WORKSHOPS
Monday 18th July, 2011
Thursday 21st July, 2011

Increasing Year 10/12 educational attainment and transitional support into employment has increased sustainable pathways for Indigenous students. However, often graduates struggle to gain employment, even after year 12 completion due to shortages in available positions in their local area.

This workshop will illustrate a new state wide initiative that links skills training for students with service providers, thereby increasing local employment opportunities and community growth.

Participants will increase knowledge on how to:

• Develop and deliver skill sets required to fill local positions and industries
• Increase collaboration across local service delivery employers
• Implement school based skills building programs for students wishing to gain local employment
• Access programs enabling employment across a variety of industries
• Develop networks between Government, RTO's, Group Training Authorities and CDEP providers
• Develop supportive mechanisms through mentoring processes
• Increase staff and student retention working to gain or assist with Indigenous employment
• Implement literacy and numeracy programs to bridge educational gaps

About your workshop leader

David Kelly
Indigenous Workforce Development Project Officer
Local Government Association of the Northern Territory

David is a Dunghutti man from Kempsey on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.

He was the Aboriginal Development Manager for the North Coast Institute of TAFE in NSW and then became the Regional Aboriginal Employment Consultant for the North Coast Public Sector where he developed recommendations for the North Coast Public Sector Aboriginal Employment Strategy.

He was then appointed Coordinator Indigenous Employment and Training with the MacDonnell Shire Council in Alice Springs and is still in that substantive position today.

David is also on Secondment with the Local Government of the Northern Territory developing a Workforce Development Plan for remote Shires and Regional Councils in the NT.

The David Wirrpanda Foundation exists to improve the life outcomes of Indigenous children by promoting strong role models and healthy life choices. With a focus on increasing school retention of Indigenous students and encouraging further study or employment after school it has improved attendance rates and behaviours of many Indigenous students in schools it has worked with.

Mentoring by former West Coast Eagles footballer David Wirrpanda, Troy Cook, Bianca Franklin, Shannon McGuire and other Indigenous role models plays an important part in the Foundation's work.

By attending this workshop you will learn how to:

• Develop a range of programs with holistic approaches to improving health, well-being, motivation and self-esteem
• Link role models with local community representatives for continued student engagement
• Make education attractive to Indigenous students including breaking down common barriers
• Reduce feuding amongst female Indigenous students
• Utilise Aboriginal engagement officers in schools
• Develop methods for effective wrap-around mentoring which improve literacy and numeracy
• Partner with TAFES and industries for sustainable post-school pathways development

About your workshop leader

Josie Janz
Role Model and Program Manager
Dare to Dream Girls Program at the
David Wirrpanda Foundation

Josie Janz grew up in Derby in the North-West Kimberley. She is of Torres-Strait Islander decent and has played State representative netball and been a part of the Australian underage Talent Squads for the last 8 years, more recently representing the WestCoast Fever in the ANZ National Championships.

Josie received an academic scholarship to attend the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Perth and following her high school studies received a netball scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport.