Yaama Dhiyaan’s growing family

Founded by the Redfern Waterloo Authority in 2006, Yaama Dhiyaan stands today as Australia’s first and only Indigenous hospitality school. Based in Wilson Street, Darlington, the College offers students the chance to undertake the nationally recognised Certificate II in Hospitality Operations over nine weeks.

When Yaama graduate Conway Oliver arrived in Sydney from the far North of Queensland, he left his family in Cairns. “Aunty Beryl was like my family away from home,” says the Yaama Dhiyaan graduate. “She’s a lovely person ... She’d go out of her way for you. As long as you give 100 per cent and she knows what you want, then she’ll help you get there.”

Now working as a Food and Beverages Attendant at Sydney’s Sofitel Wentworth Hotel, Mr Oliver is quick to credit Yaama Dhiyaan for his professional success. “We studied things like bush tucker. We also went out into the Botanical Gardens, had a picnic, and learnt about the trees. It was about seeing things we were going to be using in our cooking.”

For Mr Oliver, this was what set Yaama Dhiyaan apart. “It’s a great experience,” he says. “It’s not just study. There’s a lot to it.” Asked whether he would recommend Yaama Dhiyaan to others, Mr Oliver is emphatically positive. “Definitely! I would say don’t think twice about it. Go and do it; it’s the best experience. It got me a great job. I work in one of Sydney’s best hotels.”

While he may have taken part in the course in the October 19 intake last year, Mr Oliver feels an ongoing connection with Yaama Dhiyaan, and more specifically, the tenacious co-founder. “I would go back there and give [Aunty Beryl] my time,” he says, recalling his teacher’s efforts. “Even if she asked me to go back there and teach, I would do that.”

Photo: Andrew Collis - Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo (right) enjoys another Graduation Ceremony

Source: South Sydney Herald February 2010 www.southsydneyherald.com.au