Spotlight on Kaitlyn Ahfat
Kaitlyn works at Nauiyu Store, situated on the banks of the Daly River, 250km north-west of Katherine.
Kaitlyn’s mother’s family is from the Daly River region, and her father’s family is from Barunga and Katherine. Kaitlyn lives with her sister and daughter, who is four years old. She has four sisters in total and three brothers, most of whom still live in the area.
After completing high school at Kormilda College in Darwin she returned home and quickly found work at the local post office, then later moved to the community of Peppimenarti where she worked doing administration tasks at the local arts centre.
She has now worked for six years at Nauiyu Store. Since Outback Stores started operating in the community three years ago, Kaitlyn has completed a Certificate IV in Retail Management.
Kaitlyn appreciated the opportunity to attain certified training, saying “It gave me more skills and made me more interested in working in the store. It showed me different ways of doing things.”
Kaitlyn Ahfat in front of the new mural painted on Nauiyu Store, Daly River
Kaitlyn has great communication skills and is an invaluable employee. She has a lot to offer, and we hope she will gain the confidence to take on more responsibilities within Outback Stores.
– Robert Niven
She enjoys all aspects of working at the store, particularly the company of the other staff members and the chance to talk to different people each day. She is particularly attentive to the fresh fruit and vegetable displays and making sure they look their best.
“Kaitlyn has great communication skills and is an invaluable employee. She has a lot to offer, and we hope she will gain the confidence to take on more responsibilities within Outback Stores,” says Robert Niven, co-manager of Nauiyu Store.
She works at least five days a week and on her free weekends enjoys relaxing in front of Netflix or fishing for black bream, which she cooks on the coals.
Kaitlyn recently got her learner drivers licence, and she is saving to buy a car. She is now studying a Certificate IV in Business through Alana Kaye College and hopes to manage the store herself one day, when her daughter is a little older.
This story features in the Outback Stores Annual Report 2021-22
