Will Palmer's grandmother had a notable impact on him during his early years. The proud Arrernte man grew up on Country, west of Alice Springs, with his grandmother Raelene Silverton, who guided him by passing on local knowledge including the Arrernte language, cultural significant stories and knowledge of Country.
Now, after completing a Certificate I in Tourism (Australian Indigenous Culture), the Charles Darwin University (CDU) TAFE student is funnelling his passion for traditional language and culture into his first job as a First Nations Tour guide.
Mr Palmer says after completing the certificate course and accepting the position he believes he has now found his calling.
"Before starting my role and training, I had little knowledge about tourism. However, I now feel that it is my calling. I genuinely enjoy conducting tours and raising awareness of our culture to visitors in Central Australia," he said.
The Northern Territory tourism industry is worth nearly $800 million, bringing visitors to the Territory from interstate and overseas, many in search of First Nations history, language and culture.
It is in this context where Mr Palmer sees himself thriving in the future.
"Tourism plays a vital role in Central Australia by providing employment and training opportunities for local Indigenous communities," he said.
"It contributes to economic growth and serves as a platform for sharing our culture with visitors, offering educational experiences, and fostering cultural understanding."
Mr Palmer said the training provided by CDU TAFE has given him the confidence to guide a group as well as understand how to share knowledge that has been passed down to him, including that from his grandmother.
"The certificate has complemented my existing language and cultural knowledge by providing structured training in tour delivery," Mr Palmer said.
"Additionally, it equipped me with essential skills such as understanding tour structure, customer service, first aid certification, and ensuring visitor safety."
Mr Palmer's homelands are 100km west from Mparntwe/Alice Springs. It is here, on the traditional lands of his people where he sees his future.
"I am still learning; however my long-term goal is to establish my own tours closer to my family homeland and to inspire and mentor other Indigenous individuals to join the tourism industry," he said.
Although Mr Palmer believes he has a long way to go before he can consider himself a role model, his is pursuing further education with dreams of providing the same opportunities that he had to others.
He recently took the next step in making this dream a reality by undertaking a Certificate III in Tourism at CDU.
