Deadly Women’s success celebrated in Cairns

Last Friday afternoon marked a significant milestone for 17 north Queensland Indigenous women from Cairns to TI who celebrated their graduation from the Indigenous Women’s Leadership & Development Program (Deadly Women) in Cairns.

Each received their graduation VET accredited certificates for Certificate I in Workplace Skills and Certificate I in Tourism (Australian Indigenous Culture).

The free two-week program was held in various locations over a two-year period and was open to any Deadly First Nations Women over the age of 18 years who had a desire to learn and grow new skills, meet other Deadly Sisters and achieve nationally recognised qualifications.

Reef & Rainforest Research Centre Managing Director Sheriden Morris said some graduates had already gone on to establish their own businesses and progress their careers.

“We admire these graduates’ willingness to learn and succeed despite the family commitments and demands many of them faced,” she said. “It is testament to their resilience and desire to become leaders in their communities.”

Graduate Georgina Dorante said she was able to move her business idea on Kirriri (Hammond Island) forward with her new skills.

“My experience attending this workshop has really made a big change for me,” she said.

“I gained and learnt a lot from this workshop especially on how to manage and operate small business. Today with all the knowledge I have taken on board, I am now a small business owner of a mobile food and drink cart called Kirr-Rock Munchies.”

Graduates Leah Warrior and Rosemary Loban were already employed at Gab Titui Cultural Centre on Thursday Island in back-of-house roles.

Thanks to their new training, both have the skills required to greet tourists and run tours of the galleries.

“The Deadly Women Program helped greatly, it provided an opportunity for Indigenous women to learn, build and gain knowledge of basic workplace procedures and practices as well as business in tourism,” Leah said.

She said the course was, “a fantastic opportunity to build on my skill sets as well as self or personal development, especially as a woman who would one day like to take lead a face and identity to the goals and ambitions that many women may have.

“They inspire us to believe that it is possible to realise those goals and dreams and not be defined by the expectations that society has set for them, but to strive for greater things and achieve their potential.

“Inspirational women offer a needed message of hope and ambition to women everywhere.

“We are the change.”

Throughout the program participants were inspired by guest speakers and site visits as well as theoretical study.

The many positive outcomes included: in some form in my community, surrounding communities and my workplace”.

• An agile and flexible learning and leadership program in a community setting, to enable women over 18 years of age to have access and participate in an entry-level program to acquire skills and qualifications.

Senator Nita Green said the program was about giving a hand up.

“The fact is, living in Regional Queensland does come with some challenges,” she said.

“We don’t always have opportunities on our doorstep, whether that be education, training and services, any number of things.

“This program is about investing in the women, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties and grandmothers and providing a chance to gain some important leadership skills to women in some of the remote parts of our country.”

Deadly Women Program Director Lydia Miller said inspirational women were important because they offered an aspirational and empowering message for young girls and women.

“They provide a positive example that can make all the difference,” she said.

“Role models provide

• Since commencement of the program in 2022, some 30 women aged 21-61 years of age have participated and achieved completion of the nationally recognised VETaccredited Certificate I in Workplace Skills and Certificate I in Tourism (Australian Indigenous Culture) delivered in four locations Cairns, Thursday Island, Mapoon and Napranum.

• Participants have gone on to further learning and leadership opportunities and have felt confident to apply to other leadership programs, knowing that they can achieve their goals.

Inspirational speakers throughout the program included:

• Professor Henrietta Marrie AM

• Dr Donna Odegaard AM

• Marilyn Miller

• Kantesha Takai

The Indigenous Women’s Leadership & Development Program (Deadly Women) was funded by the Federal Government, Queensland Government, Reef & Rainforest Research Centre and INLOC.

For more information about the program visit: https://deadlywomen. org.au/