Culture came together with the latest in digital technology on Tuesday as TAFE staff from across western NSW tuned into National Reconciliation Week (NRW) celebrations via video link.
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At Dubbo’s Yarradamarra Centre, Aunty Di McNaboe delivered a moving Welcome to Country and Uncle Ray Peckham spoke of the history of the reconciliation movement, as staff from across the western footprint, including regional general manager Kate Baxter, watched on.
Those in Dubbo were then treated to traditional performances from Uncle Ralph Naden, Robert Brown, Jace Baker and Daniel Pracy, and a ballroom dance from Uncle Dick and Aunty Ruth Carney.
“TAFE NSW continues to take giant strides both internally and externally in terms of reconciliation,” TAFE NSW Director of Aboriginal Education and Equity Provision Rod Towney said.
“Tuesday was an opportunity to … acknowledge the significant work that has already been done, but more importantly to focus on what needs to improve for reconciliation moving forward.”
A historic National Reconciliation Week
As hundreds of TAFE NSW staff celebrated National Reconciliation Week on Tuesday, regional general manager Kate Baxter pointed to the significance of NRW in 2017.
Fifty years ago, the 1967 referendum allowed Indigenous Australians to be counted as citizens for the first time.
Twenty-five years ago the historic Mabo decision saw native title recognised.
And last week hundreds of Indigenous Australians joined together at Uluru to discuss what Constitutional reform, to benefit first peoples, might look like.
“I was very interested to read that in 1967, there was an opportunity to count Aboriginal people in the Constitution,” she said, referring to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which was handed down last Friday.
“Now we have an opportunity to make sure that they’re not only counted, but they’re heard as well.
“TAFE in western NSW has the highest ratio of Aboriginal students in the state, so it’s absolutely vital we continue to work closely with local Aboriginal communities to come up with the most successful ways to deliver training that’s suited to Aboriginal learners,” she said.