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At a remote station in South Australia, an Indigenous ranger is sharing his experience of unemployment with jobseekers trying to find a way into the workforce.
Just over a year ago, Jeremy Sumner was stuck in a rut in his home in South Australia's Riverland.
Despite applying for hundreds of positions since leaving school in 2012, he had only secured seven short contracts and nothing was ever ongoing.
"There wasn't a lot around because Renmark is a very small town and I didn't have a [driver's] licence, so I couldn't get to and from the different towns," Mr Sumner said.
"So that was pretty stressful, and I'd go out on my own way. I think they call it cold-calling.
"I had to go into the businesses by myself, hand in my resume, ask for jobs, as well as applying for jobs online."
Program provides helping hand
When a pilot pre-employment program at Calperum Station came along, Mr Sumner jumped at the chance to learn more about the tools for success in a work setting.
"It was all about trying to get people in the right mindset to get back into jobs and guide people," he said.
"I feel like it really helped me with what I'm doing now."
Twelve months on from completing the eight-week program, Mr Sumner's life has completely turned around.
His passion for nature and Indigenous culture have combined into an ongoing position as a park ranger at the very station that helped him realise his potential.
Student becomes teacher
A group of 15 job seekers has taken on a similar program at the station this year titled Step Up 2 Employment.
Mr Sumner has openly shared his employment struggle in the Calperum classroom with the hope of helping others.
"I feel like I've really connected with these guys [because] I've been through unemployment for a while and it just made it a lot easier getting along with everyone," he said.
Participant Helen Matthews said she had been able to connect with Mr Sumner's story and was hopeful of a more secure future after getting involved.
"I have worked previously. I was my mother's carer for about eight years and in the last 12 months I've had a little bit of part-time work here and there — apricot cutting and stuff like that," she said.
"Full-time employment is a little bit more difficult to gain here in the Riverland, but I'm hopeful.
"I think it'll happen, especially with the help that I've had through this course."
Rediscovering roots
Overcoming barriers to employment is not the only thing Ms Matthews has gained from the program.
She has also been able to connect with her Indigenous heritage.
"I came to it late in life. My family had ignored that we had Aboriginal [heritage] in our family tree," Ms Matthews said.
"Now that I'm a bit older you realise that your roots do really matter.
"I just wanted to learn a bit more about our culture and what they do out here, because it sounded wonderful … and the area around here speaks to you.
"The cultural walk with Jeremy was one of my favourite parts about this because I did learn a lot, about ring trees, boundaries, and the canoe trees."
Breaking down stereotypes
The program, which teaches skills to maintain positive psychology, a healthy environment, and meaningful employment, is also open to non-Indigenous job-seekers.
Paul Capes moved to the region around 10 years ago and had worked in several different contract jobs over the past decade before being referred to Step Up by a job service provider.
"Coming out here you're getting out in nature and learning a bit of Aboriginal culture as well. It's really good," he said.
Mr Capes has also had his share of struggles, being labelled as a burden on the system by family members when dealing with periods of unemployment.
"I've had family say 'you're nothing but a bludger', but doing this I don't think I am," he said.
"It's developing me to become a better person in life. I've got more experience now. I'm learning about team work and getting back to mother nature."
Photo:
Step Up 2 Employment program participants at Calperum Station. (ABC Riverland: Anita Butcher)
Speaking 'employment language'
Calperum Station education associate director Julie Robertson has been a driver of the Federal Government-funded program.
She said she was hopeful the financial support for Step Up would continue beyond the next scheduled round of the trial in early 2020.
"The participants have just embraced it [and] I can really see a change in them, how a lot of them have grown in their confidence," Ms Robertson said.
"There's banter in the classroom and they're now telling me things that employers want.
"We've had some industry visits and I hear them using the language around work ethic, values, and some of the things we talk about in regards to [overcoming] barriers to employment.
"If they keep working hard they're going to get a job and that's going to lead them into the world of employment that they want to take."
Topics: community-and-society, regional-development, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, work, environment, renmark-5341, sa