Wirliyajarrayi Adult Learning and Early Childhood Centre

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www.firstnationstelegraph.com

Wirliyajarrayi Adult Learning and Early Childhood Centre

by Imran Naveed

B

atchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in collaboration with Central Land Council, Warlpiri Education and Training Trust (WETT) and supported by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) through the Aboriginal Benefit Account (ABA) officially opened the $ 3.2 million Wirliyajarrayi Adult Learning and Early Childhood Centre recently at the remote Willowra community, Northern Territory. Willowra community has a new centre for education and training, built with $625,000 of mine royalties, $2.6 million of Aboriginal Benefit Account (ABA) funding, an Aboriginal building company and 1,400 hours of hard work by Willowra men.

 Batchelor Institute Director Adrian Mitchell said that a lot of planning has been done by the Indigenous people in the community. The Institute is fortunate to have the opportunity to work in partnership with the local people and manage the facility on behalf of the community. From a training provider’s perspective it was difficult for us to deliver suitable training programs for Indigenous people in the remote community without establishing good relationships. With opening of the child care, youth centre and adult learning facilities we have the opportunity to build relationships and trust with the community. Batchelor institute will run this centre under community direction and guidance and would like Indigenous people to use the learning facilities to receive education and training. The teaching staff will have the

opportunity to get to know the aspirations of local youth and the next generation. “The learning centre is about engaging local people who come to learn how to use the computers, do their own banking, address their literacy and numeracy concerns and the same time find out what their aspirations are.” “The training programs provided at the facility are designed to lead to qualifications, employment outcomes, community economic development, and fair and equitable community life for the Willowra community people. It is a great facility and the staff are there full time to work in partnership with the local people to encourage youth to take up career pathways in children services, as health workers, education support workers and in other fields,” Mr Mitchell said. Many visiting and local organisations will also have the Page 1


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Batchelor Institute Director Adrian Mitchell addressing the official opening of the Wirliyajarrayi Adult Learning and Early Childhood Centre at Willowra community, Northern Territory

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opportunity to use the Learning Centre facilities to conduct training or collaborate on learning / training programs. Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education has over 30 years’ experience in remote teaching and learning and is well respected as a provider of Adult Education in the Northern Territory. The institute’s ‘Both-ways’ learning principles underpin all operations; community and student centred, shared learning journey and strengthening Indigenous identity. Relationships with local Indigenous Australians are central to the success of the Learning Centre. Batchelor Institute Learning Centre support includes: • Learning for strengthening cultural identity With the support of Central Land Council, cultural stories, photos, language materials and historical records are able to recorded, stored and accessed from a central database. • Learning for work

Language Literacy and Numeracy, Land Management, Child Care, Health, Education, Business, Visual Arts, Media and Music • Learning for life and Wellbeing Family Wellbeing, Communication Skills, Computer Literacy, Money management, online banking and buying, Internet research, Access to books and magazines Employers, organisations and the local people are encouraged to explore the Learning Centre facilities. The Wirliyajarrayi (Willowra) Learning Centre has a call line to assist Indigenous people and organisations to conduct training or collaborate on learning/ training programs on (08) 8964 7104 or (08) 8951 8306. E-mail enquiries can be sent to ann.davis@ batchelor.edu.au


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