The Yaka Dandjoo program celebrates 100 graduates
The program is focused on building meaningful career pathways by providing opportunities for young people, women, people over 45 years old, and Aboriginal people.
Published: 16 December 2022, Updated: 16 December 2022
Just one year on from its initial launch, the Yaka Dandjoo ‘Sustainable Employment’ program has seen its seventh cohort and 100th participant graduate.
The program is focused on building meaningful career pathways for unemployed and job-transitioning participants. This is accomplished through mentorships, training, and preparing students to work on major infrastructure projects in WA. The program is focused on providing opportunities for young people, women, people over 45 years old, and Aboriginal people.
Since its launch in October 2021, 58% of the graduates have been female and 65% have been Aboriginal.
One of the key challenges for the Yaka Dandjoo program over the last year has been the low unemployment rates in the South West region, which went from 5.3% to a historical low of 2.1% and is currently sitting at 3.4%. Although challenging to find suitable participants who are unemployed and live locally, the program has despite those odds, reached 100 graduates, providing greater opportunity and more jobs for the region.
In the seventh cohort of 17 participants, 15 were Aboriginal and 11 participants were women.
(The seventh cohort of Yaka Dandjoo graduates)
Two participants from the original cohort that completed the program in October 2021 attended the graduation to show their support. Kylie Thorburn spoke to the new graduates about her journey to employment and the impact the program had on her life. She now has her dream job working at the Leschenault Community Nursery and is completing a traineeship in Conservation and Land Management. This is a Main Roads initiative in partnership with the South West Gateway Alliance, where the nursery cultivates and provides seedlings for the project.
Alice Sambo also attended the event to support both of her parents, who were graduating as part of the seventh cohort. Alice was originally working as a roller operator on BORR and is now employed through a subcontractor.
“The Yaka Dandjoo program helped me to feel more confident and I now have a career”, said Alice.
(Previous graduates Alice Sambo and Kylie Thorburn)
If you’re interested in being involved, contact Main Roads on 138 138, or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au.