The Year Eleven students have recently begun 18-month paid traineeships at Katherine's Westpac branch in the main street.

One day a week the girls will be found taking on front of house duties welcoming visitors, as well as learning the ropes on the teller machines.

The girls both said with opportunities for young workers scarce in our town, seizing the opportunity is a vital step towards fulfilling their future goals.

For 16-year old Nikita Jane-Kruger, the bank is a natural fit for her interest in accounting and economics.

"After school I'd like to spend a few years in Katherine waiting for my siblings to be old enough to come study with me as well," she said.

"But economics is my biggest interest and to work in a place like this is a goal for me absolutely.

"There isn't a lot of chances like this for young people here, so when I found out about it I was really excited.

"I love being here and I love the staff because they're just so encouraging," Nikita said.

Nikkaya Laynelle meanwhile is a 17-year-old lawyer or doctor of the future.

For her the Westpac opportunity is a chance to build crucial interpersonal and computer skills, while preparing herself for a move to Townsville in pursuit of her dreams.

"I'd like to go to James Cook University in Townsville to study either Medicine or Law," she said.

"There's a lot of transferable skills I'm gaining by being in an organisation like this.

"We had to apply and it feels good that I got chosen for the role," Nikkaya said.

Westpac Northern Territory Regional Manager Lisa Grundy says the positions are first-of-their kind for the Katherine branch.

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Westpac however currently has four traineeships across the Territory aimed specifically at supporting Indigenous youth.

"Our trainees learn about banking and finance, customer service and the day-to-day operations of a branch, providing an advantage for them to enter the workforce as they complete their studies," Ms Grundy said.

This is great for the broader Katherine community as well, enabling young Indigenous people to have career options without having to leave their home community," she said.

The girls secured their positions with the help of school-based female support organisation STAR Foundation and Indigenous Employment specialists Maxima.

The original plan was for the branch to take just one applicant on, but upon meeting the girls Branch Manager Madeleine Carter pushed to take them both.

"It's the first time we've done this at the Katherine branch and we were only meant to take one," she said.

"I fought to take them both on though because I was really impressed.

"We feel really good about the program because it gives them transferable skills they can't get elsewhere," Ms Carter said.

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