Urapuntja Hospitality Project

Fast Facts:

Duration: 3 – 12 weeks (including 3 days of Orientation); Start date in Late March/ Early April

Location: Urapuntja Homelands and Aherrenge Homelands – 350 kms N/E of Alice Springs on the Sandover highway (Remote location)

Arrival Airport: Brisbane International Airport

Working Hours: approx. 38/ week

Accommodation: Accommodation is provided in a share house. In 2011 dependent on funding there may be some permanent tents in a marquee style accommodation to provide more privacy for volunteers. Bring your own bed linen.

Transport: Brisbane/ Alice Springs one way AU$300 may vary depending on season. Approximate travel time 3 hours direct flight. Volunteers are picked up by project coordinator in Alice Springs and driven to Uranpuntja via 4 wheel drive. Approximate travel time 3-4 hours via unsealed road. Travel time may vary due to road conditions. Note: There are limited direct flights from Brisbane each week so volunteers may have to travel via Sydney, Melbourne or Cairns to Alice Springs. This may also alter cost and travel time.

Requirements:

• Minimum age 18
• Skills in Hospitality, Nutrition, Cooking, or Catering
• Good Oral and Written English skills

• Itinerary

Project Details: A group of local aboriginal people from the community will, with qualified supervision, be trained in hospitality and taught food preparation in a commercial kitchen which will also provide the catering for both trainers and trainees during the project.

Volunteer Requirements/Skills: Volunteers for this project should have experience or knowledge in Hospitality, Nutrition, Cooking, or Catering.

Your role as a volunteer: As a volunteer you will assist in training the local people in food preparation in a commercial kitchen as well as in general Hospitality and Catering operations.

Where the project is based: The project is bases in Urapuntja Homelands and Aherrenge Homelands 350 kms N/E of Alice Springs on the Sandover highway. This part of the country is semi-arid and featureless, consisting of vast plains that support relatively few head of cattle. Any sidetracks that can be seen around here are private roads only.

Arlparra Store lies approximately 28km inside the boundary of Urapuntja, in an area known as Utopia Station, the hub of a number of Aboriginal communities in the area. Fuel (leaded, unleaded and diesel) and food are obtainable from Arlparra which is open weekdays, 9am – 5pm and Saturday, 9am – 12pm.

Passing the administrative centre of Urapuntja, where emergency medical facilities are available, one eventually comes to Ammaroo Station, opposite the turnoff to Elkedra Homestead. Ammaroo no longer has services for travellers.

Weather & Clothing: Temperatures in this area are high all year round appropriate summer clothing suggested. When selecting footwear please note that this is a very arid area with the majority of the community consisting of red desert dust. If volunteers wish to go bush walking then appropriate footwear such as boots or sneakers would be suggested

Note: Dehydration can occur very quickly in Central Australia. Increased water consumption and appropriate sun protection is essential in these areas to prevent illness.

What’s included