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This research paper was commissioned by the Indigenous Policy Unit of the Department of Family and Community Services (DFaCS) and is part of a larger long-term project which aims to determine the relevance of the Department's programs (particularly Newstart and Youth Allowance) and consider ways in which their relevance could be increased. The research project, scheduled to run over five years, will obtain data from a sample of indigenous people living in the remote locations of the Kimberley and Torres Strait. Males and females between the ages of 15 and 24 will be surveyed, with the aim being to compare their aspirations with the Government's employment related policies and programs, and consider ways in which the programs might be better adapted to suit local conditions. This paper discusses conditions in Torres Strait and issues associated with how Torres Strait Islanders approach their work and their careers, and will serve as a basis for future research there.