James came to the Waalitj Foundation looking for work over 6 years ago. He attended some Fit4Work sessions through P242 before his Employment Mentor put his name forward for the Receptionist role at our Head Office.
“I remember going in and thinking I don’t know if I’ll get it, but when I sat down with the team it was a seamless conversation that left me feeling very hopeful. Not long after, I received a call to say that I had got the job. I had so much fun in that role, assisting other colleagues across different programs, and from there my working career took a leap.”
It wasn’t long before another opportunity came up at the Foundation that caught James’s interest. He successfully applied for an Indigenous Youth Employment Mentor role, where he supported more than 20 jobseekers on their employment journeys.
Reflecting on his time working at the Foundation, James said, “I learned so much about myself in that role and managed to get a few of the young jobseekers into positions to kickstart their professional work careers. It was great to be a part of both sides as a participant and then to work there – an incredible experience. Everyone is down to earth, encouraging and caring. I had so much fun and created some great memories.”
After taking time to focus on his personal goals, James began exploring new career opportunities. It was at a careers expo where a golden nugget captured his attention, leading him to the Perth Mint stall. He had a chat with the team there about business administration roles they had available. After originally interviewing for a Customer Service Officer role, they reached out to James and encouraged him to apply for an Administrator Technology role. During the interview process he had a good feeling, like the one he had at the Waalitj Foundation, and received a call a week later to tell him he got the job.
James spent 7 months in this role, developing his IT skills, before he spotted another opportunity at Perth Mint for an Officer Product Development role. The job description aligned very well with his interests, so he decided to go for it. After two rounds of interviews, he was successful and started the role in June 2022 and has remained in that position to this day.
In his role, James manages product development projects from concept to market, coordinating teams across the business to ensure new products are launched successfully and on schedule. He works closely with customers, distributors and internal stakeholders worldwide, developing skills in project management, communication and strategic planning.
“The best part about my role is seeing the projects I coordinate turn into the precious metal pieces as gold, silver and platinum coins sold and loved worldwide. A bonus part is also my team,” he said.
Looking to the future, James aspires to be a leader within his community, mentoring and encouraging others while prioritising his health, wellbeing and personal growth. His goals include achieving financial stability, building a home, and starting a family. Professionally, he aims to progress into a leadership role where he can showcase his skills, and lead and mentor others with the long-term goal of becoming The Perth Mint’s first Indigenous CEO.
From participant to mentor and now climbing the ladder at Perth Mint, James’ journey demonstrates what can happen when determination is matched with the right support.
James’ advice to anyone thinking about coming to the Foundation for support is to check it out and see what services are available to them, especially Fit4Work.
“Fit4Work is a great opportunity to see what businesses are serious about their First Nations engagement through employment, which Waalitj encourages. I was once in your shoes, and now I am making my mark in a company I never saw myself working in. You have the potential to do and be great, and the Waalitj Foundation quite literally sets a foundation for you to start your career journey.”
Plan 2day 4 2morrow (P242) is a pre-employment program assisting Indigenous job seekers. P242 focuses on improving employability of Indigenous job seekers through the development of foundation skills and work readiness. We are proud to be delivering this program in multiple locations across Perth and Peel regions of Western Australia in partnership with the Alcoa Foundation and Shell. Find out more
