Michelle Young lives in Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte), a remote community with a population of around 500 people, located 85km south-east of Alice Springs.

Michelle grew up speaking the languages of both Eastern Arrernte and English at home.

Before starting at Outback Stores Michelle was an artist working at the local Keringke Art Centre, famous for its particularly bright and intricate style of dot paintings.

When she first started working at the store in Santa Teresa, she was keen to learn how to use the cash registers. Her favourite subject at school had always been mathematics and she thinks that it’s probably why she learned the cash register so quickly.

Since working at the store, Michelle has completed the highest level of certified training that Outback Stores provides, completing her Certificate IV in Retail Management in 2021.

She enjoyed learning all aspects of the management training and was able to put those skills to use very soon afterwards when the COVID-19 virus struck the community. With both store managers ill, Michelle and another long-term employee, Troy Turner, drew on their training to keep the community’s only store operating amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michelle was willing to go above and beyond to make sure the store stayed open when the community was affected by COVID-19. She is a star employee and has a lot of potential.

– Shkarra Baskott, previous co-manager of Santa Teresa store.

I want to be a good example for my daughter.

– Michelle Young

The store looks amazing and we’ve had awesome feedback.

– Amy Driver, Business Manager of Ngurrutjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation

After a drive down the Tanami the oasis that is Tilmouth Well Roadhouse is amazing.

–  Traveller review, Facebook

Mimili is a community on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in remote South Australia. Located 645 km south of Alice Springs, it is home to around 200 of the Anangu people.

Mimili Maku Store Aboriginal Corporation approached Outback Stores in 2009 because many years of prior mismanagement had left the store in significant debt. Soon the store started turning a profit, with money flowing back into local projects through its Community Benefit Account (CBA).

Rex Tjami, chairperson of the corporation, explains that the community saw immediate positive outcomes. “Lots of changes happened straight away – the store looked better, there was healthy food, better fruit and vegetables and cheaper products.”

At first Rex says there were reservations in the community about the role of Outback Stores, until they realised that “Outback Stores are working for us, and it’s the corporation that owns and runs the store,” he explains.

It’s easy and understandable working with Outback Stores.

– Rex Tjami, chairperson of Mimili Maku Store Aboriginal Corporation

Mimili is a real success story.

– Nelson Tavares, Operations Manager at Outback Stores