SM TAFE WA
SM TAFE Aboriginal Leadership program a launchpad for emerging leaders
Adrienne (Ady) Viti is a natural mentor, and her passion for supporting fellow First Nations peoples led to honing her skills with a specialised Aboriginal Leadership Program at South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE).
Ady is a proud South Sea Islander and Noongar woman with links to Gnaala Karla Booja, Whadjuk and Ballardong.
Whilst being a busy Mum, and a full-time employee at Rio Tinto, Ady chose to undertake the 52880WA Certificate IV in Leadership and Mentoring at SM TAFE. This course is specifically designed for Aboriginal staff aspiring to formalise qualifications and become leaders in the workplace.
A fully-intensive program at Certificate IV level, the course requires that students are currently employed and formally mentor a colleague during their study. There is 9 days of on campus delivery for students, with a total of 18 weeks flexible, online study.
Ady displayed exemplary dedication throughout her training, whilst juggling a busy role at work, being a single mum to her two children, and also caring for her father.
“Helping others has always come naturally to me – both at home and in the workplace. To now have the structure of a formal qualification from SM TAFE to support that is something I am proud of,” Ady said.
“Since completing my studies my self-confidence has shone through and some of my indigenous colleagues and friends have asked where this has come from. I can confidently say that the guidance I received from my SM TAFE lecturers has provided an experience I would like others to be part of,” she says.
A phenomenal support to peers in her student cohort, Ady’s performance throughout the course led to her winning the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award at the SM TAFE Student Awards in March 2025.
Ady highlights the significance of being able to study in a culturally safe space in the training environment at SM TAFE.
“You learn in a safe space, learning and developing with other indigenous people that are in similar industries, who can relate to your lived experience.
“I hadn’t studied in over 20 years, so it was a learning curve for me to go into a classroom again and quite daunting. If you feel overwhelmed, you can relay that to the lecturers and they can find different ways to support you and the right mechanism for your learning,” Ady explains.
Lecturers in the program place paramount importance on giving students a forum to bring their voice to the table and feel safe in doing so.
SM TAFE has wrap-around support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students including welcoming spaces like Koora Marr at Thornlie campus and Kadadjiny Mia at Rockingham campus, which offer support, connection, and belonging.
The course at SM TAFE ultimately assisted Ady to progress into the role of Program Advisor ATAL (Aboriginal Training & Liaison) at Rio Tinto. The Certificate IV in Leadership and Mentoring at SM TAFE has become known as a preferred upskilling course for Rio Tinto, and other companies and government agencies, to support their aspiring leaders moving into indigenous support roles.
Ady’s qualification also opened a door to becoming part of the Rio Tinto Everyday Respect Group, a national ‘elevated voices network.’ As Communications and Engagement Lead, she drives positive change for others that may not have found their voice.
During her career, Ady has had a focus on assisting women and indigenous people who have never worked in mining before or are entering the workforce for the first time through Rio Tinto’s Aboriginal Talent and Liaison (ATAL) Work Ready Program.
She assists young indigenous people overcome barriers to initially becoming employed, such as gaining a driver’s license and numeracy and literacy skills, providing them with the support and strength they need to enter the workplace. By acting as a mentor to the youth of today Ady embodies the theme of NAIDOC Week 2025 ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.’
“To set a candidate up for a role and see them start to thrive is a fulfilling side of my role. It is truly rewarding to see a kid from a community or regional area with renewed self-worth that gives them self-confidence to navigate everyday responsibilities and career commitments. It can lead to them buying their very first car or building a first home,” Ady says.
For more information about Leadership and Management courses at SM TAFE, visit southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au
You can also find out about supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at SM TAFE.
