own admittance finally from Year 12 in 1991, came of age (even though still very Kylie took on the world young) with a realisation of identity. with a strong level of A Cultural Tourism Instructing Course academic achievement at the Aboriginal Community College and a history of success. was the catalyst and circuit breaker

6 CaPTA Group Finding Her Feet

Staying with the tourism theme, Kylie Tourism was again firmly placed on returned home to Cairns to work at the the employment agenda with a job Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park - one opportunity with local attraction of the most prominent Indigenous based company, CaPTA Group. Kylie cultural facilities in the country. Eight has held several positions, over three years of tenure included roles and years, within the organisation, the responsibilities in a number of diverse current being in the Careers Training areas, including; sales and marketing; Department. reservations; stage management; Her fellow work colleagues retail and food and beverage. Her speak highly of her skills ‘I have a passion for helping achievements were rewarded with and commitment to being recognised as a finalist in the assisting Indigenous and teaching all youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Student of people find meaningful regardless of their background’. the Year. career pathways in tourism A change of direction, but not related businesses. commitment to her people, Kylie It seems that this young, talented lady moved from tourism roles to that of from Cairns has again found her feet an Indigenous Youth Employment in a support role that is important for Consultant for two years. Kylie says’ her people and her culture. ‘I have a passion for helping and teaching all youth regardless of their background’. Throughout her time as a Consultant, she assisted Indigenous youth to stay in school, complete other accredited training and mentored those seeking employment for thirteen and twenty six week outcomes.

7 Yurri Muntha Café Mapping the Future

Sheree Strauss is the Retail Manager five Indigenous staff in a town that is Café has received recognition for of Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire growing as a tourism destination. involvement in the 2012 (Technical Council’s Yurri Muntha Café located Asked why the move from her own and Further Education) TAFE Work approximately three hours’ drive business to working with an Aboriginal Placement Program, support for north, north - west of Brisbane in Council, Sheree replied, the Cherbourg Family Playgroup the Sunshine Coast hinterland of and a Certificate of Appreciation Queensland. ‘I was impressed with the Council’s for - Outstanding Contribution to vision that the establishment should Community Service. With twenty years hospitality and be a community meeting place, a tourism experience ‘under her belt’ space where Indigenous and non - Sheree made the move from her own Indigenous people could connect and catering business in Kingaroy to the where some of the region’s great ideas responsibility of managing could be hatched’. The café opened in August of 2012 and has quickly established a reputation for consistent, great quality and healthy food for both the local Indigenous population and visitors alike. Food is sourced from the nearby towns of Murgon and Kingaroy and it is hoped that the local ‘farm’ in Cherbourg is re-established to enable the purchase of herbs and ‘greens’ from the immediate community. After only ten months of operation Yurri Muntha

8 Yurri Muntha Café Mapping the Future

Sheree plans to build on these achievements by undertaking an ‘The support from local, State, Federal Government ambitious, but absolutely achievable five year growth strategy. It includes, and organisations such as The Aboriginal however, is not limited by the Community Interest Consultative Committee following components: (ACICC) is vital to the establishment of businesses 1. Increasing the number of local catering contracts (currently 22) such as Yurri Muntha Café. This is because it is 2. Increasing the involvement in important that employees can follow a training tourism based activities (Ration pathway and be equipped with knowledge relevant Shed Museum partnership and the to the Tourism Industry and are the building establishment of weekend package tours) blocks of a successful and sustainable business - 3. Establishment of an outdoor Indigenous or non - Indigenous’. catering arm to the business 4. Establishment of a commercial In the ‘here and now’ the Café is Her response was as follows, kitchen focusing on developing a unique on “It is obvious to the author that the the job training plan in partnership business culture is built on mutual 5. Establishment of a training/meeting with Nurunderi TAFE which will give respect, trust, allowance for individual room on premise adjacent to the employees an opportunity to enrol needs, illustrated by inclusive roster café in and complete Certificates III in planning for the local football stars, Commercial cookery and Hospitality and a genuine connection to Operations. Delivering training on community.” the job will benefit employees as well This sense of community as customers- who will be able to touches all and sundry purchase food items prepared by Yurri - no wonder Sheree, Muntha staff. the employees, the On a different tact I spoke with Sheree Cherbourg Aboriginal about some of the critical keys to Shire Council and two success with a venture of this nature. thousand residents are as proud as they are.

