New digital hub brings jobs to Yarrabah community

The Yarrabah Digital Service Centre is part of a Queensland Government initiative, delivered in partnership with Wugu Nyambil, TAFE Queensland, HRS, and DB Results, that seeks to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by expanding opportunities for involvement in the digital economy.

Yarrabah, located 60km southeast of Cairns on the traditional lands of the Gunggandji and Yidinji people, is Queensland’s largest discrete Aboriginal community. It is now home to the fourth digital service hub of its kind in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, following the successes of similar hubs in Cherbourg, Jumbun, and Palm Island.

The Yarrabah Digital Service Centre is fully community-owned and operated, providing ongoing employment for local community members in digital roles. Wugu Nyambil, as the employer of the new graduates, will help these new recruits serve a variety of clients, including Queensland Shared Services, DB Results, and HRS.

The new centre not only creates jobs but supports the wider community by fostering long-term economic independence and skill development.

The training program mirrors a real-world work environment, easing participants into a full work week by starting with three days of training per week and progressing to five days by the end of the course.

After the initial eight-week training, graduates transition directly into their new roles and will continue to study with TAFE Queensland on the job, working toward a Certificate III in Business (BSB30120).

TAFE Queensland North region Director of Educational Delivery, Jane McKellar, praised the partnership model for the Yarrabah Innovation and Digital Hub. “Programs like this hub showcase the power of community-focused, on Country employment opportunities,” Ms. McKellar said.

“Our approach centres on two-way learning, where teachers, students, and community members grow together. By considering the learners, the community, and the goals of each participant, we create a truly impactful experience that builds skills and leads to real employment and sustainable, long-term outcomes.”

General Manager of Wugu Nyambil, Rob Friskin said, “The new Digital business enterprise in Yarrabah was an amazing opportunity for the trainees and it will change the way that business is conducted in Yarrabah.”

“The entity will not be relying on government funding and will be directly sourcing commercial contracts with external stakeholders to provide more job opportunities, wealth and bring new technology skills to the community,” Mr Friskin added.

During the initial part of the training, participants completed two weeks of soft skills training. This focused on essential workplace skills, including communication, teamwork, and customer service.

TAFE Queensland North region Senior Teacher Janus Gronvald reflected his journey with the participants. “It has been inspiring to witness the growth in each participant’s confidence and skills. Their dedication and mutual support have been exceptional, and I’m proud to see them step into these new roles, ready to make a meaningful impact.”

For many of the graduates, the program has been a chance to not only gain new skills but also to build their confidence and connect with the community in new ways.

Breannen Sands, 24, joined the program to improve her skills and achieve new goals. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I’ve learned so much, from numeracy to Microsoft skills, and working with my teammates has been my favourite part,” Ms Sands said.

“The centre brings more jobs to Yarrabah, and I’d tell anyone thinking about joining you’ll learn as you go. No one’s perfect, but you grow along the way.”

Colin Costello, 42, who initially joined to take on a new challenge, echoed the sentiment. “I wanted to start at the grassroots level and learn something different, and this program gave me a great refresher in top-level and basic skills,” he said.

“Seeing the other participants—each with a unique way of thinking—and learning from them was the highlight for me. There's limited employment here, but this centre is opening doors and will create so much growth for Yarrabah, especially for our younger generation.”

Beyond immediate employment, the Yarrabah Digital Service Centre is a lasting investment in the community. This impactful approach to on-Country digital training has gained significant recognition, with the Palm Island Digital Service Centre recently receiving the Premier’s Industry Collaboration Award at the 2024 Queensland Training Awards and advancing as a finalist for the upcoming 2024 Australian Training Awards.

The Yarrabah Digital Service Centre was made possible through a collaboration among Queensland Government, Wugu Nyambil, TAFE Queensland, HRS and DB Results.