Aboriginal Projects
Completed
- The Way Ahead - Follow up and Assessment (2011)
- The Way Ahead - Apprenticeships and Traineeships for Aboriginal People (2009)
- Delivery of Indigenous Organisation Training to CDEP Managers (2008)
- Development of Certificate IV course on providing Alcohol and Other Drug Services to Aboriginal Communities (2008)
- Development of capability of workforce providing Alcohol and Other Drug Services to Aboriginal Communities (2007)
- Northern Rivers Aboriginal Education, Training and Employment Project (2006)
- Bringing Vocational Education and Training to Cellulose Valley (2003)
- Pathways for Indigenous People in Vocational Education, Training, Employment and Business (2003)
The Way Ahead – Follow up and Assessment
In 2006, the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training (BVET) funded a project The Way Ahead – Apprenticeship and Traineeship for Aboriginal People. Data from the project suggest that outcomes, commencements, completions and retentions for Aboriginal apprentices and trainees increased substantially during the program period.
In April 2010, following the encouraging outcomes of the project the Board endorsed a further research study, The Way Ahead – Follow up and Assessment, to explore the effectiveness of the program. The study provides insight on what the participants (mentors, mentees and employers) perceived as the strengths and potential shortcomings of the program, and on how the program contributed to the short and long term training and employment outcomes of participants. The research has analysed the reach and impact of the program and makes a series of recommendations to improve targeting of recipients and to maximise the use of resources.
The research study was carried out by Powers and Associates (Aust.) Pty Ltd and is now complete. The final report of the study is now available.
Reports
For more information about the The Way Ahead – Follow up and Assessment Project, contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
The Way Ahead - Apprenticeships and Traineeships for Aboriginal People (2009)
Aboriginal apprentices and trainees often cope with greater personal, cultural and social pressures than most of their peers. This can place them at risk of failing to complete their accredited training program.
The Way Ahead: Apprenticeships and Traineeships for Aboriginal People was initiated in 2004 to improve the commencement and retention outcomes of Aboriginal apprentices and trainees in NSW. The program managed by DETNAC involved promotion of the opportunities of Apprenticeships and Traineeships to Aboriginal People, mentoring support for Aboriginal apprentices and trainees, pre-employment training where necessary and facilitation of connection with Australian Apprenticeship Centres, Employers and RTO's.
BVET has supported The Way Ahead program since June 2006 following the closure of DETNAC, to ensure its initial impressive results are well established.
With the BVET support, The Way Ahead for Aboriginal People project has moved to full operational implementation. Twenty seven Aboriginal mentors are supporting Aboriginal trainees and apprentices throughout NSW. The structured mentoring support is designed to ensure that Aboriginal apprentices and trainees are able to cope with the personal, social and cultural pressures that so often occur for Aboriginal Australians commencing and remaining in employment. Aboriginal apprentice and trainee numbers are continuing to grow strongly.
Reports
For more information about the The Way Ahead Project, contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
Delivery of Indigenous Organisation Training to CDEP Managers (2008)
The ‘Indigenous Organisation Training’ project was initiated by the Board to address the management and governance training needs of aboriginal people involved in Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) throughout New South Wales.
The Community Development Employment Projects Scheme operate in Aboriginal communities with the primary objective of providing work for unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in community-managed activities which assist individuals to acquire skills which benefit the community, develop business enterprises and/or lead to unsubsidised employment.
The project delivered a Certificate IV Course in Business Governance with 82 participants graduating across all regions of NSW.
For more information about the TAFE NSW and CDEP Project, contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
Certificate IV course on Alcohol and Other Drug Services for Aboriginal Communities (2008)
In 2003, NSW organised a Summit on Alcohol abuse – Changing the culture of alcohol use in NSW. The Summit recognised that there was a need to increase the capacity of workers providing Alcohol and Other Drug Services to Aboriginal communities in NSW and recommended an increase in Vocational Education and Training courses.
The Board undertook the initiative and funded a project to develop a Certificate IV course on the provision of Alcohol and Other Drug Services to Aboriginal communities in NSW. The project, carried out by the NSW Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AHMRC), was completed in February 2008 with the development of Course Curriculum for a Certificate IV Course in AOD Services. The course was accredited by VETAB in April 2008 and is currently being delivered by AHMRC.
