Eight young Torres Strait Islander men left their island homes last year to commence a rigorous vocational programme run by Outstation North, a training and employment company based at the Springvale cattle station near Cooktown, North Queensland.

Damien Curr, owner of Outstation North, said there has been significant growth in the local banana industry and many farmers were calling for Indigenous workers to be placed with them rather than backpackers or labourers from overseas. This year, Damien heeded the call.

“The eight came to Springvale station which is located at Lakeland Downs District and did a three-week training course in the banana industry with most emphasis being placed on the life skills required to hold down a full-time job,” Damien said.

“Very seldom do we have an employee terminated from a job, due to work skills; it is always about the life skills.”

According to Damien, one of the most important parts is to give the trainees activities they don’t get sick of.

“We teach them how to keep going when you've had enough, how to keep turning up on Monday morning when you don't want to, and how not to quit and go back home when the job is too hard.”

Selected from 35 applicants to the Australian Government funded programme, the eight young men have proven their capacity to learn these vital life skills as well as work skills, having gained full-time employment in the banana industry around the Lakeland area.

“I enjoy watching the young people as they slowly start to see their success and changes within themselves,” Damien said.

“The moral of the story is that it takes time to change somebody's life, and the job is just the measurable end result. My job is to perfect the stepping stones and systems which facilitate that change.”

Outstation North provides accredited training, appropriate work experience and direct access to employment. It also supports the trainees through accommodation, meals and mentoring.