It's graduation day for Ethan Burton.
"I'm graduating tonight, wearing a suit and I'm going to be looking good!" he told NITV.
He's one of 28 students graduating from the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA), based at the Ayres Rock Resort.
Ethan began his journey at NITA almost a year ago, completing a Certificate III in Food and Beverage. Now he's getting a Certificate III in Tourism.
"I was doing landscaping and I didn’t like it so thought I’d do something else," he explained.
"A buddy of mine recommended this, I thought I'd give it a go ... it was a good opportunity to meet people, to learn English too."
Ethan comes from a community only 3 kilometres from Uluru. English is his second language, and coming to NITA dramatically improved his skills.
"I was a bit nervous to have conversations [in English] so this helped me improve. I pushed myself to come here and to learn," he said.
"I'd say it's a 70 per cent improvement, I won’t say I’m done yet!"
Graduating alongside Ethan are Myali Chester, Arrernte woman from Alice Springs and Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara woman from Titjikala, Agnes May.
Both started the traineeship in May, training as receptionists.
"It's my first job, it was really good experience. Now I have a new set of skills," said Myali.
"It's been really good interacting with different people, working with people from different backgrounds and learning new skills," added Agnes.
Like all Indigenous students who attend NITA, the pair lived on site and made many new friends.
"We met a lot of good people, made lifelong friends here for sure," said Myali.
"I love learning about where people come from and sharing cultural things."
While Myali has tapped into a passion, working at reception, Agnes is set to move into NITA's Indigenous Engagement team.
As an Aṉangu person from APY lands who has completed the traineeship, Agnes wants to give back to community and inspire the next generation of Aṉangu trainees.
"I want to tell young people from community what it is like being in a different environment, trying new skills, getting work experience, learning both ways," she said.
"Having a yarn, sharing my experience and telling them they can take a chance try different things."
Agnes will work under NITA's Aṉangu Engagement Manager and Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara woman from the APY Lands, Inawantji Scales.
For two years, Inawantji has worked in 26 different communities, across the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, supporting young Aṉangu in their studies at NITA and in settling into their new home in Yulara.
"It's like coming to a big town for some of these people because some our communities are very very remote. It's a big change," she explained.
"There is a support system here, we support them."
She said while it's part of the APY lands, it's a "whole different culture".
"It’s tourism, it’s a big company, a big machine in the middle of the desert," she said.
Since its inception in 2011, NITA has seen 772 Indigenous young people graduate.
Inawantji and her team face unique challenges because of their isolation.
"Last year, we went to community promoting the program, one fulla was interested but he wasn't 18. So we started the process to get things ready for him," she explained.
"We had to get him I.D. He had nothing at all. We were trying to get him a bank card, registering him to enrol to vote, getting Centrelink support, getting MyGov and we still don’t have his birth certificate.
"There are no cities or big towns nearby. To get to Alice Springs it's a ten hour round trip."
But it's well worth it for many students.
"Coming here, you live in the residential place with all the other Indigenous young people around Australia. You learn from each other. A lot of our mob here don’t have the opportunity to meet other people, some have made great friends, some have become family," she said.
For Ethan, the experience was life changing. He hopes more young people take up the chance.
"It's scary! But at the same time it’s fun as well. You can also learn a lot," he said.
“It makes you feel a lot of things, the opportunities you can do for your future as well. I really highly recommend it, it’s the best place to start your journey."
