Aboriginal Pastoral Academy graduates ready for action

The latest entrants to the Aboriginal Pastoral Academy are getting ready to put their skills to work on Western Australia’s northern pastoral stations.

Building on the work of Aboriginal organisations Yawuru and Job Pathways, the Academy is helping grow career pathways for Aboriginal young people in the State’s north.

This week, seven young participants graduated from the inaugural East Kimberley entry pre-employment program, which included training and assessment at Mistake Creek Station.

“The Aboriginal Pastoral Academy plays a vital role in empowering young Aboriginal people to build meaningful careers in the pastoral industry,” Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch said.

“By fostering partnerships with Aboriginal organisations, station owners, and industry bodies, the Aboriginal Pastoral Academy strengthens leadership pathways and creates opportunities for the next generation across our State’s north.

“The success of these programs is a powerful example of what happens when local leadership, Aboriginal organisations and industry leaders come together.

Last month (April), 11 participants graduated from Yawuru’s Warrmijala Murrgurlayi (Rise Up to Work) Agricultural pre-employment program at the Yawuru owned Gumaranganjyal Roebuck Plains Station, marking the program’s seventh year led by Broome’s Traditional Owners.

Graduates from both programs are now part of the Aboriginal Pastoral Academy and are ready for work during the 2025 pastoral season.

The academy is a partnership between Yawuru, Job Pathways and the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association, with support from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Shell Prelude FLNG.

Graduates from the pre-employment programs are supported for their first two years of employment and their workplaces also receive a range of supports.

The academy’s recent expansion to the East Kimberley builds on the success of the Yawuru program and has been supported through the Future Drought Fund Farm Business Resilience Program and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.