A proud member of the Argun Clan of Badu Island, Jemmah Ronsen, grew up on Thursday Island watching helicopters fly. She knew what they carried neighbours from the outer islands, families in emergencies, and people needing to reach the mainland. On a remote island, these aircraft are a lifeline.
Jemmah left the Torres Strait Islands in 2016 as a Yalari scholar, attending St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Brisbane before graduating from The Glennie School in Toowoomba. After a period as a Parks and Wildlife Officer in Cairns, a chance encounter with a Babcock pilot staying at her Nan’s Airbnb, directed her back to aviation.
After interviewing with the team, she knew her direction. “I can see myself here,” she said. “This is where I want to be.” Jemmah is now completing her Diploma in Aeroskills (Mechanical) as an apprentice with Babcock, supporting the Lagaw Kuyup Rescue Service – the same helicopter program she watched as a child.
“It’s a privilege,” she says. “Especially being from the community and then giving back. I know how much these resources are needed.” By year five, she aims to be a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, working in and for her own community.
Yalari’s long-standing partnership with Babcock shows how a shared commitment to education can create lasting change. The partnership reflects a whole-community approach, supporting young Indigenous students to pursue their academic goals, grow into future leaders, and access opportunities that strengthen outcomes for their families and communities.
“We are incredibly proud of Jemmah. Her story is a powerful example of hard work, determination and the real impact our work has in the communities we serve. Babcock is proud to partner with Yalari to support young people like Jemmah, as we work together toward our shared goal of creating lasting, positive change in the communities in which we live and work.”
– Leah Grantham, Acting CEO