Good Morning Jean,
I just wanted to take the time to share with you my admiration and pride that I have towards one of your students and one of our School Based Carpenters Jeraymus Myngha.
When I first was introduced to Jeraymus last year when we commenced the program aimed to get Djarragun students commenced into either a traineeship or apprenticeship in 4 identified areas, I remember Jeraymus as a very quite young man who I initially did wonder how he would cope in a mainstream building worksite. That question has well and truly been put to rest!
After many visits and discussions with Jeraymus whilst he was part of the team who built the Remote Area Housing building, I watched the transformation of a school student into a young man who really wants to be part of the construction industry, working shoulder to shoulder with other like minded trade’s people. It was during one of my visits with Jeraymus that I had a conversation with him that I told him if he really wanted to continue as a carpenter with me he really needed to start going back into class and working again on his school subjects. Jeraymus did not hesitate when I put this request to him as I thought he may, but came back with a very assured and positive “Yes Miss Petrina, I can do that”. That was the moment that I believed that this young man is going places.
Since that day, Jeraymus has continued to be positive about the steps needed to be achieved to ensure his position as an apprentice and has gone back into the classroom as you would be aware. This alone fills me with pride. At the beginning of this year, Leon and Anthony had a discussion with me about offering a full-time position in Djarragun Enterprises for Jeraymus but when I put this to Jeraymus he was very adamant that he wanted to complete Year 12 and get his Senior Certificate. Fantastic!!!!!
I have worked to ensure Jeraymus' mum is happy with how things are progressing which is just as vital as Jeraymus participation.
The main reason for my sending this email is due to wanting to give you feedback on how wonderful it was to see Jeraymus attend his first Training day with us here at Skill360 yesterday for a number of reasons.
Yesterday was the first time that Jeraymus was required to attend with a group of other first year carpenters from all other businesses in Cairns to complete Stage 1A of his block.
I really did not expect to see Jeraymus considering that it is still holidays for him, but he arranged to be picked up from Yarrabah and stay at his mum’s and to be dropped off and waiting for my arrival at work yesterday morning. This is even greater accomplishment as I am sure that there were a number of peers and family who would have still been in holiday mode when Jeraymus was organizing himself to get picked up from Yarrabah that it could have been just as easy for him to not bother attending but he didn’t- he fulfilled his training commitment. With confidence Jeraymus has then taken his seat in a training room of 10 other unknown young men and a trainer and got stuck straight into his training.
I did periodic checks on him yesterday and he was always listening intently and doing his workbooks with little assistance required from the trainer. Jeraymus provided for his own lunch out of his own funds, I walked him to the TAFE cafeteria yesterday and then took him to Raintrees to get Chinese for lunch. At each check he demonstrated a quite keenness and engagement that I was just so impressed with. Here we have a young indigenous man, still at school, who comes from Yarrabah and has been exposed to the social issues that come along with our mob in their respective communities, who was sitting quietly comfortable shoulder to shoulder with other young men all wanting to become carpenters.
Jeraymus not only needs to be commended for how he has carried himself but also as fantastic role model for his fellow students from Djarragun College. Importantly, he is a role model for other young Indigenous people, particularly the young men who are also interested in a trade career. Jeraymus not only organized his own transport to and from training, he has thought about his own lunches and has kept to the times required for start and finish of class times. He has attended very well presented and has been respectful and engaged in the training. He is back in class as I write this for his second day of Block, which is mostly theory for this Stage just as keen as yesterday which is fantastic!!
Due to Jeraymus fantastic display of commitment and attitude I have arranged an interview with a senior project manager from Matrix here at Skill360 on Friday morning. I have been raving about Jeraymus and they are keen to meet him as I am currently working with them as they are starting a big project shortly and are looking to start some schoolbased kids. Therefore Jeraymus may well be on his way to a great start in the construction industry with this successful company if he can show them how keen he is to be a carpenter.
I can’t say enough good things about this young man and I just wanted to share his amazing progress and share my absolute joy in being able to be part of this young man’s journey to this point via my involvement with the program we created with Djarragun last year.
Regards
Petrina Villaflor
Employment Co-Ordinator
Skill360 Australia
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