NAIDOC Week 2022: Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up!

This year’s NAIDOC theme is Get Up, Stand Up and Show Up, which is something our training team know all about. Each day Alma Ngalmi and Dotty Repu get up and stand by their commitment to show that others from remote communities can have the same opportunities as they had to further their careers through certified training, and they lead by their own example.

Alma (pictured left) grew up in Numbulwar Community, in South-East Arnhem Land. Her first job was at the Barunga Community Store, and soon worked her way up to the role of store supervisor, and from there moved to the Darwin support office as receptionist. She enrolled in Certificate IV in Retail Management as well as Training and Assessor, while juggling full-time work and raising a young family. She completed both qualifications and achieved her goal of becoming the first Aboriginal Retail Trainer at Outback Stores. “This was one of my proudest moments in life,” she says.

Now Alma is leading the way for others to follow in her footsteps, and is mentoring Dotty Repu (pictured right) from Maningrida Community.

Alma says “It’s really important for local Aboriginal people to have career pathways and opportunities. It is my job to empower and challenge others to get the best out of themselves. My experience working in remote communities helps breaks down cultural communication barriers. When I train and talk in the local language it makes a big difference and changes the whole experience. VET (Vocational Education and Training) helped me grow my skills, develop confidence and opened up career pathways that I thought weren’t possible.”

Dotty is from Maningrida community in West Arnhem Land and she started her career by completing a Certificate III in Business and a traineeship with Westpac. She first joined Outback Stores in 2020 as Operations Administration Assistant, before working her way up to her new position of Training Officer. Last week Dotty was selected as one of three finalists for the 2022 NT Training Awards – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year.

“I’m really enjoying helping Outback Stores in making a difference with all the communities we work with. I have lived in community and know what it’s like to live out bush. My goal is to move up into a leadership role at Outback Stores, and continue to help support our communities and homelands,” says Dotty.

Well done to our training team for getting up each day, standing up for what they believe in, and showing others that the best form of leadership is through their own example!

To read more about NAIDOC Week click here.