“Closing the gap” in the “disadvantage” Aboriginal people experience in employment and education in western NSW is the focus of a new Aboriginal Education and Training Unit, a TAFE Institute director said.
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The new team of 15 Aboriginal staff located in Dubbo, Bathurst, Orange, Broken Hill and in the north west of the state, has been formed in response to feedback from Aboriginal communities that TAFE could be doing more to meet the needs of Aboriginal people and communities.
“In particular, the unit will strengthen our partnerships with Aboriginal communities, collaboration with industry and efforts to support Aboriginal students to succeed in their training,” institute director Kate Baxter said.
“An important part of this work will be done by six new student support officers who are based in colleges throughout our region who will work directly with the students.” Boosting the number of quality Aboriginal staff in TAFE, increasing numbers of Aboriginal students at TAFE, retaining students once they complete their course and matching students to local industry and employment will be the new unit’s focus, TAFE Western Aboriginal Education and Training manager Rod Towney said.
According to Mr Towney TAFE Western is the largest single provider of vocational education and training for Aboriginal people in NSW, accounting for more than 16 per cent of its student population. But accessing employment for Indigenous students once they complete their course is difficult.
“We are trying to link courses with industry such as mining, housing and the health department because often they get the training but it’s hard for them to access work in Dubbo and right throughout the western area,” he said.
According to Mr Towney there is in excess of 7500 enrolments of Aboriginal students at TAFE Western. “And we hope to pass that figure this year,” he said. TAFE Western has also formed an Aboriginal Community Reference Group that will advocate for improved outcomes for Aboriginal people and articulate their needs and aspirations. An induction workshop for the new team will be facilitated by Professor Bob Morgan and will be held in Dubbo today and tomorrow. The workshop will include presentations by Mr Michael Coutts-Trotter the Director-General of the NSW Department of Education and Training and Ms Cindy Berwick, president of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.
