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Funding boost for Indigenous e-learning
Issue 83 - 23 Jun 2005
Almost $500,000 has been made available through the 2005 Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s Indigenous Engagement Project, to ensure the long-term sustainability of e-learning within Indigenous communities.
The Indigenous Engagement Project aims to build on the work already being carried out in Indigenous communities, and to further strengthen the role of local people and their communities to better access e-learning training opportunities that will increase employment outcomes.
The two successful training providers are TAFE New South Wales – North Coast Institute and The Open Learning Institute (OLI) of TAFE, Queensland.
TAFE NSW - North Coast Institute has received $100,330 to provide learning and employment opportunities for long term unemployed and disadvantaged adults as well as high school Year 10 and 11 students from the Indigenous communities within the NSW north coast region.
Training provision will include developing learners’ ability to refurbish computers and to complete nationally accredited information technology courses.
In addition, TAFE NSW - North Coast Institute has received a further $111,730 to strengthen existing industry links to build employment outcomes for Indigenous students.
The project will modify courses and customise training products on the advice of industries.
A range of support mechanisms will also be put in place to increase course completion rates, these include counsellors, mentors and literacy and numeracy support.
The Open Learning Institute (OLI) of TAFE, Queensland has received $257,000 and will work with Education Queensland to promote e-learning to Indigenous people.
OLI’s project aims to train teachers to effectively use existing resources to encourage e-learning in Indigenous communities.
In addition, four e-learning products will be developed specifically for Indigenous learners.
A support network of mentors and champions will also be put in place to help promote e-learning to Indigenous learners across the State.
“We received a high standard of applications for this funding and that has allowed us to select excellent organisations to carry out our projects,” Project Manager Rhonda Appo said.
“Both organisations have the support of their Indigenous communities and we are keen to see how they can really make a difference at a local level.
“The Indigenous Engagement Project is not about re-inventing the wheel. It’s about building on the significant work that has already been carried out by a range of local communities and Indigenous bodies.”
The 2005 Framework is a national initiative to support the uptake of e-learning within the vocational education and training (VET) system. It is a $15million strategy collaboratively funded by the Australian government and all states and territories.
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