Sep
2011
Young indigenous mentors connect
Aboriginal trainees are advancing cultural exchange in schools, writes Keeli Cambourne.
Simon Price, a school principal for many years, says one of the most endearing things he has seen was when he walked into a classroom recently and saw two of his students hunkered over an assignment with a teachers’ aide.
What made it special was the mix of those involved.
“There was one of our Aboriginal students, with one of our non-Aboriginal students, working quietly with our Aboriginal teachers’ aide, Mafi Kailahi, on a project together,” he says.
“It was wonderful to see. In many small regional towns like ours, seeing that can be quite unusual but that is beginning to be a more normal occurrence now.”
Price is the principal at St Mary’s Catholic School in Wellington, in the central west of NSW. Two young Aboriginal women have been working in the school as teachers’ aides for the past year as part of a federal government program that places Aboriginal youth as trainees in education support.
Price says the cultural exchange between the trainees and his students has made a world of difference to his school and the community.
“We have had older Aboriginal educational workers on staff, but having people the age of the trainees helps Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids across the school,” he says.
”The students look to them as mentors and although they work in classes which have predominantly Aboriginal students, their presence has helped with the whole culture of the school.”
The federal government has invested about $23 million in the Indigenous Remote Service Delivery Traineeships, which, from 2010 to 2013, will place trainees aged 15 to 24 in schools and indigenous childcare services in remote areas.
In NSW, 24 young Aboriginal people are undertaking traineeships in teaching-support roles, mostly in independent schools. Their influence has been far reaching, helping Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students make a cultural connection, says the national manager of indigenous programs at MEGT Group Training, Debra Nooyen, who places the trainees.
“Mafi Kailahi is focusing on her Aboriginal language and helping the Aboriginal students identify with their language, which in turn helps them with their literacy,” Nooyen says.
Another trainee, Casey Jones Fisher, is working at St Joseph’s Primary School in Eugowra and organised the school’s first NAIDOC Week celebrations this year, with people from her community in Forbes teaching the students dance, language and music.
Nooyen says the presence of trainee Paul Simpson, working at St Patrick’s Primary School in Griffith, ”is a positive representation of Aboriginal males” at the school.
For Kailahi, the traineeship means that she is not only enhancing her own educational skills, but can pass on some of her heritage and knowledge to the younger generation.
“I went to Wellington High School and left in about year 11,” Kailahi says. ”Back then there was not really a lot of support for Aboriginal people in school.
”Working in the school now is a great opportunity for me to help the Aboriginal students get the knowledge about their culture and heritage that I didn’t have and make it easier to combine that with the culture we live in.”
Kailahi says that knowing more about their background helps the students feel proud of their heritage.
“I was raised on a mission and that gave me a lot of cultural background,” she says. ”Teaching the [Wiradjuri] language is also helping me as well.”
She says her presence in the school ”is helping all students see that Aboriginal people can work in the community and, more importantly, in education.”
”I hope I am breaking down the barriers between the students, too, so they learn they should get to a know person rather than just think about their heritage.”
Article courtesy The Sydney Morning Herald
Monday September 12, 2011
Keeli Cambourne
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/young-indigenous-mentors-connect-20110911-1k409.html#ixzz1Xis2hsP8
No commentsJun
2011
Order of Australia Medal
Eric Bell, an elder of the Ngunnawal community and Chairman of the Buranya Aboriginal Council, in Yass, NSW has been awarded an OAM for service to the Indigenous community through aged care, environment and employment initiatives.
Recently, with a grant from MEGT, Eric organised for the renovation of premises in Yass in order to house and deliver health services to the region’s elderly Indigenous population.
Another project Eric has commenced involves the employment and leadership skills of mature aged Indigenous Australians who, Eric believes, are the next generation of elders and key influencers in Indigenous communities. It is their positive attitude towards employment and mentoring of young people that Eric says is needed in order to break cycles of long term unemployment.
May
2011
Indigenous Australian Apprentices benefit from new MEGT project
Luke Austin, Mitchell English, Sarah Harrange (MEGT), Adrian Hill (MEGT), Michael Wenham, Martin Latham with trainees hosted by Thiess.
Thiess, a major construction, mining and services contractor, is also a major employer of apprentices and trainees. And they have a strong commitment to sustainable employment of Indigenous Australians.
An alliance with RTA, Thiess, Parsons Brinkerhoff (PB) and Hyder Consulting, has been formed to construct the eastern section of the $1.7 billion Hunter Expressway Project in NSW. The Alliance section is 13.3km long and the project involves building a four-lane divided highway from the end of the F3 Freeway at Newcastle to Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley.
Partnering with MEGT Group Training Thiess is hosting seventeen Australian Apprentices for the project. Determined to meet their commitment to the employment and training of Indigenous Australians, six of the Australian Apprentices come from local indigenous communities.
