Cape York woman Simone Accoom serves as Cape York Employment's (CYE) Administration Assistant in Lockhart River.

While her dream of becoming a diesel fitter at Rio Tinto in Weipa remains, her current focus is on empowering her community.

"Growing up to see my people having no direction or hopes to achieve anything was not inspiring," Ms Accoom said.

"As I grew older into the young woman I am today, I feel in my heart the responsibility has been put onto me to care for Lockhart and inspire others."

Before joining CYE, Ms Accoom worked as a retail assistant at Lockhart River's sole supermarket.

Looking for a career change, she expressed interest in the administration assistant role to Maria Zaro, CYE's Team Leader in Lockhart River, where Ms Zaro recognised her as the ideal candidate for the position.

"I saw so much potential in Simone," Ms Zaro said.

"Without a hesitation I offered her the position."

Ms Accoom's role is part of CYE's Community Projects program, funded by the National Indigenous Australian Agency to offer genuine employment with fair wages and good conditions.

In Lockhart River, where traditional job opportunities are scarce, reliance on welfare can take a toll on one's self-esteem.

The Community Projects initiative aims to create meaningful jobs aligned with local interests, benefiting both individuals and the community, and preparing participants for future market opportunities.

This approach was developed in collaboration with the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, a leading Indigenous think tank in Australia.

Navigating her new position, Ms Accoom faced challenges such as adapting to unfamiliar IT systems.

With guidance from CYE staff, she successfully overcame these obstacles.

"It was stressful understanding the systems, but I did not allow this to get to me," Ms Accoom said.

"I was confident I will overcome them."

Ms Zaro said "it is good to see Simone maintaining a positive attitude, she is an asset to our team".

Ms Accoom is enjoying her role, especially as she gets to contribute to the empowerment of her community.

"I enjoy my time working for CYE," she said.

"I love helping people and helping my community. Especially seeing them bettering themselves and feeling empowered."

Ms Accoom understands the significance of community engagement in uncovering job aspirations. She sees her role at Cape York Employment as not only setting an example but also helping others find jobs that match their skills and passions.