Wurreker-Award-Staff-Members

TAFE Gippsland is proud to be on the receiving end of a VAEAI Wurreker Award for their innovation and active involvement in the region’s Koorie education.

Several TAFE Gippsland representatives attended the 2022 Wurreker Awards in Melbourne last Thursday 15 December, with CEO Laura Macpherson accepting the ‘Innovative Koorie Learner Pathways – TAFE Award’ on behalf of the organisation.

Ms Macpherson said the awards are a great way to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the region’s educators to the Wurreker Strategy and Marrung Aboriginal Plan.

“This award is a great recognition of our active involvement in Koorie education, dedication to building connections with the local Koorie community and cultural contextualisation of workplace-based education programs,” Ms Macpherson said.

“Our industry collaborations with organisations like GEGAC (Gippsland and East Gippsland Co-Operative) focus on building workforce capacity framed around cultural safety, respect, trust and shared expertise. Our specifically designed courses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People reconnect them with their culture, heritage and to link them into cultural studies, help them explore further education and employment opportunities and generally build their confidence in a safe space.

“It’s such a great outcome and we’re so proud to be recognised for our innovative work and achievements in this space.”

TAFE Gippsland teacher Alan Solomon was also nominated as a finalist in the individual category of ‘Teacher/Trainer Award’, which recognises the contribution that individual teachers or trainers make to the engagement of Koorie students and their learning experiences and achievements.

The Wurreker Awards categories cover all aspects of Koorie vocational training, employment and pathways and highlight achievement, inclusion, and best practice in the sector and are a celebration of how high-quality training can open up new directions for Koorie people.