MEGT is providing the essential pastoral care, mentoring and procedural support to help Thiess concentrate on what it does best:
• building the expressway
• $60 million of mine subsidence foundation treatment
• two million cubic metres of earthworks
• three viaduct bridges (840m long, 40m high and 20,000m2 bridge deck), and
• 16 other bridges (overpasses etc 14,000m2 bridge deck).
To date, five apprentices (of which two are Indigenous Australians) are completing the Certificate III Formwork/Falsework in a block release program at the Hunter Institute Tighes Hill campus. The apprentices will be working on constructing the bridges and viaducts.
Twelve trainees (of which four are Indigenous Australians) are completing Certificate II Civil Construction with on-the-job training through the Hunter Institute. Some of the trainee’s tasks include surveying, laying pipes for drainage, building silt fences and operating small plant and equipment.
Adrian Hill, Area Manager for MEGT Group Training and Sarah Harrang MEGT Newcastle Industry Employment consultant are working closely with Deb Nooyen and Sam Gillett from MEGT’s specialist Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network to help source and provide pastoral care and mentoring for the team.
May
2011
What’s on during National Reconciliation Week?
National Reconciliation Week 2011 is only three weeks away and this year we’re inviting you to hold an event between 27 May and 3 June that focuses on recognition. Go to www.reconciliation.org.au for more information and to download a kit.
A lot of events are taking place around the country to mark National Reconciliation Week—morning teas, public talks, film screenings, festivals—and it’s an exciting time to join the reconciliation conversation.
Share your National Reconciliation Week event by adding it to our Online Events Calendar.
Here’s a taste of what’s on…
You’re invited to:
|
Reconciliation Australia’s National Reconciliation Week Let’s Talk Recognition event to be held at the National Gallery of Australia Canberra, ACT 1 June |
Vibe Alive Festival Bendigo, VIC 25-26 May |
National Sorry Day – Bringing Them Home Committee Perth, WA 26 May |
Ceremony Honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Sydney, NSW 27 May |
“Let’s Talk Recognition” Breakfast Melbourne, VIC 27 May |
Annual Reconciliation week Breakfast SA 27 May |
Stylin’ Up 2011 Brisbane, QLD 28 May |
Reconciliation Down Rundle Adelaide, SA 28 May |
Adelaide Hills Reconciliation Adelaide, SA 1 June |
A Voice to be Heard Canberra, ACT 1 June |
Curator’s talk: Aboriginal treasures at the Vatican Canberra, ACT 1 June |
Vibe Alive Festival Townsville, QLD 1-2 June |
Reconciliation Forum : Let’s Talk Recognition Canberra, ACT 3 June |
Tuned In Festival NSW 3 June |
Apr
2011
Mullangari Mura – new diabetes clinic in Yass
- Robin Vote – Indigenous Health Project Officer, Federal Member Alby Shulz and Eric Bell, Chairman of the Buranya Aboriginal Corporation
MEGT has had a close relationship with the Buranya Aboriginal Corporation for the past few years and admires and respects the work they have been doing through Ngunnawal Community Care to help approximately 100 elderly Aboriginal Australians stay at home rather than go into care.
We are pleased to have contributed in a small way to the refurbishment of the Ngunnawal Community Care offices in Yass in time for the launch of their new health service to the region. The refurbished premises now are a bit more cosy with the new carpet and heating.
From Goulburn to Canberra, Ngunnawal Community Care offices will pick up elderly customers and take them into Yass for a free health check including a full diabetes assessment.
The Southern General Practice Network has partnered with Ngunnawal Community Care to deliver this service through the Federally funded Closing the Gap program which is part of the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package.
Called ‘Mullangari Mura’, the monthly diabetes clinic will be held on the third Wednesday of every month at Ngunnawal Community Care (next door to the hospital) in Yass. The first clinic will take place on Wednesday 20 April from 9am to 5pm. GPs can encourage their patients to attend – no referral is required. The emphasis will be on self management and preventive strategies in a supportive and relaxed environment.
A diabetes educator, Aboriginal health workers, nurses and a podiatrist will be available at the free clinic. This multi-disciplinary approach has been tried and tested at our Healthy for Life diabetes clinics on the coast, where we are seeing Aboriginal people getting their diabetes under control and enjoying better health and wellbeing as a result.
The launch was held on a sparkling sunny day on Saturday 2nd April 2010 at the Yass Memorial Hall. Guests were entertained with music, jumping castle and a barbecue.
Attending the launch were Robin Vote, the Indigenous Health Project Officer for Closing the Gap program, local Federal Member Alby Shulz and Eric Bell, Chairman of the Buranya Aboriginal Corporation and an elder of the Ngunnawal people.
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- Robin Vote – Indigenous Health Project Officer, Federal Member Alby Shulz and Eric Bell, Chairman of the Buranya Aboriginal Corporation
Dec
2010
MEGT works with the AECG
The Aboriginal Education Consultative Group for Indigenous People who are studying recognises the IATN team from Nambucca. MEGT’s Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network employs the team and ensures they receive the right training and work experience for a successful career.
