This course has provided the opportunity for all participants to gain the skills and knowledge to work in a rural setting. This qualification covers multifunctional roles in agriculture, horticulture and conservation land management, and other related industries. It also covers other industry sectors, such as local government, tourism, hospitality, transport, construction, information technology and metals.
We are very proud of all nine participants who now have job opportunities in mixed farming and agricultural production, retail, agribusiness, local government, tourism, transport, construction and even mining. – Nathan Vinson, Community Development Programme (CDP) Manager
The training was conducted by Industry Training QLD over four weeks. The first two weeks of the course were theoretical lessons based in Palm Island and the second two weeks were hands on in Townsville. The course was fully funded by Campbell Page, which included meals, accommodation and flights to and from Palm Island.
In the final week of the course the Palm Island participants have gained their tickets to operate skid-steer loaders, backhoes, chainsaws, excavators and elevated work platforms. The participants are so proud of their achievements. – Peter Turner, Campbell Page CDP Activity Supervisor
Janaya attended the Campbell Page Moruya Youth Centre until 2014 when she moved away from her home in Moruya to attend a High School in Sydney and put her education first. The move away from her mob wasn’t easy, but she is so happy she did it.
Janaya had attended the Youth Centre since she was 12 and had participated in the Youth Connection Program before she moved to Sydney. We are so proud of her! – Felicity Clark, Specialist Youth and Family Case Manager
Janaya’s Story
In 2014 halfway through Year Nine I went to Sydney to start a new life.
I felt nervous because I was going to meet new people and I would be living in a big city and attending a new school. I had a lot of support behind me to get me through any challenges that may arise throughout my journey. These challenges I experienced had shaped me and gained my growth as an independent Aboriginal young female today.
I gained a lot of confidence living away from home and especially building new friendships who were in the same headspace as I, such as missing home, my family and my mob. We all supported each other by being by each other’s side and talking about each other’s communities and lifestyles. The funny thing was, living away from home you realised how much you missed your siblings and the simple things.
Living away from my mob wasn’t an easy choice but I have now realised how much I grew while progressing my education.
Janaya made the choice to put her education first and hasn’t looked back
While building our peer relationships we all realised we may not be from the same bloodline but we all felt our sisterhood was present. I really didn’t know if I could make it through to Year 12, but halfway through Year 11 I gained clarity of my achievements. I still contacted Mum to ask if I could come home, in my eyes and in my heart my Mum was my rock who empowered me to believe in myself. Those moments I did not want to let my Mum down and I remained at Biala to complete my school years.
I learnt tools to pick myself up when I was feeling down, I am competent to improve my wellbeing. I am so grateful for the opportunity that was handed to me and grateful for my Mum, my family and everyone involved that had helped me on my journey. My advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island brothers and sisters – if an opportunity comes your way take it by the reins and ride all the way. Don’t hold in your troubles, seek support.
Campbell Page is a not-for-profit dedicated to transforming people’s lives through employment and education. To find out more about our youth services, please with the Youth and Family page on our website. To find out more about Campbell Page, please click here, or contact us directly.
Since launching the Lost Artists of Palm Island Exhibition late last month, some incredible stories have surfaced from the artists. One in particular that stood out to Sotir Kondov (Interim CEO of Campbell Page) was Anthony Joshua Bourne’s story.
Anthony was born in Townsville and moved to Palm Island when he entered high school. He started sketching at a very young age and so naturally, this continued throughout his teenage years.
I used to sketch in class so my teachers would get frustrated with me, but I couldn’t stop. – Anthony Joshua Bourne
Anthony started taking art more seriously when he was 21 and started painting at a local art studio on the Island. With the support of his family, Anthony aims to become paint nature and landscapes full-time and become financially independent.
Pictured above is Sotir, senators and members of the CDP team attending the Arts and Culture activity, run by Campbell Page on Palm Island.
Everyone is really excited to show off the talents of the Lost Artists of Palm Island – Sotir Kondov is particularly proud of what the community is achieving.
The amazing thing about this exhibition is that it’s giving artists on Palm Island, like Anthony, a platform to display and receive recognition for their artworks. – Sotir Kondov
The exhibition is displaying artworks from the 40+ tribes of the Palm Island and Bwgcolman people to showcase their talents in a way that has not been done on Palm Island before.
The month-long event will host artworks from popular local artists at the Art at the Jezzine Gallery seven days a week from 10 am to 4 pm until October 27th. Click here to visit the event page.
