Building a local workforce starts with understanding and respecting the community in which they operate. When Gumatj Corporation launched its first training program, they engaged Turnstone Projects to implement Discovery, a language and culture fair recruitment process for Yolngu young men and women. The goal: to bring forward people interested and willing to work by recognising their strengths, skills and potential.

The brief

Support Gumatj Corporation’s Gulkula Regional Training Centre (GRTC) to recruit participants for their inaugural certificate-level training program for young Yolngu men and women. The assessment process needed to be culturally appropriate, led by Traditional Owners, and provide comprehensive understanding of each applicant to enable confident selection decisions. Working on-site in Gunyangara, Northern Territory for three weeks, Turnstone Projects worked alongside a local team to deliver Discovery independently for this and future intakes.

What we did

Community engagement and recruitment

• Prepared a comprehensive recruitment strategy
• Confirmed interest with families of applicants across multiple homelands
• Provided detailed information about certification, work opportunities, and participant caring arrangements
• Facilitated 80 applications from interested people through home visits to complete paperwork, including Supplementary Application Forms and Visual Images and Audio Recording permissions
• Made multiple Homeland visits to Wandawuy and Gapuwiyak (three trips per community) with 4,330 kms travelled over the three weeks
• Presented to locally based Activity Groups in Yirrkala (3) and Gapuwiyak (2) as invited

Discovery assessment delivery

• Completed 63 Discovery Sessions, with 41 applicants presenting for work for the first time
• Delivered assessment process on-site by trained local team including Traditional Owners and service providers
• Managed all administration for applicants and preparation of online an dhard copy files
• Selected 40 participants for Recruitment Workshops based on comprehensive assessment data
• Assessed participants over the two-day interactive process including undertaking appropriate assessments.
• Review and ranking of the participant list with grouped recommended trainees for Board review and final confirmations.
• Prepared comprehensive handover documentation to Charles Darwin University.

Capacity building and coordination

• Provided intensive training to GRTC Program Leader
• Trained Gumatj Corporation staff to deliver Discovery independently for future recruitment
• Coordinated with Miwatj Employment and Participation to establish a GRTC Working Group
• Liaised with senior men and women, Laynhapuy Aboriginal Homelands Association, Yirrkala Homeland Schools (Yirrkala and Wandawuy), East Arnhem Regional Council, Prime Minister and Cabinet, Rio Tinto, and Miwatj Employment and Participation

What we learned

When assessment processes are designed to reveal – rather than obscure – people’s capabilities, selection decisions become clearer and participants are better matched to opportunities. Traditional Owner involvement throughout the process ensured cultural authority guided every decision. Starting with such comprehensive knowledge of participants created cohesion from day one, setting the program up for success.

This project demonstrates Discovery assessment tool in practice. Learn more about how Discovery can support your organisation’s recruitment and assessment needs.