About Us

The Aboriginal Pastoral Academy (the Academy) is a collaboration between a group of industry and community stakeholders that aims to support employment pathways for Aboriginal people in the pastoral industry.

The Academy was developed in response to industry requests to provide a supported career path for young Aboriginal adults and a skilled, entry-level cohort to add to the pastoral industry’s workforce, boosting the capacity and capability of the industry.

The Academy is a successful collaboration between pastoral pre-employment programs run by Nyamba Buru Yawuru and  Job Pathways, and the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association and backed by the State Government. The Academy operates at various locations throughout northern WA and graduates from these pre-employment pastoral training programs are placed into employment on pastoral properties across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. Graduates are intensively mentored for their first two years of employment, and their workplaces also receive a range of support throughout the placement.

After this period of supported work within the industry, the Academy participant is considered to be ‘industry-ready’. They are equipped with the skills, experience and a strong desire to pursue a career in the pastoral industry with minimal assistance.

The Academy engages and collaborates with station owners and training providers, creating links between a range of quality training opportunities, mentoring and workplace placements to deliver job opportunities and meet industry workforce requirements.

The Academy has successfully collaborated with the Nyamba Buru Yawuru’s successful ‘Warrmijala Murrgurlayi Rise up to work’ program in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Strengthening the links between the program and industry to create new employment opportunities for graduates. In 2025 the Academy continued this partnership while also expanding into the East Kimberley with a similar partnership with Job Pathways.