Career pathways for Indigenous youth
Warrmijala Murrgurlayi (Rise Up To Work) is a Shell-supported employment program in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. It’s helping young Indigenous people find meaningful career pathways on Yawuru country. Find out how it’s empowering the participants.
Just outside of Broome in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, young Indigenous people are completing an eight-week intensive program at a local cattle station to develop a career in the agricultural industry.
A chance to live and work on Yawuru country
The Warrmijala Murrgurlayi (Rise Up To Work) program is helping young Indigenous locals in Broome gain work-ready skills for a career in the region. Supported by Shell and delivered by Nyamba Buru Yawuru (Yawuru), the program’s agricultural component is encouraging local Indigenous youth to feel a greater connection to their culture and country. “At Roebuck Plains cattle station they can become upskilled and trained in agriculture. Young people love being out on country. They feel a greater sense of contribution because Roebuck Station is owned and operated by Yawuru,” says Nini Mills, CEO of Yawuru.
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113 local participants have gained sustainable employment
Established in 2019, the program is part of Shell’s commitment to support stronger First Nations. From conversations with the Broome community, Shell understands that educational pathways to meaningful employment are a key priority for Indigenous people in the region.
Since the start of 2021 to the end of 2023, over 190 participants in the program have gained training and support, with 113 gaining sustainable employment.
Culture embedded in the program and contributing to Mabu Liyan
Warrmijala Murrgurlayi delivers culturally integrated training and employment services aligned with the Yawuru’s Mabu Liyan Framework. The notion of liyan is expressed through relationships beyond the individual. It’s a model of living well in connection to Yawuru values of Mabu Liyan (good well-being), Mabu Buru (good-country) and Mabu Ngurrangunil (good-community). “It sustains us and empowers us,” says Nini.
When Shell talks to First Nations groups where our operations are based, many want pathways to real jobs, to strengthen their cultural identity and to share their own future through good governance. Through the support we’ve offered in this area, 467 Indigenous Australians gained sustainable employment through our programs in 2023.
