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Tennant Creek Graduate Seizes New Opportunities with Construction Skills
Home Tennant Creek Graduate Seizes New Opportunities with Construction Skills
19 May 2025
3 minute read

In Tennant Creek, James, 52, is still eager to prove it’s never too late to learn new skills and get more qualifications under his belt. James recently graduated from a civil construction course that’s opening doors for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory. The Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations - RII30820, delivered by Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in partnership with RN Employment and Barkly Regional Council, has equipped James and 17 others with skills to chase their ambitions in an industry poised for a mining boom.

Photo credit: Mayor Sid Vashist, Tennant Creek, courtesy of Barkly Regional Council.

James, a former boxer who trains daily, brought years of grit to the course, building on experience operating heavy machinery in Alice Springs’ remote pits. Launched in February 2025, the course brought in 24 students eager to master equipment like tip trucks, graders, skid steers, rollers, and mini excavators, including Batchelor’s newly purchased wheel loader. Eighteen emerged as graduates, their drive forging a pathway into careers in civil construction.

Under trainers Barry Whalan and Matthew Scott, James sharpened his grader skills, blending modern laser-guided technology with traditional techniques. “This course helped me master the grader, combining technology like lasers with old-school skills,” James said. “Trainers like Barry Whalan and Matthew Scott saw my potential, and now I’m ready to seize the opportunities around me.”

The course’s inclusive approach nurtured a diverse group, equipping them with certifications, including James’ white card, for construction roles. Trainer Barry Whalan said, “James made incredible progress, honing his grader skills to a level where he can work anywhere and succeed.”

RN Employment’s Fiona McCabe said, “Partnering with Batchelor Institute creates vital opportunities in Tennant Creek. James’ journey shows the power of these pathways for local communities.”

This achievement reflects a strong partnership between the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (RTO No: 0383), RN Employment, and Barkly Regional Council—working together to build local skills and create real employment pathways. Barkly Regional Council has welcomed two recent graduates, Gus and Bradley, who have now joined Council’s workforce after successfully completing the course, with valuable guidance and support from Shane Butterworth, Machinery Instructor at Barkly Regional Council.

Tennant Creek is poised for growth with Tennant Mining’s Nobles Project, set to produce gold by June 2025 and create 170 jobs by 2028, and the Warrego Project, targeting copper production. Planned upgrades to Tennant Creek Airport signal further promise. Industry visit days with employers like Tennant Mining and Remote Concrete NT, held on 28 February 2025, connected students to local job prospects. James is already eyeing a couple of job opportunities that promise to lift him from stocking shelves to a thriving career in construction, embodying Batchelor’s mission to empower through education rooted in industry skills and Indigenous knowledge.