By Naomi Giles
Soon after being reunited with her family, 23-year-old mum Mia feared she would have to leave them again to find work.
Based on Barunggam country at Dalby in southwest Queensland, Mia, a Gamilaroi young person, was starting anew after rehabilitation. Reunited with her 18-month-old son, she was determined to find regular work.
“I really, really wanted a job,” says Mia. “I was in there every week bugging my case manager, but nothing seemed to be available that would fit with caring for my son.”
Things changed when she heard about a new social enterprise launched by dhiiyaan Bethel Farm. Through its True Fella initiative, dhiiyaan Aboriginal Corporation supports Indigenous young people with training and employment opportunities.
After a successful interview, Mia was offered a place to start the following week.
“I went back home and walked in smiling so much, Nan and Mum knew straight away that I had a job,” she says laughing.
“This past year has been a big journey. I was in rehab for 6 months away from my son which was really hard, but since then I’ve been able to celebrate my birthday, Mother’s Day, my son’s birthday and coming home clean and sober,” she says smiling.
Likewise, Kate, a Goreng Goreng and South Sea Islander young person, needed a fresh start. After a difficult year in Brisbane, she relocated to Dalby with her family, who have been part of dhiiyaan since its beginnings.
With the dhiiyaan community contributing, a long-held dream of having a roadside coffee cart was born.
“We all played a part – we had to fit out a trailer that was donated to us with all the right equipment, come up with a menu and work out how the business would run,” Kate says.
The Big Sky Coffee cart, located alongside the Moonie Highway on the outskirts of Dalby, is becoming a meeting place for locals and visitors. Serving drinks and home-made treats five days a week, it provides Mia and Kate with hands-on hospitality experience.
For Mia, the supportive environment has helped her overcome previous challenges with training.
“I really wanted to do well, but I was so anxious that I was going to let myself and others down, I just couldn’t complete the courses,” she says.
Now, her motivation is creating a future for herself and her son while reconnecting with her culture.
“I’m still getting to know more about my own aboriginality,” she says. “I grew up not knowing much, but I’m starting to find out more now. I really want my son to know who his people are.”
The coffee cart is already attracting opportunities at local markets, sporting and community events.
“The extra events give the girls a chance to work in the wider community which will build their skills and confidence,” says dhiiyaan’s Bethel Farm manager Vicki.
“Through True Fella we want to provide really practical ways for young people to begin changing their story. The Big Sky coffee cart is one way for that to happen, with real life experience, the opportunity for training and earning money,” she says.
Kate hopes the coffee cart will eventually grow into a café where visitors can enjoy food grown and made at Bethel Farm.
“There are so many possibilities, I dream of a little shop at the farm and a café where people stay for a while and take a look around,” she says.
Vicki is also exploring how the initiative can grow sustainably.
“Getting the cart launched was a major expense,” she shares. “But you have to make the path by walking, and so we took the risk to sow deeply into something that has the potential to be life changing for young people.”
“We’re keen to find ongoing partners and sponsorships for the True Fella program so we can continue to grow what we’ve begun and benefit even more young people,” she says.
“There are so many young people in this area who need a chance to make a new beginning, and we’d love to be able to help more of them.”