Breaking job barriers
Creating chances for those experiencing disadvantage
A nationwide social enterprise that supports Australian startups and helps them grow is officially opening in Cairns, as the first regional office in the country.
White Box Enterprises has its roots in both Sydney and Melbourne and the team has decided to expand to Cairns, with a clear mission of creating more jobs for First Nations people, autistic young adults, refugees and other groups experiencing disadvantage in the region.
Coming with White Box Enterprises to set up shop in Cairns is Australian Spatial Analytics, a company that grew under White Box Enterprises and is now large enough to operate on its own.
White Box CEO and cofounder Luke Terry said Cairns was locked in as the first regional location because of both the interest and opportunity.
“Our main goal is to bring the jobs back from overseas and provide these opportunities to those who experience an employment barrier,” Mr Terry said.
“Every dollar goes towards creating new jobs.
“We want to support businesses from the ground up and make sure they are always supported in their growth.”
Australian Spatial Analytics chairman Alex McDonald said ASA focused on hiring people who were neurodiverse.
The term neurodiversity refers to those on the spectrum for a range of intellectual disorders.
“Being neurodiverse is a strength and we need to cherish that,” Mr McDonald said.
“Every job we create here is a job we are bringing back from overseas.
“We are working in the real world, doing real jobs for real people.”
Working underneath Mr McDonald in data and analytics is Cairns local Harrison Mobb, who at a young age was diagnosed with autism and later, ADHD.
“After my second diagnosis, the world became a lot harder for that period of time,” Mr Mobb said.
“My plans to become a pilot were taken away from me and I felt lost.”
“I then got a call from ASA and with their guidance I fit all the criteria and the rest was history.
“I’m just so grateful that I was given this opportunity, and so many people with similar stories to me in Cairns will now be able to have the same ending.
“Usually, you need to go down south to get an opportunity like this. I’m excited for this to be part of FNQ.”
“Every job we create here is a job we are bringing back from overseas
Alex McDonald Australian Spatial Analytics chairman