In Coen, on Cape York Peninsula, life moves to a different rhythm. It is the wet season, the rivers are swollen and the humidity high. It’s a place shaped by strong relationships, where people look out for one another and connection runs deep.
In this close-knit community, opportunities don’t always follow a straight path, but with the right support, they begin to take shape. Here, Majella Peter is helping job seekers take practical steps towards work, training and greater independence.
As an Employment Officer with Cape York Employment, she supports people in Coen to take practical steps towards employment, training and greater independence.
Majella has been in the role for six months, following nearly two and a half years working across community development, O‑Hub and Mayi Market. Those experiences continue to shape her approach.
“I love it,” she says. “We have our ups and downs, but I love helping.”
Moving into employment services felt like a natural transition. Through her earlier work, Majella saw how closely employment is tied to wellbeing, stability and confidence for individuals and families. She wanted to be more directly involved in supporting people to build those foundations.
Now, on any given day, her work can include helping someone gather identification documents, update a resume, talk through career goals, connect to training or work alongside employers and supervisors once someone starts a job.
In a remote community like Coen, that support often extends far beyond paperwork. Becoming job‑ready can mean navigating a range of challenges, from limited transport and qualifications to confidence, education gaps, family pressures and access to services. Working in a place where family and community ties are strong brings both rewards and complexities.
Her approach is grounded in an understanding of community life and the realities people face. She knows that employment support works best when it reflects cultural responsibilities, personal circumstances and the reasons someone may miss an appointment or lose confidence.
It can be very challenging when you’re supporting family and friends, but you still have to show up, because it’s only going to help them in the long run.”
Majella Peter
Her approach is grounded in an understanding of community life and the realities people face. She knows that employment support works best when it reflects cultural responsibilities, personal circumstances and the reasons someone may miss an appointment or lose confidence.
For Majella, building trust is central to helping people move forward. That trust opens the door to honest conversations about aspirations, setbacks and the kind of work that feels meaningful and achievable.
Rather than focusing solely on available jobs, she encourages job seekers to think about what genuinely interests them and where they want to grow.
“If you’re interested in it, you’re more motivated,” she says. “You want to learn about the job. You’re more engaged because it’s something you’re passionate about.”
One of the most rewarding parts of her role is watching people build confidence over time. Majella speaks proudly about job seekers who have completed training, gained licences, secured work and reached personal milestones, such as saving for a car or creating greater stability for their families.
“Success in my role looks like individuals gaining independence, confidence and sustainable employment or training opportunities,” she says.
That sense of success carries extra meaning because the work is happening in her own community.
“It allows me to give back and support people in creating better opportunities for themselves and their family,” she says.
Majella also highlights the role culture and community play in long‑term engagement. When people feel understood and supported within their own context, they are more likely to stay connected and follow through on their goals.
“Culture and community play a very important role,” she says. “When people feel supported and understood within that cultural context, they are more likely to participate and succeed.”
Alongside her work with job seekers, Majella is strengthening relationships with local employers. She is building a clearer understanding of their needs, explaining available supports and helping create stronger pathways into local jobs.
She is also passionate about improving support for young people. Majella believes earlier engagement, stronger local training options and more spaces where young people can connect with services would help prevent disengagement and build skills before barriers grow.
Her reflections reflect not only her daily work but also the broader purpose of Cape York Employment under the Pama Futures Agenda: supporting people to build the capabilities they need to choose lives they have reason to value.
For Majella, that starts with practical support, strong relationships and belief in people’s potential. Over time, she has learned the value of patience, resilience and staying alongside people as they work through challenges.
When someone is considering their first step into employment, she wants them to see what’s possible.
A job, she says, can bring independence, flexibility and a stronger foundation for the future.
That is what keeps her going. Not just helping someone find work but helping them move towards the life they want for themselves and their family.
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