ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Indigenous.gov.au Connecting With First Nations Australians
Back to Stories

Gillen Bore South Homeland on the move with new upskilling facility

03 April 2024
Jobs, Land and Economy
Workshop shed on Gillen Bore South Homeland.
Workshop shed on Gillen Bore South Homeland with kitchen facilities and a vehicle pit.
Central Australian Driving School training held onsite with Gillen Bore South residents.
Central Australian Driving School training held onsite with Gillen Bore South residents.

A remote community in the Northern Territory has led the charge in creating pathways for its residents with the delivery of new infrastructure to provide upskilling opportunities.

A remote community in the Northern Territory has led the charge in creating pathways for its residents with the delivery of new infrastructure to provide upskilling opportunities.

Gillen Bore South Homeland is one of approximately 600 homelands (or outstations) in the Northern Territory, where Aboriginal people can live in communities on their country and retain connection to the land and cultural heritage.

Located about 75km from Alice Springs in Central Australia, Gillen Bore South Homeland is supported by Ingkerreke Services, which provides housing, municipal and essential services to homeland communities across Central Australia.

With help from Ingkerreke Services, the community facilitated the development of new infrastructure to provide opportunities for its residents and now has a 17 metre x 6 metre workshop shed with kitchen facilities and a vehicle pit.

The workshop shed has enabled homeland residents to be trained in repairing vehicles and maintenance and a range of other upskilling opportunities.

‘The training that has already taken place in the shed has empowered homeland residents to upskill in equipment operations and maintenance and will help them work in their local community,’ said Kathy McConnell, Senior Administrator Ingkerreke Services.

A skid steer loader was also purchased with a range of attachments to assist residents to carry out works on their homeland.

Upon delivery of the equipment, Central Australian Driving School (CADS) delivered nationally recognised Skid Steer training on site to five local homeland residents.

The new equipment will help residents to conduct works on their homeland, including minor earthworks and concreting.

‘It has been great to see homeland residents come together to create a shared community-use facility that will benefit homeland residents for many years to come,’ Kathy said.

‘It’s been rewarding for Ingkerreke Services to provide in-kind support to a homeland project driven by the residents themselves.’

Find out more

Funded by the Australian Government, the new shed has become a great multi-use facility for community not just for training and vehicle maintenance, it is also used for community meetings.