Our chairman reflects on 2020-21

After four years as Chairman of the Tiwi Islands Training and Employment Board, Lesley Tungatulum, reflected on our progress and spoke about his vision for TITEB and Tiwi people.

With school attendance impacted by social issues, the Chairman applauded the role of TITEB’s Yellow Shirts in making children feel safe, encouraging them, and providing support to students and families, especially in Wurrumiyanga. For school leavers, he would like to see more early intervention by universities, so that students have clear career pathways and start planning their future studies before they graduate.

“Our goal is for Tiwi to step up. We need the next generation to see the big picture, to go to university and become doctors and lawyers. We want more Tiwi in top jobs. But we can’t put the kids’ foot in the school bus and take them to school – they need to do that,” he said.

The chairman was positive about TITEB’s staff changes and planned improvements, including better facilities for RTO training and CDP activities for men and women across the Islands. However, he was keen to see greater input from stakeholders and the community about what they need, and how TITEB can improve its services.

“We need to know what the people want – what suits each community. Wurrumiyanga, Milikapiti and Pirlangimpi all have their own visions,” the Chairman said.

Both the Chair and Vice Chair positions will be vacated and new office-bearers elected at the Annual General Meeting on October 2021.