Sharper Pencil’s John Ilian assists Kajarinya become a Registered Training Organisation

The Sharper Pencil Marketing Communications has recently assisted indigenous-owned, north-west based business Kajarinya become a Registered Training Organisation by producing a range of supporting literature for its capabilities.

‘Kajarinya’ means ‘meeting place.’ The business operates in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, training Aboriginal personnel to work-ready status (accredited and certified) in the operation of plant and machinery used in civil engineering, mining and construction.

In seeking to become an RTO, Kajarinya needed a suite of companion and appropriate corporate literature suitable for presentation to major mining groups including BHP, Rio Tinto, FMG, Argyle and contractors, as well as Main Roads WA, local authorities and other infrastructure and asset owners and managers. 

Sharper Pencil principal and Creative Director, John Ilian, has a history working with indigenous groups. After leaving school, he spent five years in Papua New Guinea [Madang, Lae and Port Moresby] where besides introducing Aussie Rules football to Madang, he produced films and supporting collateral about health and sex education, cooperative formation, personal financial management and other social programs. One of his roles was to convert government ‘officialese’ into pidgin English [‘sign here’ = ‘putim mak bilong yupela.’] 

During the ten years he later spent in London before returning Australia, Ilian was trained as a technical writer. He was able to put that training and experience to good use in writing and designing the communication suite for Kajarinya. It comprised a capability statement, brochures outlining the various courses on offer, a folder, plus editing and redesigning a 36-page training manual.

“Despite my long history in this industry, it continues to throw up surprising and interesting challenges,” Ilian said.

He can be contacted on 0409 56 76 56 or email john@sharperpencil.com.au