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Land Councils and TAFE to sign major training agreement

15 May 2009

The signing of a breakthrough agreement this week between TAFE NSW and l4 Local Aboriginal Land Councils in the State's north will deliver a whole new range of training programs to Aboriginal people throughout the Northern Region of New South Wales.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed on behalf of TAFE NSW by its Director, Mr Paul Callaghan and NSW Aboriginal Land Council Deputy Chair and representative of the Northern Region, Councillor Tom  Briggs at the Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council, near Quirindi,  at 11.15 am on Friday, May 15.

The MOU signals an important formal training relationship between TAFE NSW and the 14 regional land councils that covers such communities as Coonabarabran, Tamworth, Walhallow, Armidale, Dorrigo Plateau, Glen Innes, Ashford and Guyra.

"The training programs will be developed in a spirit of co-operation and in response to Aboriginal Land Council's goals and business objectives," Mr Callaghan said.

"The aim is that the training program will lead to employment pathways, business productivity and regional prosperity in local communities."

Councillor Briggs said the signing of the MOU was a vitally important initiative.

"Education and appropriate training is clearly one of the building blocks necessary to enable our people to take full advantage of employment and potential business opportunities.

"It is a huge step forward - one our 14 land councils have wanted and worked to achieve for some time".

Both Councillor Briggs and Mr Callaghan said that both TAFE and the Land Councils believed that the MOU was a significant initiative.

"We look forward to reaching agreement on what the most effective and meaningful training courses will be," they said.

"Clearly they will cover a range of subject areas".

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Further information:  Paul Callaghan, Institute Director, TAFE, NSW - New England Institute - 02 67682445 or Councillor Tom Briggs, 0408 169 764.