Award recipient turns to Uni for career boost
Published on 02 November, 2004
The 2003 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year, Massie Zamiak has great hopes of taking his career to new heights with the help of Central Queensland University.
After a hugely successful apprenticeship with Comalco, where he is still employed, the 27-year-old has begun a Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Business degree via distance education through Nulloo Yumbah, CQU's Centre for Indigenous Learning, Spirituality and Research in Rockhampton, Queensland.
Massie is employed as an electrical fitter mechanic in Comalco's Technical Services department at Weipa and has recently been appointed as operator/electrician at the Comalco Power Station for 12 months.
"Hopefully, I would like to see my career take me overseas into a higher level position," Massie explained.
He thinks Nulloo Yumbah is just the place to take him there.
"I learnt about Nulloo Yumbah while I was in Thursday Island at the Croc Fest. I found there were a lot of advantages with using Nulloo Yumbah, so I decided to give it a go.".
Nulloo Yumbah assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait people with access to tertiary education and helps students complete their degrees and increase their career prospects.
But with an impeccable employment history, Massie is already on his way to a successful career advancement.
Before joining Comalco, Massie was a student paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service. He eventually became a qualified paramedic, graduating with an Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Ambulance).
He later entered an apprenticeship as an electrical fitter mechanic with Comalco.
It was at this time he won the 2003 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year award (and became a national finalist), the Western Cape Apprentice of the Year, Cairns Region Group Training Apprentice of the Year, Western Cape Electrical Apprentice of the Year and the Queensland Mining Advisory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trainee of the Year.
Massie lives with his partner and four sons in Weipa where he says he spends much of his spare time quad bike riding, fishing and camping with his family.
For information about CQU's Nulloo Yumbah phone toll free on 1800 651 891, email nulloo-yumbah@cqu.edu.au or visit the website www.cqu.edu.au/nullooyumbah/ .
--ENDS-- For details contact Massie Zamiak on massie.zamiak@comalco.riotinto.com.au .