We are really proud what the Exhibition is doing for the people of Palm Island – Sotir Kondov
At Campbell Page, we believe that no-one should be denied the opportunity of secure employment. Our Community Development Programme (CDP) is our remote employment and community development service. We have made it our mission to provide the Palm Island community with access to the opportunity of sustainable employment. To find out more about the work we do on Palm Island, please click here or contact us directly.
We are excited to announce that Campbell Page and LINK Community Transport have partnered up to ensure that all people in our community have access to the same services.
LINK is the largest community transport provider in Victoria. They have helped thousands of people live a better life and remain independent by providing safe and affordable transport to social, recreational, health and family commitments. Additionally, LINK has also added assisted shopping and domestic cleaning to their list of services as a way of ensuring that all people have access to a great quality of life.
Together Campbell Page and LINK Community Transport aim to bring together their services to ensure that all members of the community will grow and thrive.
Mario’s Story
I am Mario and I am 56 years old. I had a stroke in August 2016 and was hospitalised for 3 weeks and in rehab for another 8 weeks. I was doing Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy following my discharge from hospital to improve my right arm’s movement and strength.
I came to Campbell Page in early February 2017 for help finding a job. At that time I had weakness in my right arm and I did not have a medical clearance from my doctor to start working full-time. I worked with the Occupational Assessor (OA) at Campbell Page for 3 fortnights to identify suitable work options.
I never thought I could work – Campbell Page changed that.
During the discussions, my OA suggested voluntary work as an option. It sounded good for me because it meant that I could get back into the workforce casually while I worked on building my strength. I started looking for voluntary work in hospitals but the waitlists were often too long, so my OA suggested LINK Community Transport. No sooner had the suggestion been made, Teresa from LINK contacted me and assisted me with all the paperwork to make the process very easy for me.
LINK considered all my health conditions and went out of their way to support me.
They gave me an opportunity that suits me and I am now working as a driver’s assistant. In my job, I assist people with disabilities and elderly people to get on and off the vehicle safely and supervise them during their transport. This job provides me with a sense of belonging and great satisfaction. LINK also provides me with training and skills for my future and is like a family to me because we all look after each other. I really do look forward to my work each day.
When I started my voluntary work I had pain in my right arm because I was moving my arm a lot. Now I have gained more strength and there is less pain in my arm. It looks like my health is improving and my doctor has now given me a clearance to drive my car to work which is a big step forward.
This job is very rewarding and I enjoy working with LINK. I recommend them and Campbell Page to everyone.
LINK Community Transport is a charitable organisation that supports the elderly, people living with a disability and their carers. They are a trusted provider of transport, assisted shopping and cleaning and social outings, helping thousands of Melbournians live a better life and remain independent. LINK also provides a range of volunteer opportunities for people looking to learn new skills, get back in the workforce and make a difference to the most disadvantaged communities. If you would like to find out more, about LINK Community Transport, please click here.
Harley first came to Campbell Page straight out of school unsure of what was next for him and how he would go about finding a job.
At his first meeting with his Candidate Coach he was very reserved and quiet for many reasons, but namely, because he was lacking in confidence.
I found it really hard to get motivated. There were some days where getting out of bed and leaving the house were too hard, so finding a job seemed impossible. – Harley
At this stage in his life, Harley was not keen on working because he believed that nobody would employ him. Michelle, his Candidate Coach, was not going to let Harley continue to believe this, so together they started small and began working on Harley’s confidence.
It was important to Michelle that Harley felt he could be employed as a first step because without this self-belief the rest of the work they would do wouldn’t amount to anything Harley could be proud of.
I really needed him to see what we saw in him – potential. – Michelle Bobbin, Campbell Page Candidate Coach.
Once Harley was able to identify his skills, both Michelle and Harley began working on what jobs he could see himself working in and what industries he found interesting. Hospitality work was one of the first areas Harley showed interest in, so he was enrolled in a Hospitality skillset course where he obtained his RSA, RCG and Barista certifications. Harley particularly took to barista work but was concerned with using tills because he did not feel confident with his computer and admin skills.
Even though Harley wasn’t excited to do anything related to admin work, he recognised that there was a gap in his skill set that could be filled by the Certificate III in Business Admin that was being run by Campbell Page.
When Michelle mentioned the course, I was pretty dismissive. I knew admin wasn’t my thing, so my confidence just wasn’t there. – Harley
When Harley agreed to take part in the course, he told Michelle not to get her hopes up because he would most likely fail and disappoint her, but the opposite occurred. Harley thrived throughout the duration of the course. He attended classes every week, built a great network of friends and completed his certificate.
