Sky’s no limit for Indigenous space agency and First Nations people Aiming for red planet

l FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

INDIGENOUS aerospace founder

Daniel Joinbee wants to put a man or a woman on Mars.

The proud Yarrabah man and founder of Gunggandji Aerospace Consultancy (Gunggandji) visited Cairns last week to encourage FNQ’s First Nations people to go for a career in the aerospace industry.

With the announcement of a new spaceport in Weipa in coming years, Gunggandji partnered with Space Centre Australia to put First Nations people at the forefront of this emerging industry.

“The first person to walk on Mars could be a Far North Queenslander, and we just don’t know it yet,” Mr Joinbee said.

Gunggandji is Australia’s first 100 per cent Indigenous-owned and operated aerospace consultancy company, providing professional services to space command, air force headquarters and the Australian Space Agency.

The company has also taken on board its first four trainees to connect them to aerospace industry jobs through non-traditional pathways.

“We’re looking to create pathways into space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and women and create non-traditional pathways,” Mr Joinbee

Feast Of The Three Saints

said. “By non-traditional pathways, we mean that it’s not targeting those who finished high school or university. We’re not looking for qualifications, we’re looking for attitude.

“The candidates that we’re looking for haven’t finished high school. They’re potentially parents who are returning to the workforce, people post-incarceration and people who want to participate in aviation, space or other emerging industries.”

On April 20 and 21, Gunggandji headlined two key space industry events in Cairns to encourage Indigenous people in the region to consider a career in this emerging industry.

Mr Joinbee said the Far North would become a pioneer of the industry in Australia, and Gunggandji had its doors open to be at the forefront of those projects in the region.

“Space Centre Australia will be building a heavy launch facility in Weipa, and that facility will have compounding events in FNQ,” he said.

“Our people have been navigating by the stars, living by the stars, sleeping under the stars for 60,000 years, and it’s only natural that we lead the space scientific discourse in Australia,” Mr Joinbee said.

Candidates interested in joining Gunggandji can contact Mr Joinbee at daniel.j@gunggandjiaerospace.com. au or visit www.gunggandjiaerospace.com.au

Learning And Life Skills Development

Throughout all of our community care services, we maintain a focus on empowering our clients and supporting them to develop life skills that can help them to achieve their personal goals and support their autonomy.

This training can be delivered in group sessions or in a one on one, face to face setting.

Whether it is communication skills, social skills, financial management, cooking or otherwise, the St John’s Community Care staff love supporting our clients living with disability to learn and develop new life skills.

12 noon

2 pm

3 pm

ITALIAN MASS: Concelebrated by Fr. Padre Aurelio Fragapane, from Melbourne & Fr. Kerry Crowley. Unveiling of the Three Saints. Eulogy of the Three Saints. Hymns by Saint Alfio Choir.

Entertainment, Barbecue, Italian Sausage, Ravioli, Arancini, Grilled Fish, Pizza, Chestnuts, Granita, Gelati, Cannoli, Italian Biscuits, Sweets, Tea & Barista Made Coffee.

Three Saints positioned on Vara, followed by Solemn Procession. Rosary and Hymns. Procession accompanied by Cairns municipal band.

ENGLISH MASS: Concelebrated by Fr. Padre Aurelio Fragapane, from Melbourne & Fr. Hilary Flynn, followed by the Blessing and Veneration of the Relics of the Three Saints.

7 pm - Dynamic Fireworks Display

Music and Dancing till 9pm