9 Minjerribah Camping Feel the Spirit

Ask any stakeholder in Minjerribah Quandamooka people of North 4WD permits, dispense information Camping Pty Ltd about the success . about tides, weather and fishing of their new business, and the answer Thirteen kilometres from the Brisbane conditions, or just let people know will invariably include the word mainland a ferry is pulling up on where to buy bread and milk. As the ‘goodwill’. Goodwill has resulted in the - ‘Straddie’. first point of contact for many visitors realisation of its first business venture, As its ramp is lowered, 4WD, car and to the island, and as proud Traditional Straddie Camping . And goodwill motorcycle engines roar to life as Owners, the team are enjoying every is now driving forward a business drivers and foot passengers prepare to opportunity to invite their guests committed to caring for country while disembark. to ‘Feel the Spirit of Quandamooka generating economic, employment Country’. Among the passengers are some of and social benefits It’s a simple invitation representing for the the island’s 2,000 or so residents, returning home from work or other a long journey to self-determination. activities on the mainland. If it’s That journey ended - and also began holiday season, the majority will be afresh - in February 2013 when campers keen to kick-start their Quandamooka Elders bestowed their island adventure, and they’ll blessing, prayers and gifts upon be making a beeline for the the stakeholders and head office of booking office of Straddie Straddie Camping. Camping. Many will be repeat visitors, getting their regular fix of the Straddie vibe: white sandy beaches, magnificent sunsets, world-class fishing and a warm welcome from laid- back locals. At the Straddie Camping booking office, the Guest Services team are standing ready to issue camping and

10 Minjerribah Camping Feel the Spirit

The long-held aspirations of those Elders, and the broader Straddie ‘We communicate, are inclusive and respectful, community, were realised in July 2011 when a historic Native Title we value input from our community and respect Determination transferred ownership the rights of all members who love and share of the island’s existing camping our Island. We are focused on delivering profits business, Straddie Holiday Parks, and control of the land on which it was and benefits to our shareholders and our whole operating, from Queensland’s Redland community, and to achieve that we are ultimately City Council (as trustees) to QYAC. striving to provide great beach camping holiday The signing of the agreement has enabled Straddie Camping to take experiences’. over administration and management of the island’s six holiday parks and Uncle Bob Anderson believes the The Chief Executive Officer, Clare two foreshore camping grounds (a employment being generated by the Carroll reflects, ‘Straddie Camping has total of 1,200 sites). With more than business will encourage Quandamooka thus far been successful because of 85,000 visitors to Straddie each year, people to remain - or return to - living the strength of its partnerships, based the joint venture is already producing and working on their island home. ‘It on the desire for a strong economic significant employment and income will provide an opportunity for those and social future for the island. outcomes for the Quandamooka who left the Island to come home, and ‘We have a shared vision, community. Currently 50 per cent I am confident that will happen… ‘, we believe in it and we of staff are Indigenous, with further he said. ‘People who are living on the are serious about its employment expected from a capital mainland have got skills, and their outcomes’, said Clare. works program to upgrade and expand very presence back here [has] started camping facilities; create new public to broaden it out; you can feel the art and signage across the island; warmth and strength of all that spirit’. and further develop its tourism and cultural potential.