Suddenly, the shy Harley disappeared and was replaced with a happy, confident and enthusiastic young man. – Michelle
Soon after, Harley began putting all of his hard work into practice and applied for jobs. When he was invited to interview for a job at Potoroo Palace Wildlife Sanctuary Cafe, he was nervous and didn’t feel 100% comfortable in his interview clothing, however, he put all of this aside and ended up getting the job.
During his first few weeks, Harley was given the opportunity to gain more skills in new areas. He began working one day per week at Cowsnest Community Farm (part of the Potoroo Palace business) in addition to his role at the Cafe. This experience exposed Harley to working outdoors and with animals which he enjoyed. Harley has been working in this role for 8 months and his confidence and enthusiasm for life are rapidly increasing.
Finding a job has been the best thing for me. My mental health has never been better! – Harley
Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making a difference in our communities. Our jobactive team work with people to help build their strengths to find great jobs and a brighter future. If you would like to find out more about what we do, please click here to view our About Us page or here to Contact Us directly.
Robert Youngblutt is a Campbell Page site Supervisor on Palm Island and has been living on the Island since he was 30 years old.
Originally from Bribie Island (75km from Brisbane), Robert first visited Palm Island at the age of 19 to spend time with his Aunt and Uncle. A year later he returned to help them renovate their house at Pencil Bay and he fell in love with the Island.
I loved the natural beauty, the colours, the reef and most of all, the people.
The following decade saw Robert travel between the mainland and Palm Island for work. Robert had thought about moving permanently to Palm Island but made the decision final one night as he was walking home.
I was wandering home one night and I ran into a beautiful Island girl named Nazareth. I’d fallen in love with the Island and now with the most beautiful woman on the Island. Within two years we were married.
Robert has had numerous jobs on Palm Island from working as a Plant Operator at Reservoir Ridge to a Works Manager at Palm Island Council. He is now helping his community in a new way – by organising and supervising seven other supervisors and the 100+ participants they engage with. His duties cover some of the main Campbell Page CDP activities on the Island: Market Garden, Greening and Recycling, all of which are set up to become enterprises.
Robert enjoys his job and the incredible team spirit they have on the Island, which he thinks makes coming to work a pleasure.
In addition to work, I also spend my time on the Island with my 8 wonderful children and 11 (soon to be 12) grandchildren and watching my teams, the North Queensland Cowboys and the Hawthorn Hawks play.
Robert dreams of one day upgrading his boat and spending lazy days on the water exploring his island paradise.
We believe that no-one should be denied the opportunity of secure employment. Our Community Development Programme (CDP) is our remote employment and community development service. We have made it our mission to provide the Palm Island community with access to the opportunity of sustainable employment. To find out more about our CDP activities on Palm Island please click here or contact us directly here.
Leon Brown came to Campbell Page just like many other job seekers before him: unemployed, but hungry for something more. He was determined to find his passion and build a career from it.
For Leon there was no in-between. It was either you are passionate and love what you do or you are in the wrong job. – James Sayed, Campbell Page Candidate Coach
With this inspiring attitude came challenges. Leon was unemployed and although earning an income was important to ensure that his quality of life was on track, he couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that he needed to find his passion and make a career out of it -instead of settling for just any job. The problem was, Leon was such a visionary that he struggled to commit to the one idea or concept.
Eventually, Leon began looking inwards and thought about what could have made a difference for him when he was a kid. That’s when the idea for Guramaa Global Indigenous Corporation surfaced.
Leon’s idea was to build a not-for-profit that encouraged young Indigenous kids in the area to stay connected to their culture, while also becoming vital members of their communities.
When Leon spoke to James about his idea and his desire to build something that could benefit the community James was onboard. Together they began planning how to take this idea from concept to creation.
Campbell Page offered to help Leon as much as possible, which led to Leon utilising the office space on a daily basis to build his not-for-profit from the ground up, and network with potential partners.
One of the most important aspects of the program is embedding the traditional Dhurga language into the Jervis Bay Public School’s curriculum – it is language that brings us together. – Leon
While this program is not implemented at Jervis Bay Public School yet, a program is already well underway at Vincentia High School. Leon believes that encouraging not just Indigenous kids but all kids to engage with and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture is vital to building inclusive and unifying community where every child has the same opportunities. even the name of his organisation communicates this – ‘Guarmaa’ is from the Dhurga language that translates to ‘fighting spirit’.
