Nearly 30 Territorians will have the opportunity to learn valuable skills in Aboriginal healthcare and to complete apprenticeship training while still at school as part of the Santos Foundation’s Youth Opportunities program.

In operation in Papua New Guinea for more than 13 years, the Santos Foundation is a not-for-profit that invests in partnerships and local initiatives to help communities thrive, with a focus on four key areas, including health, youth opportunities and community development.

The Foundation has this year extended its scope to the Territory with a range of programs designed to empower young people with the training and skills they need to forge a successful and rewarding career, and to contribute positively to their communities.

“The Santos Foundation has a proud history of investing in partnerships and initiatives that have helped PNG communities thrive, so I am delighted that the Foundation will now benefit disadvantaged Australian communities as well,” says Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher.

“The two new programs are just the first for the Santos Foundation in Australia and we look forward to working collaboratively with government, donors and local partners to drive positive change and empower communities here in the NT and across the nation.”

The two programs include a dedicated Aboriginal healthcare stream and a separate apprenticeship program, which enables students to earn qualifications while still at school. Both programs have been developed to help address skills shortages identified by the NT Government in health and trades.

Both programs have also been developed in line with the Foundation’s broader approach of community engagement and programs that respond to a community’s needs, and prioritising partnership-driven programs based on community collaboration.

Under the pilot, the dedicated Aboriginal health initiative will support eight participants to earn a Certificate IV Aboriginal Health Practitioner accreditation and secure employment with Darwin-based Danila Dilba Health Services.

Additionally, 25 high school students will enter a separate school-based apprenticeship program facilitated by GTNT Group, the largest employer of apprentices and trainees in the Territory, allowing the students to remain in school while working toward their NT Certificate of Education and Training.

The two streams aim to equip young Territorians with job-ready skills, bridging the gap between school and the workforce.

“We are committed to investing in initiatives that build stronger communities where we operate and these programs demonstrate our dedication to the creation of opportunities that empower young people to forge a brighter future,” sats Santos Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jodie Hatherly.

Danila Dilba provides primary healthcare to more than 12,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people annually, and functions as a vital first point of contact for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Top End needing healthcare.

“Aboriginal health practitioners are the first point of contact for clients, offering culturally safe care, and the addition of eight more will ultimately lead to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families living in Darwin,” says Chief Executive Rob McPhee.

The separate apprenticeship stream is also designed to equip Young Territorians with versatile skills they can take into different jobs and working environments as they progress throughout their career.

GTNT Group chief executive Kathryn Stenson says: “Our school-based students participating in the program will gain skills for a long-term career or a learning foundation that they can use to obtain another wonderful opportunity in the Territory.”

She says the Santos Foundation’s support means more young people will be able to access the learning they need to build long-lasting, fulfilling and productive careers.

The Foundation’s two programs complement the work Santos has been doing over a number of years to support educational pathways in the Top End, and to broaden the number of skills and training opportunities on offer to young people.

Another training initiative, the Santos-KAEFER Indigenous Training & Employment Pathways Program, has been recognised for achieving real employment results and creating pathways to economic independence for Aboriginal Territorians.

The joint venture between Santos and the construction, maintenance and industrial services company KAEFER won the Chairman’s Community Award at the 2025 annual Santos Directors’ Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability Awards in recognition of the lasting impact it is having on the local community by providing opportunities for the Territory’s youth.

Mr Gallagher says the project highlights the social impact of the company’s commitment to build a better future for the communities where it operates.

“I am extremely proud of our Santos-KAEFER employment program,” he says. “It is a genuine example of how Santos is taking real and practical action to help close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage in the Northern Territory.”

The first intake has achieved a great success rate, with nine cadets completing a scaffolding traineeship. Further trainees and apprentices have now started the program in trades and traineeships, including boiler making, health and safety, and administration.

One scaffolder taking part in the program says: “My partner and I have started looking for our own place as we take the next step in building our life together.

“This program has helped me grow — not just as a young man but as a future leader in my community. I hope that the younger kids back home see what I’ve achieved and feel inspired to do the same if they take the opportunity.”

And one of his teammates says: “It has helped me to help my Mum and provided me with a life-changing opportunity. It has shown me that I can break the cycle, to have a career, and to financially help my Mum and siblings.”

KAEFER Aboriginal Engagement Advisor, Kylie Thorn, a Territorian who went through a Pathways program, is proud to see more programs providing local opportunities.

“The program is built on community-led foundations and is structured to cultivate professional industry skills and life skills, which in turn create stronger, more resilient communities,” she says. TQ