Palm Island Digital Service Centre shines on national stage

This accolade follows its earlier success at the 2024 Queensland Training Awards, where the centre received the Premier’s Industry Collaboration Award.

Now in its second year of operation, the Palm Island (Bwgcolman) centre delivers culturally safe training and employment opportunities for local residents.

Delivered in partnership with TAFE Queensland and the Palm Island Community Company, the program prepares participants for roles with Telstra, the centre’s foundational client, through a comprehensive pre-employment training program followed by a traineeship.

The program begins with a 12-week intensive training course facilitated by TAFE Queensland at its Palm Island campus.

Participants engage in two weeks of soft skills development, supported by Back to Work Jobseeker Officers, before transitioning to digital and workplace skills training, including communication, customer service, and team collaboration.

The training culminates in on-the-job learning, where participants gain a Certificate III in Business (BSB30120) while gaining practical experience in a real-world work environment.

Program graduate and now Operations Manager at the Palm Island Digital Service Centre, Juelisa Geia, underscored the significance of the initiative for the Palm Island community.

“The opportunity provided through this collaboration has finally given something of value to the community—a fully paid training pathway into employment,” Ms Geia said.

“This is an investment that will create a lasting legacy for generations to come. It means we no longer have to leave Palm Island to access meaningful career opportunities. We can live, learn, and succeed on Country.”

Participants are employed by the Palm Island Community Company and work in Telstra’s Digital Service Centre. The centre enables them to engage with clients across Australia, handling calls and digital services while contributing to Palm Island’s local economy and community growth.

TAFE Queensland North region Director of Educational Delivery, Jane McKellar, celebrated the success of the partnership.

“This program showcases how collaboration can empower communities through tailored, on-Country training and employment opportunities,” Ms. McKellar said.

“By working hand-in-hand with students, the community, and industry, we are creating sustainable, long-term outcomes. The replicability of this model proves its potential to support other remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the state.”

The Palm Island Digital Service Centre is part of a broader initiative that includes successful hubs in Cherbourg, Jumbun, and Yarrabah, demonstrating the replicability and sustainability of this model in providing economic and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The Palm Island Digital Service Centre was made possible through a collaboration among the Queensland Government, Telstra, Palm Island Community Company, Rainbow Gateway Ltd., Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, Back to Work, TAFE Queensland, Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program, and MEGT Australia.