Nine senior academy members from across Australia travelled to the remote township of Yulara in the Northern Territory in early December to take part in a four-day hospitality camp designed to give them first-hand exposure to life and work in the Uluru tourism industry.
Participants included Wyatt Martinovich (Northam, WA), Tyler Dhu (Girrawheen, WA), Lincoln Gelling (Townsville, QLD), AJ White (Airds, NSW), Angus Fellows (Hunter River, NSW), Reggie Williams (Woree, QLD), and Alice Springs academy members Jayden Elvey, Kendyl Forrester and Martin Norman.
Held from 1 to 4 December, the experience provided practical learning across a range of professions including kitchen operations, front of house service, housekeeping, trades and technical services, and food and beverage. Participants also received detailed briefings on the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA), which offers nationally recognised qualifications alongside real workplace experience and on-site accommodation.
Real workplace experiences
Across the program, the boys gained an understanding of what it is like to live and work at Yulara, meet local teams and get hands-on exposure in several parts of the Voyages business.
A standout was the detailed information session on the NITA program, followed by a walk-through of the student accommodation. The session generated plenty of thoughtful questions and allowed the boys to see how training and life on site would operate should they consider a future with Voyages.
The group also toured the Yulara laundry facilities, the largest in the southern hemisphere, guided by Clontarf alumnus Mathew Hayes from Mildura Academy (VIC) who has worked at Voyages for the past 11 years. Hearing directly from someone who has built a long-term career in the area gave the boys a clear sense of what is possible.
On the opening night, academy members attended an alumni dinner at Ilkari restaurant and heard from Clontarf alumni Denzel and Nadal. Nadal participated in last year’s camp, so it was encouraging to see how the experience had supported his next steps.
Standout engagement
Several academy members were recognised by Voyages staff for their professionalism and positive attitude. Wyatt, AJ and Lincoln were acknowledged for their willingness to be involved, learn and contribute. Staff noted that they would fit in well at Voyages should they decide to pursue opportunities through NITA.
Ben Haeusler, Clontarf Employment Officer, said the experience is “invaluable for young men who are genuinely thinking about hospitality or tourism because they are not just hearing about careers, they’re standing in real workplaces and speaking with people who are doing the job every day.”
He added that the boys “came away with a genuine understanding of what they could work towards” and noted that seeing alumni now working at Voyages “makes everything real and achievable.”
Clontarf sincerely thanks the Voyages and NITA teams for their support and hospitality, including Anna McGee, Shannon Nurka, Stevie Bates and Simona Mezzetti, as well as NITA lecturer Kit Hawes. Their work created a memorable and highly informative experience that has given our academy members a clear picture of professional life at Yulara and the many opportunities available through NITA and Voyages
