Extending the Partnerships Further

Training has been very successful in all programmes:

Foe existing workers this has meant that the Centre incoporates a routines and is now focusing on individual childen's needs and interests.

For the CTP funded course learners have completed 6 modules successfully and are now applying for a place in the Certificate 3 in 2006.

Some Great Resources

Thought I would include some interesting resources that I have come across:

This programme developed by Kangan Batman TAFE - that introduces how to use the keyboard and mouse. This then leads onto the Horticulture Toolbox. It is excellent.

Click here

For most of us, working with different cultures is an everyday experience.

Poor cultural awareness can have severe consequences on a workplace or community.

What starts as an embarrassing moment or religious opinion could lead to a loss of sale, tensions in the work place or even a court case for race discrimination.

By being more aware and sensitive, conflicts are less likely to arise, and if they do arise, we have the confidence to deal with them in the appropriate way.

An understanding of how and why cultures play a major part in peoples lives will enable a team to work better together.

Interactive Ochre embraces the Pitjantjatjara or Anangu way of Ngapartji-Ngapartji (nupartgee –nupartgee) which means “you give me something and I’ll give you something” – “giving and sharing for everyone's benefit" - working both ways.

Intercultural relationships are partnerships where we learn from each other.

In this way, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous users can use it and learn from Interactive Ochre – together.
People need to work more effectively in a cross cultural environment – particularly with Aboriginal people.

Interactive Ochre gives an opportunity to look at Indigenous ways of doing things.

Learning while being entertained is appealing.

This is a useful approach when exposing people to sensitive or cultural issues.
the toolbox is soon to be released.

Click Here

Projects: New Practices in Flexible Learning 2004: Indigenous learners in the digital age: recognising skills and knowledge. An interesting project and waiting for the final report.

Click Here

Great Info called Getting Down to Business Click Here

There is so much information to review but all really interesting and useful for assisting the facilitators of our course. It has been great support for developing cultural awareness and assiting in customising the needs of the learners.

ICVET Conference

I was fortunate to attend the Learning Powerhouse on 16th September 2005. At the Conference I attended a workshop called: New directions in Aboriginal Education The Goorie Research and Study Program. GRASP is a collaboration between the Aboriginal Education Training Unit and General Education at Lismore TAFE. Developed with significant input from Aboriginal staff and specifically designed for Aboriginal students, it differs substantially from other programs available to the student group. Individual planned, competency based training and the way students are enrolled and assessed in GRASP have proven to be effective in meeting the needs of Aboriginal students on the North Coast. Outcomes for the projects has been extensive with students gaining employment in a variety of fields for example: music industry, tourism and hospitality and community services. A great innovative project with dedicated and committed staff to ensure the program is effective.

Training for Existing Workers

This week SWSI met with Tharawal to discuss a training program for existing childcare workers in the Child Care Centre at Tharawal. This has been developed from a partnership through CTP funding and now will be extended to existing workers. The program will include statement of attendance for a series of workshops that have been requested and was discussed that this will suit the workers' needs rather than formal qualifications. The program will run for a series of 10 weeks and will cover the following topics:
1. Introduction to Child Development: This is an introduction to concepts and to develop an understanding of the ways to appropriately meet the needs of the children in care.
2. Programming and Planning: This will run for several weeks and will cover topics such as observing and recording, planning experiences to meet the developmental needs of the children, including using equipment and materials, positive interactions with the children and working as a team to create a positive and exciting environment.
3. Group time; this will enable participants to develop skills in management strategies, building a range of resources, developing ideas to make language and music activities interesting and fun.
4. Guiding children's Behaviour: Building on the knowledge of child development develop a range of strategies that are practical, positive and appropriate. This will include the use of the environment.
5. Team Work; This will focus on ways to work effectively as a team including role definitions and time management.
The training will be run for 2 hours per week over a period of 10 weeks and will help the staff work through the accreditation process available for child care centres.

Training for Playsession

This week saw an extension to the Children's Services program at Tharawal with contact from the newly appointed Community Development Worker Tracey. Discussion centred around the needs of community development staff and the parents attending the weekly playsession.

For the workers we will be trialling the use of a CDRom for First Aid. This will include sessions to access the materials online and then support to work through the materials.

For the playsession parents we are looking towards developing training that will incorporate a variety of sessions on personal development including grooming and hairdressing.

The partnership is being extended!!

NCVER Conference Adelaide

Last week the NCVER hosted an Indigenous Forum.
There were representatives from all over Australia culminating in two days of research reports and findings.

The presentations included:
Indigenous VET Student survey 2004: What do Indigenous people want and get from their training? Experiences and outcomes from the survey process.
What do we already know about what it takes for success in VET for Indigenous people?
A great presentation about Effective educational pathways for remote Indigenous peoples.
A presentation from far north Queensland that provided an overview of successful literacy and numeracy for Indigenous students. A greadt DVD was included.

A most interesting presentation about the experiences of Indigenous prisoners with VET training that was presented about the Queensland correctional System.
A reserach presentation about Indigenous youth in school-to-work tranisition.
Another presentation higlighted research completed about VET in Indigenous governance. Challenges and innovation.
A statistical overview was also presented about Where are Indigenous staff in VET, what do they do and what are their experiences?
One of the highlights focuesd on a presentation of students from Taondi College. This was interesting to hear the students perspectives on their training experiences.

The previous night we had been fortunate to meet these students at a function at the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute.
A great presentation.

The forum provided an opportunity to discuss the issues that are current in the VET system for Indigenous VET. Lots of discussion centred on the where to from here? What are the priorities to forward VET policy, practices and research in relation to Indigenous Australians. Government represeantation included presentations from the newly formed DEST but consultation needs to be a major priority in planning for the future.

Extending the Partnership

More people started today! Here is the picture of everyone in the group!
On the first day of the week the group meets for the morning. On the second day the Tharawal Community buses everyone to the TAFE College at Campbelltown. Everyone had lots of stories to tell and are enjoying the beginning of the course.

Great news the Aboriginal Community Development Officer has asked for short courses for those people that attend the playsession once a week. Discussion centred on Introduction to Computers (yeah!) , Personal Grooming and Arts and Crafts for Children. Certainly important to establish those personal links and helps develop the partnership and extend the way courses can be delivered.