Community jobs through Dharpa Djama
Dharpa Djama woodwork apprentice Njila Yakubu talks about his job and his community of Gunyangara in this Closing the Gap video story.
The community of Gunyangara is located on the Drimmie Peninsula which forms part of Melville Bay, on the Gove Peninsula in East Arnhem Land.
Through the Marngarr Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation (Marngarr), the community of Gunyangara is working towards Closing the Gap for local families.
Marngarr is a community-led organisation focused on community development, local workforce training, and sustainable Yolngu industry development.
Marngarr has established Dharpa Djama, a community woodwork shop that works with remote timber mill operations in Arnhem Land and a furniture designer-maker to provide training to people in the community who are interested in woodwork.
The Dharpa Djama showroom highlights work from local apprentices and workers, and all furniture on display has been made with local stringy bark.
Njila Yakubu, an apprentice at Dharpa Djama, said the enterprise was all about providing locals in East Arnhem Land with the necessary skills to enter the job market.
“It provides training and employment which is two really big things the community needs, I think,” Njila said.
“It’s really good for growing – growing in general, growing skills, growing people skills, work skills; it’s brilliant.”
Find out more
The Australian Government supports Dharpa Djama through the Marngarr Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation, which works with the Gunyangara community to help Close the Gap in Indigenous employment outcomes.
Watch Njila Yakubu’s video here about his work at Dharpa Djama, or check it out on YouTube.