Launch of new TAFE Indigenous Australian learning centre
14 April 2004
At the official launch of the centre are (from left) Lynne Kosky, MP, Victorian Minister for Education & Training, John Parish, Institute Director, Janet Price, Department of Education, Science and Training Victorian State Manager and Norm Hunter, Gunung-Willam-Balluk Elder.
Performing at the launch of the centre are dancers from the One Fire Dance Troupe.
Indigenous Australian students now have a state-of-the-art centre where they can learn about their culture while completing TAFE study.
Based at Kangan Batman TAFE’s Broadmeadows campus, the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Learning Centre will be officially launched on 19 April by the Minister for Education and Training, Lynne Kosky MP. Gunung-Willam-Balluk Elder Norm Hunter will perform the Welcome to Country ceremony and speak at the launch.
The centre has been funded by the Victorian Government, with the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE) providing $1.15 million. The Australian Government has contributed $198,000 through the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA). The following organisations have also provided sponsorship of the centre: Ford Australia, ACER, KCF Agencies, Dimension Data, Cable Works, Fujitsu, Damovo, Uniblinds and Security Doors and Artline Signs.
The centre has been designed by award-winning architect Gregory Burgess to reflect local Indigenous Australian culture throughout. Mr Burgess’ previous projects have included the Uluru Aboriginal Culture Centre and the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Halls Gap.
According to Terry Kildea, Manager of Koori Programs at Kangan Batman TAFE, the new centre is unique in terms of Indigenous Australian education within the Victorian TAFE sector.
“We believe this is the first TAFE facility of its kind. Not only is it modern and well-equipped, but it reflects Indigenous cultures inside and out, with a special focus on the local Gunung-Willam-Balluk People,” Mr Kildea said.
“The centre also includes a Flexible Learning Centre featuring 10 state-of-the-art computers which will be used for flexible and online delivery of our courses. They will also allow us to further our online relationships with indigenous groups around the world.”
The building also features a comprehensive resource room, with books, CDs, and videos. A future direction of the centre will be as an Indigenous Australian research centre and multimedia production house, producing training resources and recording Indigenous stories, history and documentaries.
The centre is the culmination of three years’ planning, which has been an inclusive process at all stages. The centre’s design, services and facilities have been planned with input from a steering committee which included representatives from the Gunung-Willam-Balluk People, OTTE, Hume City Council and its Hume Indigenous Advisory Committee, the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI), the Enmaraleek Association, and Kangan Batman TAFE management, teachers and students.
"The construction of this centre demonstrates the goodwill that exists between the Gunung-Willam-Balluk People, Kangan Batman TAFE and Hume City Council. Hume City Council provided an area of the Broadmeadows Town Park on which the new centre has been built and have been working in partnership with us on the project from the outset”, Mr Kildea said.
Official launch of the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Learning Centre
When: Monday, 19 April, 3.30pm to 5pm
Where: Kangan Batman TAFE, Gate 1, Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows
For further information, contact Terry Kildea, Manager of the Koori Programs Unit on (03) 9279 2359.
