Taking Flight

While looking for a flight attendant job, Fallon Burrows had a phone call from a job agency who told her about an Indigenous traineeship that was to do with the tourism industry and involved some sort of world indigenous education conference. Sounds interesting? It was, and still is. Smart Start reports.

During school, Fallon wanted to be a lawyer or a detective. Then she had second thoughts: “I was interested in travelling and seeing the world and thought of being a flight attendant,” says Fallon.

After Year 12, she worked part-time at Aboriginal Coop and a glass company.

“Between these two jobs, I learnt accounting, administration, customer service.”

In a year, she was full-time at Wathaurong Glass and had completed short accounting courses.

Later she worked at a call centre, which gave her experience in dealing with customers.

“But I still didn’t know what I was going to do. I soon went to uni to do a degree in commerce.

“Uni lasted for about six months and I realised I did not have the passion for it. It was like a chore – to get up and go.”

It might seem that Fallon was drifting, but she was just trying to find her direction. And along the way, she was picking up knowledge, qualifications and skills.

At 20, Fallon enrolled with employment agencies to help her get a flight attendant job. She got a break. “While job-hunting for a flight attendant job and doing courses, I had a phone call from my job agency who told me about this Indigenous traineeship that was to do with the tourism industry and involving WIPC:E.

“I was unsure of what the job actually involved. But the traineeship was also based on what you would you like to do with it, which I thought was great – whether you only wanted to complete your certificate III or complete the diploma.”

With TAFE study as part of the traineeship, it wasn’t long before Fallon was up to speed. “The job has been great. I love everything about it.

“Being in the tourism industry you learn so much to do with travel/events/tourism. Each job impacts the other, so you can also move on to the event industry by planning travel trade shows, conferences.

“I never expected to have the knowledge and experience I have. I am glad I never got accepted into flight attending, as my career is what I have wanted all along and wouldn’t change anything about. I look forward to achieving more and more each day.”

What the WIPC:E!?

The World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference: Education. In 2008, more than 3000 indigenous people from across the world gathered in Melbourne and met with interested parties to discuss the key issues in closing gaps in education.

2008 was the first time an Aboriginal community controlled outfit hosted a WIPC:E.

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