The Angurugu Tigers are in training for the game of their life: this week's grand final.
Easy no pressure And for Basil, the captain, winning is all
about teamwork on and off the field. Talk to one another work as a team, do things
together, keep us motivated. If you don't have a team then you don't have any chance
of winning. If you have a team you'll get further in life.
Basil and his mates live in Angurugu on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria in South
East Arnhem Land. Here mining royalties are creating new employment
opportunities for Basil and his mates. We've got a maintenance program here doing
a little bit of concreting so we've probably got some doors and arches something to do.
Work that's taken these guys from CDEP wages, to full time training, regular employment,
a weekly pay check and a sustainable future. I'm learning to drive this small dozer. It
takes a lot of concentration to learn to drive this truck. And working together here, learning
new skills is good. This is a lot different to CDEP. The boys
are really thriving at their work. It's outstanding how quickly the boys can pick it up. And once
they find something they like they really thrive on it, you know. It's changing things
slowly. A vision for full time employment for young
and old in the community, that began as a local initiative.
When young people start work they were in a lower wage, and so we were thinking about
that, and met with some staff and the council and we trained our people. Now we are training
young people. It's their choice and everything is now changing.
Changes instigated at a community level and supported by the local council.
We actually funded decision within the community. What happened [was] the council wanted to
have meaningful employment. We had royalties money, so to speak, so we just self funded.
With the council on side, the dream became a reality that was embraced by the local school,
leading to information events like this careers expo.
Basically the GEBIE (Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island Enterprises (GEBIE) Job Shop is a network
provider for the island and we're here today to promote the education and employment opportunities
that we have to offer.
We do fish patrol and look after land. When I see all these people, I say This is
your appointment, it's for job and training, what do you reckon, will you think about it?
It's your choice. A community employment initiative using CDEP
and local funding to create a 21st century vision that trains and employs Indigenous
construction workers to build a sustainable future in Angurugu.
Well, we found paid employment for these guys. They're off benefit, proud of what they do
and they're respected in the community because they do come to work everyday. They've got
sustainable employment with the opportunity to pick up skills, with a view to performing
duties at community level when all the whitefellas are gone.
Basil is a very good inspiration for a lot of the people on Groote Eylandt, especially
within the Indigenous communities. He's a fantastic success story like many others,
but Basil really is a shining star. This local footy hero has become a role model
to these kids in more ways than one. This is a good job. Lots of kind people, working
together and earning good money - my own money. We fix everything in the bathroom, the walls,
the roof. How long before we can begin working?
By then, Basil might be running the whole place.
It's a key message of change for the future delivered by an inspired group of young men.
It's good to get out of CDEP and get into a decent job earning decent money.
And it's working, because the mentors are community elders who realise how important
this change is. Good work. It's really good for the young
ones to get on and build a better life. A life that also includes regular time out
- a reward after a hard day's work. It's important - if you don't have the communication,
the friendship, it's hard, it sort of feels lonely, really. Being part of a team just
makes it better. Cheers!
This team effort has earned Basil and the Tigers a place in the local grand final.
A long-term commitment that today will pay dividends in more ways than one.
Yeah the teamwork is switching on. Yeah, I think
we have got this game.