Yirara introduces Earth Tec program
Yirara College is a boarding school in Alice Springs for Indigenous students from remote communities.
Many students arrive at Yirara College with vast educational gaps, and lack hope for successful education outcomes and employment opportunities. We are increasingly focusing on education with purpose, and developing skills that will lead to real employment for students by creating innovating ways for students to learn that are fun and purposeful and fostering a love of lifelong learning.
Our recent relationship with Civil Train in delivering the new Earth Tec program to students has been highly successful. We started with a simulator, created a space for training and negotiated with the NT Education Department for a training package in Resources and Infrastructure. Out of the starting group, eight young men were successful at completing the units delivered, including: White Card, Working at Heights, Confined Spaces, Operate small plant and equipment as well as other units covering OHS and planning work. All students were enthusiastic with tasks set, challenged each other, and celebrated group success. Student engagement and participation was high because they could see the purpose of the training and loved the practical tasks. Teachers also noticed the students involved have increased their desire to learn in class, with students from lower grades begging to join in.
Yirara would like to acknowledge Thiess, Civil Train, McMahon Services, and NT Department of Education for helping get this new program off the ground. Donna McAskill (Pathways Coordinator).