For more information about the Project on Certificate IV course on the provision of Alcohol and Other Drug Services to Aboriginal communities , contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
Development of capability of workforce providing Alcohol and Other Drug Services to Aboriginal Communities (2007)
This project springs from the NSW Government’s response to the 2003 Summit on Alcohol Abuse and the 1999 Drugs Summit which recommended priority be given to strengthening the capacity of the workforce providing Alcohol and Other Drug Services in NSW. This project focuses on the critical area of building a competent Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) workforce to work with Aboriginal families and communities. The project goal was to develop and deliver customised training for Aboriginal health workers to build their base line skills and qualifications, and create learning and career pathways.
The Board recognised the skill shortage and policy imperative of expanding the training of the alcohol and other drug services workforce to work in Aboriginal communities. Following the successful development and delivery of a foundation course in Alcohol and Other Drug Services by TAFE NSW and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, the Board endorsed funding for the development of a Certificate IV course. The Certificate IV course structure, curriculum and teaching resources have now been developed by NSW Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council and have accredited by the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board.
For more information about the Project on Building the Capacity of Workers Providing Alcohol and Other Drug Services to Aboriginal Communities, contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
Northern Rivers Aboriginal Education, Training and Employment Project (2003)
The BVET project ‘Bringing vocational education and training to Cellulose Valley’ carried out during 2001-03 resulted in significant outcomes in education, training and employment. Based on the recommendations from this project, the Board funded the Northern Rivers Aboriginal Education Training and Employment Project. The focus of this project was on increasing opportunities for Aboriginal people in vocational education and training, employment and business development
The new initiatives are expected to work towards improving employment opportunities and enhancing quality of life for Aboriginal people within the Northern Rivers Region.
The project consisted of the following four initiatives:
- Import replacement of Medicinal and Culinary Plant Product
- Aboriginal Business Mentoring Program
- Aboriginal Employment Project
- Aboriginal Healing
The project started in October 2004 and is completed in July 2006 by Northern Rivers Regional Development Board in partnership with Indigenous Reference Group.
Reports
For more information about the Northern Rivers Aboriginal Education, Training and Employment Project, contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
Bringing Vocational Education and Training to Cellulose Valley (2003)
The regional development focus of the Lismore project reflects the Board’s interest in the role vocational education and training can play in encouraging industry and community partnerships to increase skills development.
The project, which commenced in September 2001, was managed by Invest Northern Rivers, a body established by the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board to promote regional investment and development. The project was completed in 2003.
The project is implementing strategies to position the training sector as a leader in regional development. The project’s training solutions are enabling existing businesses to expand, attracting new businesses to the region, and creating new education, training and employment pathways for local people. The project is particularly focused on young people, mature workers and Indigenous communities, and has already created new training and job and career opportunities for local people in several enterprises.
One of the keys to the success of the Regional Development project is a new partnership management model, which involves collaboration between a wide range of businesses, industry associations, education and training, government agencies and community groups in the region.
Reports
For more information about the Regional Development Project, contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
Pathways for Indigenous People in Vocational Education, Training, Employment and Business (2003)
The Pathways project is focusing on the training and employment needs of the Indigenous community in the New England region. The project is being managed by Regional Extended Family Services (REFS), a Registered Training Organisation specialising in community services.
The project is linking communities across the New England region and trialling new ways of integrating training for Indigenous people with employment opportunities created through local business, government and community regional development initiatives.
The main elements of the project are the creation of a new nationally recognised management course, a new Indigenous Business Enterprise and a sponsorship and mentoring program for course participants.
Integrated into all Pathways courses are units in cultural and community awareness and Indigenous therapies. These units, called the Bookoola modules, provide an Indigenous cultural framework in which all learning takes place. Articulation into diploma and degree courses offered by three regional universities has been negotiated and the Department of Education and Training has agreed to use several modules in senior high schools across the New England region. The course was accredited by the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board in 2002.
An Indigenous Business Enterprise has also been established as part of the Pathways project to improve links between training and employment for course participants. It is expected to provide direct employment and structured workplacement for participants, as well as pathways to employment and business opportunities. The project has been completed.
Reports
For more information about the Armidale Indigenous Pathways Project, contact Kathy Esson on (02) 9561 8789 or email kathy.esson@det.nsw.edu.au
