Going
back to the year 2000, it was all delivered centrally at
the University of Ballarat TAFE campus. It was the big lecture
hall model, and everyone was sitting there and we'd just
deliver the information.
But
slowly we got smarter. So, for instance, we now deliver
training through the Koorie Educators' conference that we
have each year. And we deliver in cooperation with the University.
They have a dedicated teacher for it, but also our project
officers step in and deliver some of the modules where they're
relevant to our work. Some of us have the certificate for
assessment of workplace training, so we were able to look
at the modules, look at the criteria that needed to be met
and then develop learning tasks that were consistent with
the outcomes.
For
instance, I'm able to deliver the modules about inclusive
curriculum with the curriculum officer and we have other
officers who deliver the modules relating to literacy. So
we're able to add value to the University's knowledge base.
And
we found that a lot of people didn't want to come away from
home, especially to a central place, because even though
it was good for us in terms of large numbers, it wasn't
good for them because of family responsibilities. So since
last year we're delivering in three regional sites: Ballarat,
Benalla and Sale, so we're finding where the workers are
and then we're going to a location close to them. That way
people are, if anything, one to two hours away from home
and they can manage the travel.
They
come in for two days once a term. The trainers goes out
and deliver the content, talk to them between the training
days and give them support. The Koorie Educators send their
work in.
This
year we've developed some more upfront assessment material
as well, so we can go out to the workplaces and look at
their evidence. It might be talking to them or their Principals
talking to them as well.
Last
year we had 37 enrolled in the Certificate and ten have
graduated so far. It takes about two years, but the University
is flexible on that and some people can take longer. We
had our graduation presentation at the Koorie Educators'
conference recently. The University Deputy Vice-Chancellor
came down and presented people with their certificates and
made a speech and one of the Koorie Educators made a speech
as well. She said that she felt that they had learned a
lot and really achieved something, and knowing that they
could do it meant that others could do it too. She said
she was looking forward to seeing the others when they graduate.
They're
really powerful role models because they can now say, 'I
know what it's like to study and I know it's hard. I've
had a similar experience and this is how I approached it
'. The kids can see that the Koorie Educators have been
working on something and have succeeded and they can relate
to that.
It's
been great to work with the Koorie Educators on curriculum.
First, we did activities to find out what they thought curriculum
was. Then we talked about how our curriculum has been organised
into eight key learning areas and we worked on what was
included in each of those areas.
We
even went through what the outcomes were for something like
SOSE, and we actually developed lesson plans that address
those outcomes. For some people, it was the first time they'd
had this sort of understanding of curriculum.
One
thing they had to do was go back to school and ask a teacher
a series of questions and then identify what they thought
the characteristics were of an inclusive resource. We developed
a blank template for them and they had to do a lesson plan
based on that. Part of it was to help them understand that
what they'd already been doing in the classroom could be
put into that format. It was showing them that they already
had a lot of knowledge, from working in classrooms. And
that was quite empowering for many, because they sort of
thought curriculum was out there somewhere and not what
you're actually doing every day.
