Aurukun Shire Council staff are all smiles as they prepare to undertake practical training behind the wheel of a grader last week. Photo: Supplied.
Completion of a plant and machinery course represents the fulfilment of a childhood ambition for one proud council employee in the remote western Cape York community of Aurukun.
The two-week course provided 20 Aurukun Shire Council workers the chance to get their accreditation to operate a range of machinery, including graders, bobcats, excavators and rollers. Bob Klaricich from Civil Safety delivered the course funded by the Local Government Association of Queensland.
Long-term council employee Aelan Wolmby said the completion of the training marked a milestone decades in the making.
“Since I was a small boy, I’ve always wanted to operate big machines,” he said.
“I’d never been given the opportunity before, so finally getting behind the controls of a loader, excavator and grader was huge for me; jumping into the machines in front of the crew was nerve-racking at first, but Bob made us feel comfortable and allowed us to make mistakes and guided us through them properly.
“In previous jobs, I’d always be asked, ‘have you got your tickets for this or that? and I couldn’t say yes’. Now, I can finally say, ‘yes, yes I do’.
“These tickets open doors not just here, but for opportunities outside Aurukun too.”
Mr Wolmby said he hoped to inspire younger Aurukun residents and encouraged them to grab training opportunities with both hands.
“We need more of this training for our younger generations to gain skills, so we can work on our own Country instead of always bringing in contractors,” he said.
“This training changes your mindset; I feel more confident now and want to encourage other young people in the community to build their skills and contribute valuable work locally.”
Town Services supervisor Brian Jolliffe said the training enhanced council’s versatility and capacity to rapidly respond to civil works requirements.
“This training broadens our work scope and increases our versatility as a team,” he said.
“When you’ve got a strong pool of qualified operators on the ground, it means we can respond faster by managing works internally.
“Watching our employees gain these qualifications is something I am genuinely proud of.”
Aurukun Mayor Barbara Bandicootcha said the training would pay dividends for more than the 20 men who completed the course.
“This training not only empowers and upskills the staff who completed it, but also provides council with more control over vital service delivery areas like maintenance of our local roads,” she said.
“Now they’ve completed the training, greater employment opportunities have opened up for our staff, internally and with other employers across Cape York and beyond.
“This means more opportunities for the staff, their families, and the whole Aurukun community.”
The two-week training course, funded by the Local Government Association of Queensland and delivered by Civil Safety, involved theoretical and practical components aimed at upskilling Aurukun Shire Council staff in the operation of plant and equipment. Photo: Supplied.
