Spotlight on Shania Williams
Spotlight on Shania Williams
Shania Williams works at the Santa Teresa Community Store, located 85 km from Alice Springs.
Also known as Ltyentye Apurte, the community is home to around 500 people, speaking mostly the Eastern Arrernte language.
Shania has been working at Outback Stores for six months, and in that time has progressed rapidly through her Certificate II in Retail Services and is currently studying Certificate III.
“I enjoy learning new things,” says Shania, who especially enjoyed learning how to use the cash registers and helping in the kitchen.
Training officer Emma Skyba has been mentoring Shania through her studies and says, “Shania enjoys helping out wherever it’s needed and serving her community”.
Shania enjoys helping out wherever it’s needed and serving her community.
– Emma Skyba
Shania works five days a week in the store, as well as evenings with the community night patrol. She and her four-year-old son live with her grandmother, who helps Shania balance the demands of working and child-rearing.
Lisa Ristevski, previous manager of the store says “Shania’s very reliable and shows lots of initiative. She is a pleasure to have at work.”
Current store manager Harika Akula says that Shania’s strengths are her attention to detail, and her willingness to learn and take on new responsibilities. “She has good time management and a positive attitude,” she adds.
Shania is saving up to buy a car and would like to take her son on holiday. The furthest she has travelled is to Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin. Next she would like to visit Brisbane or Melbourne, and would take her son to visit the zoo and museums. She hopes to eventually send her son to boarding school.
Shania is looking forward to learning more about the store and managing it herself one day.