‘An extract from ‘Feel the Spirit’, published in Indigenous Business Australia’s Inspire magazine, issue ten 2013. Read the article in full at www.iba.gov.au/inspire’ 11 Mossman Gorge Centre House of Joy

Once upon a time there was a young and he dreamt of sustainable long - leaving daily from the main centre entrepreneurial Indigenous boy named term employment for his Indigenous into traditional hunting trail within the Roy Gibson who dared to dream… community. Daintree Rainforest. Whilst selling coconuts on the Twenty years later Roy’s roadside of the Captain Cook Highway, dream has become a reality, he dreamt of a prosperous future for a spectacular outcome and The entrée to a moving his people, a future that testament to perseverance, and spiritual Indigenous included protection of ‘country’ (the relationship building business experience waiting patiently spectacular Mossman Gorge and World flair and the passion of the Heritage listed rainforest environment) Yalanji people. With the in the rainforest. support and backing of the Indigenous Land Corporation this On the training side of the ledger world class tourism facility is providing the Centre boasts the following; a unique insight into Indigenous residential facilities for twenty culture and highlights the success students through the Indigenous of Indigenous employment Youth Mobility Program; Nationally programs. accredited Hospitality courses, full Mossman Gorge and the - time support from house parents, Mossman Gorge Centre meals provided and single rooms with are located approximately shared bathrooms. eighty kilometres to the From a course perspective Certificate north of Cairns in Tropical Two in Hospitality is taught over North Queensland. Both a twenty week period and are ideally situated practical work experience between two reasonably sees trainees being placed significant urban in local businesses and populations and a major within the Mossman Gorge transport link. At the Centre. Furthermore, the Centre visitors will find a Mossman Gorge Centre contemporary café, tour has five hospitality trainees desk, locally stocked art and three apprentice chefs gallery and gift shop and learning their craft in - house. four Indigenous guided walks 12 Mossman Gorge Centre House of Joy

The Kuku Yalanji people are the are exposed to an experience like no land owner, we worked with outside Indigenous inhabitants of the land and other in Australia. funding agencies and we worked as have a history dating back 50,000 This success can be measured in a a community. To see so many of my years to the earliest human occupation number of ways; the ‘beat of feet’ people wanting to work, enjoying work of Australia. They are true rainforest - some 260 000 visitors in the first and staying in work is that dream people, living in complete harmony year of operation (and that’s more come true’. with their environment. It is part of than Uluru in the Northern them and they are part of it, a notion Territory); animal species Put simply, the environment that is movingly brought to life during have begun returning to an Indigenous guided walking tour of the ‘gorge’ area of the is protected by guided access, Mossman Gorge. forest; ninety per cent of the Kuku Yalanji people are Their traditional country extends from employees at Mossman south of Mossman to Cooktown in the Gorge are Indigenous and employed in sustainable north, and Palmer River in the west. in the main local; the employment and visitors are The Kuku Yalanji culture is built business is completely exposed to an experience like around a deep respect for nature and stand alone and requires an intimate knowledge of its cycles. no further financial no other in Australia. Their knowledge has been passed support from outside down through the generations - with agencies and most importantly, Like so many ‘Once Upon a Time’ the members of the community having is the energy and absolute joy stories this story about the Kuku learned all they know from their generated by the people that work Yalanji community is one that is elders, parents, grandparents, uncles and live here in the community. It destined to become a story that and aunties. is incredibly tactile and infectious. will be told and relived for The combination of Indigenous culture The leadership team embraces the generations to come. Vision, and a controlled access management Yalanji culture throughout all elements sound management approach to the Gorge has generated of the business, from the products practices, a well - grounded a triple win situation for the Kuku and services on offer through to the business model and Yalanji people, the visitor and the policies and procedures for the team. engaged, enthusiastic staff environment. In the words of an exceptionally proud creates an environment Roy Gibson, ‘This is meant to be. It that is credit to Roy and Put simply, the environment is the community at large. protected by guided access, the came to me one night in a dream. Kuku Yalanji people are employed in We worked towards this dream for sustainable employment and visitors twenty years. We worked with the 13