First Nations digital service centres
Two digital service centres have been established in discrete First Nations communities, with more to follow. The centres are community-owned and controlled and commercially sustainable, providing services for industry and government with the overarching goal to create a strong local digital economy through local digital jobs and careers as well as a broader digital transformation of the community.
Digital service centres offer unique benefits to regional and remote communities through the creation of new jobs, new skills and economic diversification.
Each centre provides a culturally safe place that delivers tailored digital training, upskilling and employment opportunities to local people, building community confidence, capacity and capability.
The first centre opened in March 2022 in Cherbourg and is a partnership between Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, Fujitsu and Queensland Government. It is the first digital service centre opened in an Indigenous community in Australia.
A second centre was established in June 2023 on Palm Island, to provide up to 20 on Country jobs for local community members who completed a pre-employment work readiness skills bootcamp to prepare them to deliver digital call centre services to Telstra customers. Digital Service Centre employees will continue completing a Certificate III in Business with TAFE Queensland while they are working.
The centre is a partnership between the Queensland Government, Telstra, Palm Island Community Company and Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council and supported by TAFE Queensland.
For more information or to partner with us, contact ogmdigitaleconomy@chde.qld.gov.au