RISE Ventures runs four major programs in Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory, all funded by the National Indigenous Australian’s Agency.
Co-design and place-based solutions are at the heart of what we do. Within these programs, we focus on providing training, community enhancement projects, employment opportunities, personal growth coaching and microenterprise development that are tailored to the people of each place we work in.
The Community Development Program, and associated Trialing Pathways to Real Jobs, are a Federal Government initiative to create employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Australian’s living in remote communities.
Our Team Leaders and Service Coordinators are coaches. They coach our clients to set their goals and support them towards achieving them.
We partner with local employers to share job opportunities and assist our clients with their resumes, applications and interviews.
Once employed, we provide post-placement support to ensure our clients are happy and sustain their employment.
In support of finding employment, we facilitate training and certifications to ensure our clients have the appropriate skills, tickets and certificates to be employed in the job of their choice.
Some examples of the training we arrange include Food Handling Certificate, Certificate II in Construction, White Card certification, licensing days, First Aid Certificates, and cooking and food safety.
Our Community Projects team are always on the go in Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw!
We have men’s sheds where men can learn building skills, arts and crafts hubs, cemetery and community spaces maintenance, farm work, and Cultural Wellbeing groups for men and women.
Community projects are all about building skills and creating tangible outcomes, while displaying community and cultural pride.
For many of our clients, joining the community projects team is a stepping stone towards employment.
We employ local supervisors and team members who run each project and mentor the clients who join voluntarily.
In remote communities, new job opportunities are sometimes hard to come by. Essential services are often fulfilled by contractors and locals miss the opportunity for steady work or to provide those services themselves.
At RISE Ventures, we understand that to have employment, you need to have employees. And to have self-determined communities, you need to have self-sufficient, growing economies.
That’s why we’re committed to developing microenterprises and community co-operatives in the places we work.
Our Microenterprise Development team works in community to establish businesses that meet community needs, support sole traders and small business owners, and guide communities through the potential of the co-operative business model.
In Kowanyama, we have set-up the Kowanyama Bakery, a Retail Arts ‘N’ Craft store and a lawn maintenance business. We are also co-designing and consulting with community on establishing a community-run co-operative, where all profits from businesses go back into community.
These businesses provide flexible employment, skills development and keep money in the community.
In Pormpuraaw, we are opening a cafe and in Katherine, we have individuals ready to take the leap as a sole trader.
Indigenous Youth Coaches is an exciting 4-year program funded by NIAA’s Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP).
The program is centered around equipping Indigenous youth aged 15-24 years for work, education and success. It will provide wrap-around support and connections with other local youth services.
Youth in the program have their personal growth, self-esteem and leader potential prioritised through coaching, counselling and training.
Our motto is
“No young person is left behind”
The program reaches youth from Cairns up to the top of Cape York.
Our team includes a Program Coordinator, Social Worker, Job Coach and Youth Coaches.