I chose it because it reflects the struggle required for Aboriginal children to overcome the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential.
It is always a good way to start the day when you see Leon working away at something so important in our office. We are incredibly proud of him and really grateful that we were able to be a small part of his story. – James
Congratulations Leon! We cannot wait to see what comes next for you!
Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives. If you would like to find out more about us please continue to browse our website or alternatively, contact us directly.
Raising two children can be difficult for anyone, however, Ayda had more challenges than most. When Ayda first came to Campbell Page she was doing everything she could for her family, but her disability made it hard to find a job.
When I first met her I could see that she was a warm, loving person who lacked confidence. I understood and wanted to help. – Annetta Rullo, Campbell Page Employment Consultant
Ayda has a rare neurological condition that affects her mobility, specifically her leg and foot muscles. So finding a job where her employer understood and supported her disability in the workplace was difficult. The constant stress of not having a stable income was doubled when she thought about the possibility of not being able to support her two young children, -that was when she decided enough was enough.
In her first appointment with Campbell Page, Annetta saw that Ayda was lacking in confidence because of her condition. She worked closely with Ayda to help her slowly regain her confidence and focus on her strengths, which were many.
Annetta believed in me from the first day we met. That was a big thing for me. – Ayda
Prior to coming to Campbell Page Ayda has been a volunteer at a community centre for five years. These five years volunteering provided Ayda with skills and knowledge that she didn’t even realise she had until Annetta had begun helping her write her resume. This was the first step to Ayda regaining her confidence.
It was like a lightbulb moment for her. She just suddenly realised how experienced she actually was.
After months of working together, Ayda and Annetta had narrowed down potential roles Ayda could see herself enjoying, but could also see herself being supported in the workplace which was of great importance to her. Eventually, an administration role came up in Coburg and Ayda jumped at the chance to apply. She was confident in herself and also felt she had the support of Annetta behind her.
I got the job! I was so excited that when I got my first pay I went and bought Annetta a bunch of flowers to thank her because I can now build a great life for my kids.
When Ayda got the job the entire team at Campbell Page were so excited for her because they had seen her go from someone with so little confidence, no financial stability who was somehow managing to provide a great life for her two children, to a bubbly woman with an infectious energy.
It took Darren Nichols quite a while to find the job that fit. It wasn’t that he was picky about the jobs presented to him and it wasn’t that he refused to try – he was just focused on finding a job that could turn into a career. He first started his job search when he was 33 – 14 years later, he has not only found a job, a potential career.
Over a 14 year period, Darren went through a lot of ups and downs. He struggled to find the job he could see himself staying in for a long period of time, and because of this, he started but never completed a lot of courses. He found employment several times and was motivated to make each job stick, but eventually, he would end up losing that motivation and desire to work in that field.
Darren was determined to find the job that he could see himself thriving in – so that became our focus. – Val Loomes, Campbell Page Candidate Coach
Just as 2017 started, Darren realised he was entering his 14th year of his job search and was more motivated than ever to find what it was that he enjoyed and figure out with Val how to get there. Eventually, he decided to put his already solid skill set in hospitality to the test and find a job in that industry. It wasn’t long after that Darren started working casually for a local catering company, where he found himself immersed in the hospitality industry and thoroughly enjoyed the work.
I was just excited that I had found something I enjoyed doing. Of course, I had my doubts that I would be able to stick with it, but Val supported me through it. – Darren
After a few months, a job opportunity came up at a gelato store and Val contacted Darren immediately because she thought he could benefit from a less hectic working environment, with more job stability, while still being in the hospitality industry. Darren admitted to Val that he was a little apprehensive about the role as he had never worked in such a specific role before, however, he was willing to give it a shot.
Val helped Darren prepare his application, submit his resume and practice his interview skills as she had since she became Darren’s Candidate Coach. Not long after his interview, Darren found out he was successful!
Since starting his new role, Darren has stayed in the job longer than any of his previous roles and is still motivated and enjoying the work. He has even begun to think about how he could build this job into a career for himself.
I am learning so much in this new role and have been considering how I can turn this job into a career for myself. I think that one day I’d love to start my own business. – Darren
Darren is looking forward to his future now that he has found what it is that he wants to do. He believes that every high and low on his journey up to this point has been important and that with the help of Val and everyone at Campbell Page, he was finally able to move forward.
