Family man and keen fisherman Darren Green has come a long way since starting work at his local grocery store on the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia's vast Kimberley region.

Mr Green – one of 41 finalists in next month's WA Training Awards – started stacking shelves 10 years ago at the local Bardi Ardyaloon store in One Arm Point, a small community of around 300 people.

He is now the first WA employee at Outback Stores to progress to assistant manager, after completing a Certificate IV in Retail Management from the company, a registered training organisation.

"I couldn't believe it. My family are over the moon," Mr Green said of his nomination in the WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category for 2024.

"They're hearing about it on social media, and I've been getting heaps of messages."

Originally from the inland community of Looma, Mr Green was an avid school student and says his experience working as a grocery retail manager will help realise his dream of opening a takeaway shop.

"Working in the shop gives me a lot of intel into how to run a business," he said.

Outback Stores operates 54 outlets in remote communities, with a strategy focused on improving health, employment, training and economic outcomes for people living there.

A majority of its stores are in the Northern Territory (30) and Western Australia (14), with more than 75 per cent of staff Indigenous.

Various pricing and product placement strategies across Outback outlets are designed to improve access to affordable food for Indigenous people, and foster healthier lives.

These include diet drinks costing 25 per cent less than full-sugar products, $1 bottles of water, and regular promotion of healthier lines such as fruit and vegetables.

Outback Stores also regularly ensures employees are educated on new trends in healthy eating, and supports community initiatives to reduce smoking in communities.

Mr Green said he was relishing the step up in responsibility after completing his Certificate IV through Outback Stores.

"I'm proud of where I am… I'd like others to be inspired," he said.

"But you have to love what you're doing … I like working with people and dealing with customers, and providing a service to the community."

Current Bardi store manager, Adrian Gouden said Mr Green was wonderful to work with.

"It's always a nice, positive atmosphere when he's working, and he's always ready to help out," he said.

"I'm extremely lucky to have him by side. We're all so happy for him".

Colleague Tammy Stephens, who has worked with Mr Green for a decade, said he had come a long way "from stacking shelves".

"He's now an assistant manager and is involved with every aspect of running the store: from ordering stock, to end-of-day financing," she said.

Mr Green will take a break from the supermarket aisles to be in Perth on September 20 for the 2024 WA Training Awards, which recognise and celebrate excellence in the state's vocational training sector.

He is among four nominees in the Indigenous student of the year category and 31 individuals recognised across eight categories, while 10 organisations were nominated in four categories in 2024, a record year for submissions in industries ranging from agriculture to IT.

Training and Workforce Development minister, Simone McGurk said the record number reflected the success of WA's training sector.

"Record numbers have taken on vocational training opportunities and pathways to participate in our state's strong and diversifying economy," she said.

"The individual finalists are fantastic ambassadors for vocational training and their stories demonstrate how training changes lives."

The Yamatji Sea Rangers Program, a collaboration between the Bundi Yamatji Aboriginal Corporation and Central Regional TAFE's Batavia Coast Maritime Institute, earned a nomination in the Industry Collaboration category for its plan to help emerging Yamatji sea rangers build their capacity to manage their sea Country.

The program also helps rangers understand the biocultural values of the Abrolhos Marine Park and actively participate in its management through marine operations, scientific research and monitoring techniques learnt via the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute alongside the knowledge and guidance of local Elders.

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services was one of two finalists in the Small Training Provider of the Year category.

The member-based regional ACCHO is governed by a board of respected and experienced Indigenous representatives, and delivers culturally-appropriate healthcare services at several remote health centres in the Kimberley region.

Mr Green was one of four finalists in the Indigenous student of the year category.

The full list of 2024 WA Training Award finalists is available online.