Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia has celebrated the graduation of 28 young Indigenous Australians from the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA) at Ayers Rock Resort, taking the total number of graduates to 772 since NITA’s inception.
All graduates received Certificate III qualifications in Hospitality, equipping them with nationally recognised skills and hands-on experience at one of Australia’s most iconic tourism destinations.
The event featured a keynote address from Her Excellency the Governor-General of Australia and a special performance by Indigenous singer-songwriter Budjerah, with Justin Mohamed, Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Kerryn Liddle, among the VIPs in attendance.
“These young trainees and graduates represent the future of Indigenous tourism in Australia,” said Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia CEO, Matt Cameron-Smith.
“Their dedication and achievements reflect the power of opportunity, community, and culture. We’re honoured to walk alongside them as they take the next step in their careers.
The celebration follows the recent graduation of three NITA students at Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre on October 18.
Voyages also welcomed 27 new trainees this month – the largest new intake yet – including three Aṉangu students participating in a brand-new Certificate III in Tourism program.
Co-designed with Anangu (Uluru’s Traditional Owners) and delivered in partnership with Careers Training Centre, the program aims to grow the future generation of Anangu tour guides, supporting cultural storytelling on Country.
“We’re especially proud to welcome a new intake of Aṉangu students into our newly launched Certificate III in Tourism program – co-designed with community to create meaningful employment pathways on Country,” Cameron-Smith added.
“This marks an exciting new chapter for NITA and for the future of tourism in the region.”