By TANIA PHILLIPS
THE Kingscliff and Murwillumbah TAFE campuses have found two unique ways of recognising Reconciliation Week, which started on Monday.
They two campuses will both mark the week – which specifically commemorates the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision.
In Murwillumbah today, the TAFE will hold a barbecue and unveil their new courtyard garden, as well as planting the new bush tucker garden from noon to 1.30pm.
Tomorrow the focus turns to the Kingscliff campus where students and teachers will be invited to attend a barbecue and entertainment. Music will be presented by Kingscliff indigenous TAFE and High School Students.
Kingscliff TAFE Campus, Colette Tuffy said that Reconciliation Week provided everyone with an ideal opportunity to reflect on the reconciliation journey for all Australians, and on progress in ‘closing the gap’ on the North Coast.
“We know that education is incredibly important in helping close the gap and there is clear evidence of positive shifts of success in many areas of education,” Colette said.
“For example, in North Coast TAFE overall, we have seen annual enrolments of Aboriginal people in higher qualifications – Certificate III, IV and Diploma – increase from just over 900 in 2008 to just over 1,400 last year – up a very encouraging 56 per cent.”
Murwillumbah Campus manager Betty Evans said North Coast TAFE had undertaken deliberate strategies to engage with young Aboriginal people, growing the use of Aboriginal languages and increasing employment of Aboriginal people within North Coast TAFE.
“We have employed new Aboriginal learning liaison officers, vocational consultants and teacher coaches,” Betty said.
Reconciliation also highlights greater engagement by North Coast TAFE staff in collaborative activities and on-campus events.
“We have seen widespread practice of both welcome to and acknowledgment of country, installation of Aboriginal cultural signage and artworks, and marking significant dates in the reconciliation calendar,” Betty said.
