Mentoring adds to staff skills at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Mentoring at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park has enabled two Indigenous employees to learn new skills and move forward into different roles.

The initiative has already seen Park employee Troy Bassani head to the USA on his first international sales trip under the guidance of Robbie Bastion from Parker Travel Collection.

Explaining the move, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park Chief Executive Geoff Olson stated "stepping into Troy's role while he is away will be Damien Ralphs who will be responsible for local sales and marketing two days a week.

"Damien started work with Tjapukai last year when we recruited around Australia for new Indigenous performers.

"His strong 14-year history with contemporary dance troupes and a Diploma in Professional Dance made Damien a standout performer, while his professional approach to work led us to offer him the opportunity to build on the skills learnt in his Certificate III in Business Administration.

"Troy comes from Yarrabah and is studying a Bachelor of Business majoring in Management and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science at James Cook University while he works in sales and marketing for Tjapukai.

"This trip to the US will introduce Troy to the intricacies of international marketing before he takes on the responsibility of the American market for us."

Bassani said he had been working with Bastion to learn the key elements of the three-day sales mission, stating "this is a real opportunity for me to get a good insight into international business and tourism and I will be making the most of this valuable learning experience."

Olson said Tjapukai had a strong focus on training opportunities with three Indigenous staff doing an internship involving the development of new product for the redevelopment.

Olsen added "we also train people interested in working in the Indigenous tourism industry with two Indigenous school-based trainees from Smithfield State High School working in the Retail Gallery and five students from the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts in Brisbane recently completing paid traineeships at Tjapukai.

"Tjapukai endeavours to recruit Indigenous staff wherever possible as part of our philosophy to build a stronger and sustainable business representing the cultures of all Indigenous Australians.

"We employ 62 Indigenous staff, more than half of the total staff of 96, and in the past 12 months the number of Indigenous employment hours worked has increased from 53% to 65%.

"Eight Indigenous construction workers were onsite for the first phase of the $12 million redevelopment of Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and more will be used in the second phase which is underway."

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