The Trainers
Susan Hardy
DIRECTOR , Pathways to the Future, Cairns.
Pathways to the Future was formed in January 2009 to enable Susan to follow her passion for designing and running Training and Development programs for Long Term Unemployed, Indigenous and Disengaged Youth.
Previous to this she was the Staff Excellence Manager across the Capta group of companies, a privately owned and operated group of companies based in Tourism. During this time she combined her training and Management experience to successfully implement change management programs, an indigenous employment strategy and internal professional development programs to inspire continuous employee development.
Originally from Victoria Susan has worked across a number of businesses including Building, Local Government, Aged Care, Youth, Retail, Tourism and manufacturing. Working her way up from a Receptionist in 1982 to Senior Management roles from 1999, her excellent skills in mediation and communication have been a major contributor to her success.
Susan has two teenage children who assist with the development of areas such as the web site and learning administration. She hopes they will visit different communites with her from time to time to expand their knowledge of indigenous culture.
Susan has a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resources is a qualified Workplace Health and Safety Officer and a Qualified Trainer and assessor. She is a member of the Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI) and her current goals include continuing to build the business and to improve the employment rate of indigenous people.
Bronwen Gratton
Trainer, Pathways to the Future, Cairns.
After growing up on Groote Eylandt, Bronwen returned there in 2000 with her partner to live and work in Angurugu Aboriginal Community. Her previous experience working in the school system in South Australia gave her the skills required to work at the community school – working 1 on 1 with a young hearing-impaired boy teaching him sign language and tutoring a small group of older girls (14 – 19yrs) to encourage them to continue their schooling.
As a qualified swimming instructor, regular swimming lessons were arranged for local children to attend with transport provided to the local pool in Alyangula.
Whilst living in Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community, she worked as In Home Practical Support Officer and Council Office Supervisor and was also responsible for Accounts Payable and Receivable and CDEP Payroll.
Close friendships have been maintained with people from both of these communities.
Bronwen has also worked extensively in the Travel / Tourism industry. Roles within this industry have included International Travel Consultant, Airport Officer (responsible for all aspects of fight arrival and departure procedures), Manager of a large regional information centre (responsible for all centre operations including training & supervisions of 6 staff and 30 volunteers), and Manager of group of 3 retail tour outlets for a major tour operator.
Other work / life experiences have included Owner / Manager of Swim School, Swim Instructor (for people with intellectual and physical disabilities), School Services Officer, Restaurant Manager, Bar Manager, Hotel Cook & Canteen Manager.
Bronwen is now living in Cairns with her partner and has two adult sons who live in Adelaide – the eldest having returned from Darwin where he was working late last year. Most recently she worked with Pathways to the Future on the Mossman Gateway Project and the Mandingalbay Yidinji Corporation Ranger Project (Yarrabah) and looks forward to continuing to work with the people from Yarrabah with the up coming Youth Program due to commence soon. Bronwen’s future pathway includes expanding her knowledge of indigenous culture and assisting people in discovering their own pathway forward.
Click here to download TTNQ/PTTF Program Overview – Employer Information.
Penny Cleland
The CaPTA Group operates highly successful tourist operations in and around Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia. 100% locally owned and operated with by the Woodward Family, the name stands for Cairns and Port Trips & Attractions, or more informally, Charlie and Pip’s Trips & Attractions. The CaPTA Group comprises Rainforestation Nature Park, Tropic Wings Coach Tours, RnR Adventures, Jungle Tours, The Wildlife Habitat, Cairns Wildlife Dome, Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Careers Training Centre.
Careers Training Centre has recently branched out to provide both accredited and non-accredited training to tourism and hospitality businesses within the Far North region (from Cairns to Mossman). Host employers include hotels, tourism operators, tour desks, reef boat operators, tour guides, café and restaurants. Training is available from Certificate II to Diploma level in Tourism, Hospitality and Business. Training at Certificate III in Captive Animals has just been added to our scope and is generating a great deal of interest as a career pathway.
The CaPTA Group is passionate about Indigenous employment, recognising the value and contribution of Indigenous employees to their business. Indigenous employees currently make up 14% of the CaPTA team, over a wide variety of roles, including (but not limited to) retail, reservations, coach drivers, cultural dancers and tour guides. 5 of our Indigenous employees have exceeded 10 years long service leave.
One of CaPTA’s major initiatives has been the development of the Structured Training and Employment Program (STEP). This program is specifically tailored to assist indigenous employees with long term employment goals and provides them with support from an Indigenous Mentor.
One of the driving forces behind the development of The CaPTA Groups’ Indigenous Employment Program is Staff Development Manager, Penny Cleland. Joining CaPTA in 2008, Penny has a diverse background in Tourism and Hospitality with experience in both Front Line and Senior Management. During her career she completed 10 years working for Power Brewing, 6 years working for Fosters and 4 Years with Raging Thunder, 2 of which were spent living and working on Fitzroy Island.
During her career Penny spent 10 years living and working in Weipa and became heavily involved in several community projects and committees. As one of the founding committee members for the Weipa Arts Council, Penny was involved in developing the Weipa Arts Council and remembers a major highlight being when they managed to bring Australian performer John Williamson to Weipa, to perform a concert on the local golf course.
In addition, Penny served 10 years on the committee of ‘Cape Women Meet’. This unique committee brought together women in remote areas from Torres Strait through to Cooktown. A major achievement for Penny was her role as President of the ‘Cape Women Meet’ committee at the time of winning the QLD Reconciliation Award for best community group for reconciliation. As part of this role, she sat on several government committees striving to look at future direction and government policies for the far northern region.
Penny is currently an active member of the QLD Tourism Industry Council Indigenous Champions and is passionate that the greater tourism and hospitality industry have access to and participate in relevant, quality and flexible training. As part of her role with CaPTA, Penny manages Careers Training Centre (CTC) in partnership with Career Training Institute of Australia, to meet this need in the community.
