On country digital service centre celebrates anniversary

The first First Nations Call Centre and digital service centre to operate in a remote Indigenous community has celebrated its first birthday in Cherbourg. The number of jobs at the centre has increased from eight to 30 since it opened in March last year, with another cohort of potential trainees now beginning their journey.

Staff provide IT support for people living in regional and rural Queensland, especially Indigenous people living in remote areas.

“This First Nations Call Centre is part of a three-year pilot program to support digital transformation in the Cherbourg community, with the potential to expand the service,’’ said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford.

“Most of the trainees are residents of the Cherbourg community or have family connections to the community.

“The aim is to build independence for Indigenous Queenslanders, digital literacy skills and creating real jobs on Country, as we work towards a Path to Treaty,” he said.

The Queensland Government worked with the community, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, TAFE Queensland and foundation customer Fujitsu to establish the centre at the TAFE Queensland Nurunderi Campus.

“The program takes on trainees who are employed by the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council. The trainees work in a call centre environment hosted at the TAFE Queensland Cherbourg campus,” said Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith.

“While the trainees work on the job, they study the Certificate III in Business at the Cherbourg campus.”

The program received Advance Queensland funding through the Deadly Innovation Strategy’s First Nations Digital Transformation Project. Additional funding was paid to Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to cover the first 12-month digital connectivity contract with StarLink Australia, according to Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari.

“It’s now a fully community-owned and -operated enterprise, with revenue reinvested for the benefit of the enterprise and the community,” Tantari said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Chainarong Prasertthai