11 July 2018

The recipient of the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Program Scholarship Mya McRae is celebrating her three month milestone as a school-based trainee at Gunnedah Shire Council’s Cultural Precinct.

Miss McRae said she is happy and excited to continue her traineeship and enjoys the people she works with.

“I do it because I want to learn skills in business and work with people and customers,” Miss McRae said.

“Working at the Cultural Precinct is great. It’s right in the heart of town and you get to meet so many people, locals and visitors, and you are helping them, which I enjoy.”

The Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Program provides funding to organisations to support Aboriginal education, employment and training.

Gunnedah Shire Council was successful in receiving the funding, which it extended to the community in the form of a scholarship for school-based trainees.

Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Human Resources Glenn Learmont said Council has a proud history of engaging trainees throughout a number of its functions.

“The facilitation of an alliance between our schools and Local Government will provide meaningful career paths to retain our youths in the community,” Mr Learmont said.

Gunnedah Shire Council HR Advisor and the co-ordinator of the scholarship, Fiona Ludlow, is thrilled for Miss McRae and is happy with her performance.

“Mya has embraced the job really well and it is nice to see her enjoying it,” Mrs Ludlow said.

“We made the application process similar to a job application. Applicants had to apply for the position and sit through an interview. After careful consideration we offered the position to Mya.”

Miss McRae is completing her Certificate II in Business and works one day a week at the Cultural Precinct as part of the HSC.

“The work I am doing at the Cultural Precinct is one step closer to figuring out what career I want when I leave school,” Miss McRae said.

“I would be happy to continue working here for a couple more years.”

Photo Caption: Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Human Resources Glenn Learmont, School-Based Trainee Mya McRae, Arts and Cultural Officer Lauren Mackley and HR Advisor Fiona Ludlow.

ENDS

Media Contact: Brooke Maisey 6740 2100.