Future leaders embark on traineeship
08 Apr 2022
PRODUCTION ADVICE & NRM NEWS - APRIL 2022 - GENERAL
By Keisha Egan - Land Services Officer
P: 03 5881 9925 | M: 0459 3330 363 | E: keisha.egan@lls.nsw.gov.au
Above: River Rangers Project Coordinator Luke Egan, Trainee Coby Smith, Trainee Tyron Ross, Ali Borrell – Murray Darling Wetland Working Group, Trainee Kobi Baxter, Yarkuwa’s Jamahl Wilson and Josh Campbell Murray Local Land Services participating in a plant identification day in the Werai forest.
A new Aboriginal Traineeship project is aiming to put Deniliquin area First Nations young people on a path to employment and future community leadership.
Three Wemba Wemba Perrepa Perrepa Deniliquin High School students have signed up to a pilot School-Based Traineeship, which will see them completing a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystems Management.
The traineeship aims to provide First Nations children with mentorship and on country learning opportunities to help turnaround the low retention rate of First Nations children after Year 10.
Offering opportunities for First Nations youth to help manage their traditional lands, the Traineeship will also provide pathways for First Nations Youth to gain employment and deliver local biodiversity outcomes.
A collaboration between, Deniliquin High School, Yarkuwa Indigenous Learning Centre, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Local Land Services, the idea for a traineeship came out of a conversation between local Careers Adviser Pam Sinha and Di Vella, a concerned mother.
Ms Vella wanted her son to finish his HSC but felt he needed to do something that would make him want to stay at school.
At the time, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service were conducting field activities across the local area and invited interested indigenous students to attend these events. Participants reported that they enjoyed the practical experiences of caring for, and being on, country.
Murray Local Land Services has provided funding for the traineeship which will be administered by Yarkuwa. NSW Parks and Wildlife has also given 12 months' leave to River Rangers Project Coordinator Luke Egan to allow him to help lead the Traineeship program.
This Traineeship has demonstrated what can be achieved when agencies work together to improve outcomes and opportunities for young people, particularly indigenous males.
For more information about the Aboriginal Traineeship Program, contact Yarkuwa Indigenous Learning Centre on 03 5881 3312.
Above: Karen Wilson, Senior Project Officer - Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre completing the traineeship application with Tyron Ross, Trainee.