Marissa George from Doomadgee was one of nine Indigenous trainees at remote store operator Community Enterprise Queensland who recently completed training towards a qualification in retail.
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Eight of the trainees, who work at CEQ stores across Cape York and the Torres Strait, have completed their Certificate III in Retail Operations, while another trainee completed a Certificate II in Retail Operations.
The nationally-recognised qualifications provide a pathway to work in a diverse range of retail settings including supermarkets, specialty retailers, department stores, and quick service restaurants.
CEQ Chief Executive Officer Ian Copeland said they were passionate about providing training opportunities for employees, the majority of which are Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal people.
"We have a real desire to establish local people in local jobs, and we can help achieve this by investing in the future, as shown throughout all our stores," said Mr Copeland.
"All nine students are an absolute credit to CEQ, themselves, their families, and their communities in general."
"To undergo their retail traineeship, they've had to show outstanding dedication and expertise in their work. We're all thrilled at their achievements."
Mr Copeland said these newly-qualified staff are just another example of the opportunities CEQ creates for Indigenous people across Far North Queensland."
The newly-qualified employees who completed their Certificate III were Natalie David (Kowanyama), Janey Deakin (Pormpuraaw), Shannyn Fyfe (Lockhart River), Marissa George (Doomadgee), Tre Johnston, Peter Levi and Lawini Marou (Thursday Island) and Elizabeth Norman (Pormpuraaw).
Meanwhile, school-based trainee Maia Yusia from the Thursday Island store completed a Certificate II.
CEQ is a Queensland Government statutory body responsible for providing goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), and mainland Aboriginal remote communities.
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