Twenty Aurukun Shire Council employees have completed a two-week course in plant and machinery operations, gaining accredited tickets to operate a range of heavy equipment including loaders, graders, bobcats, excavators and rollers.
The course, delivered by Bob Klaricich from Civil Safety, was supported by funding from the Local Government Association of Queensland.
It formed part of the council's broader workforce development strategy to upskill local employees and reduce reliance on external contractors.
Council workers received practical training tailored to their roles and levels of experience, with a strong focus on safety and confidence-building in real-world settings.
Long-time council employee Aelan Wolmby told Cape York Weekly taking part in the training was the fulfilment of a childhood dream.
"Since I was a small boy, I've always wanted to operate big machines," Mr Wolmby said.
"I'd never been given the opportunity before, so finally getting behind the controls of a loader, excavator and grader was huge for me.
"These tickets open doors not just here, but for opportunities outside Aurukun too."
Mr Wolmby said the experience had changed the way he viewed his work and future opportunities.
"This training changes your mindset," he said.
"I feel more confident now and want to encourage other young people in the community to build their skills and contribute valuable work locally."
Town Services supervisor Brian Jolliffe said the newly acquired skills would have an immediate benefit for council operations.
"This training broadens our work scope and increases our versatility as a team," Mr Jolliffe said.
"When you've got a strong pool of qualified operators on the ground, it means we can respond faster by managing works internally."
Aurukun Mayor Barbara Bandicootcha said the initiative would bring long-term benefits beyond the 20 individuals who completed the course.
"This training not only empowers and upskills the staff who completed it, but also provides council with more control over vital service delivery areas like maintenance of our local roads," she said.
"Now they've completed the training, greater employment opportunities have opened up for our staff, internally and with other employers across Cape York and beyond."
The course was well received by participants and was described by council as an example of "meaningful workforce development - skills for today, pathways for tomorrow".
Council also thanked LGAQ for its support and recognised the contribution of Mr Klaricich in delivering the hands-on training in a way that was both professional and culturally respectful.
