Aboriginal Investment NT grant helps Alice Springs Desert Cabinets and Joinery grow

A more than $200k grant has a Territory cabinet-maker eyeing a different kind of build – one that could make a real difference. Find out more.

Alice Springs’ Desert Cabinets and Joinery owner Joel Ross with his truck. Picture: Supplied

An Arrernte cabinet-maker is wanting to use a $218,774 investment into his business by upskilling the next generation of NT Indigenous youth.

Joel Ross, 35, the one-man-band behind Alice Springs’ Desert Cabinets and Joinery, has used a capital investment from Aboriginal Investment NT move all of his production in-house – something which got him rethinking his five-year plan.

With a new a new CNC router and an edge-banding machine making him a one-stop cabinetmaking shop, he’s now eyeing an extra set of hands who he’ll build up himself.

“In five years, I’d love to have put an Indigenous apprentice through the trade. If I can get someone that is showing genuine interest, I’ll be putting all my time into them and going above and beyond to make them the best skilled person they can be,” he said.

Mr Ross, a father of three, has been in business for a little more a year now.

Alice Springs’ Desert Cabinets and Joinery owner Joel Ross with his machinery. Picture: Supplied

But the investment has him eyeing a bigger slice of the Red Centre cabinetmaking and carpentry pie, all while supporting locals.

“We need more capable Indigenous tradespeople and, potentially, down the road, more Indigenous business owners. The journey can be hard but it’s rewarding if you’re willing to back yourself,” he said.

Currently contracting for the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC), Mr Ross said they’ve been supportive in helping his business grow.

“In the transition to getting these machines up and running I was doing mainly maintenance and carpentry for (CAAC), hanging doors and fitting locks so they kept me busy in the time we were waiting for these machines, which I’m extremely grateful for. Since then, they’ve given me cabinet work as well which has been great,” he said.

“CNC is crucial to cabinetmaking businesses in the modern era if you want to be competitive. Basically, our output capability goes up 10-fold with a machine like this.

“It cuts up raw boards and flat panels into components and parts with specific shapes. You can make circles, triangles, you can do all kinds of things with it, but it essentially cuts it all up for you and you put it together and go and install it.

“Support from Aboriginal Investment NT with equipment has allowed me to take on much more work out of every job that I do, so instead of outsourcing 50 per cent of a job I’m making that 50 per cent back so that’s all hours that add up.”