First Nations Focus Story collection

For Morgan Cotter, TAFE Queensland was where it all began, and now she feels privileged to be able to help First Nations students get the most out of their study journey.

Morgan recently took on the role of Indigenous Outcomes Officer for TAFE Queensland’s Brisbane region, a move that she describes as coming full circle after first stepping through the doors as a teen studying her senior school certificate and in desperate need of motivation and guidance.

Koorie Student Support Officers Luke Morgan and Kaycee Ah Kit from Victoria’s Holmesglen Institute are setting new standards in assisting First Nation learners.

For the past two years, Luke and Kaycee have worked with Holmesglen’s teachers to lift engagement and retention among Koorie learners through support and advocacy. Having undertaken their own study journey at TAFE, they have added a new dimension to their work.

Box Hill Institute’s (BHI) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit (ATSIU) has introduced a robust case management system called ‘PACS’ (Pastoral Academic and Cultural Support) that has significantly increased engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Through her own experiences in community and family, Melissa Bulger, a Ngunnawal/Wiradjuri woman considered the contribution and change she could bring to youth justice. Mel knew knowledge is power. Empathy and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and finding their potential and enthusiasm for education was the fuel behind this initiative.

Kristy Perkins is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman who works on Bundjalung Country as an Aboriginal Education and Engagement Coordinator at TAFE NSW.
She is passionate about Closing The Gap (CTG) through education and Aboriginal economic development opportunities, something she sees as a benefit to both the communities she works with and the TAFE NSW community.

In his role as TAFE SA‘s Aboriginal Engagement Consultant, Clayton Dodd has spent the past two years strengthening ties with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and stakeholders and applying a “cultural lens” to projects and programs.

Melythina Tiakana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation (MTWAC) is partnering with TasTAFE to provide training for Aboriginal people to become trainee rangers and care for the area around Tebrakunna (Cape Portland) at the north-eastern tip of Tasmania.

Indigenous Student Support Officer and TAFE Queensland employee of more than two decades, Tammy Rasmussen, has spent a lifetime championing culturally safe learning environments and great training outcomes for First Nations students.

Yorta Yorta woman, Ruby Bending-Norman’s dedication and commitment has proved an inspiration for her Indigenous peers and shown that forging the career of your dreams is always possible.
Ruby thought she had no chance of ever studying at university but is now well on the path to further post-secondary education.

Proud Kirrae Whurrong, Gundijitmarra, Gunai Kurnai woman Tanya McDonald teaches First Nations students working in the community services sector in Alice Springs to help reduce family violence.

The Charles Darwin University (CDU) VET Lecturer in Health and Community Services is one of the first female First Nations TAFE lecturers to join the University in Alice Springs.

TAFE NSW Aboriginal Learner Support Officer Anita Brunhuber is passionate about keeping the Dhurga language alive for future generations and through her work is educating a community of like-minded people.
In 2022, Anita was instrumental in helping establish the successful Dhurga language classes delivered out of TAFE NSW Moruya for communities on the South Coast.

Thousands of TasTAFE students have had the opportunity to improve their understanding and knowledge of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture thanks to a suite of training offered by the Aboriginal Support Programs team.
TasTAFE’s dedicated Aboriginal Support team have delivered Cultural Awareness Training to more than 2500 students since 2019, with the purpose of the training being two-fold.

There’s a big spark ready to ignite First Nations’ futures at North Metropolitan TAFE! Discover how the Koomba Birdal program is connecting First Nations students and mentors to light the path to a bright future.

Supporting the vocational education and training goals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been Jo Savage’s mission at TAFE Queensland for more than two decades.
Through hard work, determination and passion, Jo rose through the ranks and ensured that giving back to her community was at the heart of her every move.