Training Updates

Outback Stores continues to empower local team members through retail training certificates and career pathways. Last year 70 students completed a nationally accredited retail qualification, including a credited unit of competency food safety training for store managers.

Last year we again encountered challenges in keeping local staff engaged in work and training as we continued to be impacted by COVID-19. Staff attendance and face-to-face learning for students were affected due to the restrictions around COVID-19 mandates. Despite these challenges, 14 students completed a nationally accredited retail qualification, and 58 store managers completed a credited unit of competency in food safety training.

We continue to lead our industry in providing a relevant, interactive, and culturally appropriate learning experience for our staff and we maintain an unwavering commitment towards career progression.

Alma Ngalmi was appointed as the first Indigenous Training Manager last year. She is now leading the way for others to follow in her footsteps and is mentoring Dotty Repu from Maningrida who was promoted to be the second Indigenous training officer at Outback Stores. Dotty has been an exceptional team member and was formally recognised by winning the 2022 NT Training Awards – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year.

The training team continues to work closely with the NT Department of Education, as developing retail pathways for remote students in communities remains a core objective. Last year we were able to deliver school-based retail traineeships for the first time in Ngukurr and Santa Teresa with great support from our store managers and their senior team members.

Our focus for the immediate future is to increase the number of school-based trainees in remote communities and to see young aspiring retailers progress through our pathways into management.

Story adapted from the Outback Stores Annual Report 2021-22.