Dec
2010
MEGT works with Indigenous communities
MEGT's Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network sign the Green Team Alliance in Port Macquarie
Sep
2010
Students dig in for innovative horticulture training
David Hagan (left) and Torres Strait Islander/Aboriginal/Papua New Guinea woman Katie Mcivor (right), MEGT Industry Employment Consultant Josh Grives, SQIT Project Co-ordinator Susan Becchio and MEGT National Manager Indigenous Programs Debra Nooyen
MEGT’s Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network is working with Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (SQIT) on a major project to assist Indigenous Australians into the workforce through an Australian Apprenticeship.
SQIT has burst out of the traditional mode of training with the innovative Certificate II in Horticulture starting next week.
Twenty-three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are on the cusp of starting the first-ever, 12-month traineeship in horticulture that will see them experience training, employment and mentoring.
Darling Downs Indigenous Green Jobs Project has attracted employers keen to take trainees from across the region including a number of schools, Toowoomba Regional Council, Toowoomba City Golf Club, business houses and SQIT.
Work starts on 5 July as the group begin their 12-month traineeship with their new host employers, undergoing induction and meeting their new workmates.
Over the course of the year, they will learn skills such as paving, building courtyards, weeds and chemicals, planting and plant propagation, pruning and turf establishment, maintenance and renovation.
SQIT project co-ordinator Susan Becchio said there were 60 expressions of interest received to partake in the course and a screening process selected the final 23 participants. Participants then undertook an introduction week of pre-vocational training as well as a cultural awareness workshop.
“Garry Gawne has been employed as the full-time mentor for the project and is on-call to help with study techniques, challenges on-the-job and basically a support for any questions or problems,” she said.
“As a team, Garry and I have sourced each of the trainees and worked hard to ensure each trainee is suited to their host employer – we see this as a key to retention and success.
“The Group Training Organisation which employs each of the trainees has been announced as MEGT, a national company with a division dedicated to Indigenous training, so a lot of work has gone into ensuring the success of each participant.”
MEGT Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network’s National Manager of Indigenous Programs, Debra Nooyen, said the company was excited about this initiative.
“This is the first time we have worked with Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE and are really happy with the framework in place to deliver this project,” she said.
“The students will not only be trained in horticulture, but also be given business and study skills that will encourage them to continue learning or go further along their career path.
“MEGT is skilled in Indigenous training, with very successful retention and risk management strategies tailored to seeing our students graduate and succeed in their career pathway.”
SQIT director Paul Murphy said this project was very significant for the institute which he hoped could be replicated with other courses.
“We recognise there are different learning techniques and cultural awareness for Indigenous students. Our Indigenous Primary Health Care program proves we excel in delivering training for Indigenous students,” Mr Murphy said.
“This is the next step for us, working hand-in-hand to deliver training and mentoring that results in success for the students and the employers.”
The program is funded by the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and administered by Queensland’s Department of Education and Training.
MEGT (Australia) | Australian Apprenticeships
Aug
2010
Daniel McDonald wins the NSW Indigenous Trainee of the Year Award for the South Western Sydney Training Awards
Congratulations to apprentice Daniel McDonald who won the prestigious NSW Indigenous Trainee of the Year Award for the South Western Sydney Region Training Awards. He has also been honoured by having his artwork displayed in the brand new Aboriginal Health Clinic.
Daniel is managed by MEGT’s Liverpool office.
MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships
Aug
2010
MEGT gets into the City2Surf, the largest charity race in Australia
Yet another glorious Sunday morning in Sydney with 80,000 fruit loops dragging themselves 14Km to Bondi Beach… and none are planning to enter the water. “Who would do this?” you ask. About 9 hearty MEGT staff, students and friends running for the glory of finishing the largest charity race in Australia!
Many thanks to MEGT for the support given by sponsoring the City2Surf CHAMPIONS BREAKFAST, which was hosted on campus at 7am on race day and included a very sad pancake. We look forward to next year, but must invest in a decent frying pan!
Those who recorded very good times quickly reclassified their times as outstanding and took up boosting positions:
Jason Morrisby = 1:28 – Needs to reconsider policy on inviting fast friends.
John Nicols = 1:30 – Participating in the Champions Breakfast could have assisted his time.
Robert Parsonson = 1:33 – 3rd in the race, 1st in the AFL footy competition. Someone’s having a good year!
Rey Gesmundo = 1:43 – Injury is no excuse, go harder!
Sarka Slavickova = 1:45 – Outstanding effort for her first run.
Eveline Overink = 1:46 – See! That pancake helped!
Tony Peterson = 1:53 – Solid effort for the new Campus Manager!
Luci Vicente = 2:18 – Please note that 18 minutes was lost on the bathroom queue!
Mark Holtom = 2:26 – Would suggest Mark do less real estate shopping and focus more on the time!
It was a great day and we all had so much fun!
Click below to view the Gallery!!!!
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