7 December, 2020
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia held a ceremony at Ayers Rock Resort on Saturday night to recognise 46 students graduating from the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA) 2020 class, bringing the total number of graduates to 526 since the program’s inception in 2011.
NITA was established to provide young Indigenous Australians with solid career prospects in Retail, Horticulture, Hospitality and Tourism at Voyages properties - Ayers Rock Resort and Mossman Gorge Centre in Qld - as well as wider employment opportunities with other organisations.
The Gala event style ceremony was attended by graduates and their families, senior representatives from Voyages including newly appointed CEO, Matthew Cameron-Smith, members of the ILSC board, Voyages Board and the NITA team.
“We are exceptionally proud of all 526 students who have graduated over the years from the NITA programs, but we are particularly proud of the 2020 class who have achieved a nationally recognised qualification in the most challenging year that the tourism industry has ever encountered,” said Voyages CEO Matthew Cameron-Smith.
“Currently, 44% of employment at Ayers Rock Resort is Indigenous Australians, the highest level in two years and we have a 100% Indigenous team now delivering Tali Wiru, the resort’s premium dining experience, providing our guests with a deeper cultural experience”.
A NITA graduate, Jadene Croft was recently recognised by the Australian tourism industry at the 2020 HM Awards as one of three winners, out of nearly 50 entrants, in the Rising Star category.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia partners with two Registered Training Organisations - William Angliss Institute (WAI) and Charles Darwin University (CDU) - on the NITA program to deliver Certificate III level qualifications in Hospitality, Tourism, Retail and Horticulture.
For more information, visit: www.nita.edu.au.
