Getting training into communities

The need to develop and deliver appropriate competency based training programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural communities is considerable. Such rural training programs must meet the development needs of the individuals and their communities and should articulate into further relevant courses. The successful development and delivery of vocational education and training programs must include: (1) extensive and detailed community consultation in the development of appropriate curricula, training methodologies, learning materials and course scheduling; (2) appropriate assessment of learning outcomes; (3) addressing the training and development needs of the community, particularly women; (4) recognising prior learning of course participants and ensuring courses articulate into other mainstream courses; (5) flexibility and consultation in determining the nominal length of the traineeship; (6) integrating numeracy and literacy into the curriculum and ensuring the appropriateness of the language of course documents and support materials; and (7) measures to ensure that training staff have empathy with Australia's indigenous peoples and are sensitive to the needs of participants and their communities.

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