The largest graduation cohort from the National Indigenous Training Academy at Uluru Ayers Rock Resort took place on Saturday in a celebration of culture, empowerment and determination.

NITA, run by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia (Voyages) - a First Nations business registered with Supply Nation - celebrated 26 First Nations graduates from across the country, who received their Certificate III in Hospitality.

Held on the land of the Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara and Aṉangu people, the graduates donned their best gown and suits to rightly celebrate their achievements, with many having their families make the long journey from their communities to witness the ceremony.

Graduate Mark Griffiths brought the house down with a speech of emotion and humour, with his love of his fellow graduates - and vice-versa - shining through.

Other speeches include Tourism Minister Don Farrell, who spoke of his early work in the tourism sector in Darwin in the wake of Cyclone Tracy, and Larrakia and Wulna man and CEO of the Larrakia Development Corporation, Nigel Browne.

Everyone in the room was treated to a menu of native and locally grown ingredients, served by members of the Voyages team.

Earlier in the day, National Indigenous Times was given the exclusive chance to meet the current cohort of trainees going through their paces.

Martha, a Wagedagam woman from Mabuyaagi (Mabuiag) Island, has been at the academy since January.

"I really love getting out there and meeting new people every single day," she said.

"[It's] so multicultural [and] diverse", she said in response to what she was most enjoying, "I think that is one of the things I most like about this place.

"Everyone is so welcoming."

Voyages CEO Matt Cameron-Smith told National Indigenous Times NITA is an "incubator of First Nations talent" for the tourism industry.

"Often, it's their [the students'] first time out of home, it's their first job, and they come here very shy," he said.

"Then what you see in 12 months' time is someone who's on a journey."

It has now seen more than 700 graduates since the program started, with some coming back to Voyages in multiple stints.

"We've got former graduates that are studying law, former graduates that are working in First Nations policy development for the Queensland Government," Mr Cameron-Smith said.

"And they've really grown, but they needed that spark, that opportunity. So, I think NITA gives these young people an opportunity to be the best they can be of themselves."

He said the benefits or program, with a nationally recognised certificate that is well regarded both in Australia and overseas, also helps the community and families.

"It's not uncommon to see someone come through the program and then see their brother or sister come through the program two years later, so they become kind of an ambassador for it afterwards," Mr Cameron-Smith said.

Whilst some of the graduates would leave to take up jobs elsewhere either in their community or around Australia, others have already accepted offers to stay at Ayers Rock Resort.

National Indigenous Times was a guest of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.

For more information or to enrol, visit NITA online.