Koorie 2000 | Wurreker

Wurreker: The Koorie Community and TAFE in Victoria in Equal Partnership

The Wurreker Strategy was developed by the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) in partnership with the State Government, via the Office of Training and Tertiary Education. It was launched in July 2000 by the President of VAEAI and the Minister for Education and Training. Wurreker builds on pre-existing policy frameworks established in the original Partnership in Education policy, launched in 1990.

Wurreker documents the collaborative and equal partnership that exists between the signatories enabling the development of:

Policy and planning frameworks - at local, regional and state levels involving Koorie community and TAFE

Systems and processes - for allocating resources needed to support the Koorie community achieving quality outcomes in TAFE

New approaches - to foster an equal partnership between Koorie communities and TAFE institutes and/or other training providers

Wurreker is the central strategy for Indigenous vocational education and training policy development and service delivery in Victoria. Wurreker both informs and responds to National and State strategies that relate to Indigenous post-compulsory education and training.

Why Wurreker?

The Wurreker Strategy was formulated after two years of intensive consultation with the Koorie community and planning in recognition that the Vocational Education Training sector was not effectively addressing the training needs and aspirations of Koorie people. There were no clear pathways from training to employment.

TAFE Institutes and Registered Training Providers were offering programs that were inconsistent with the employment opportunities available to Koories. In short they offered programs on a supply basis rather than demand basis.

Wurreker's Ongoing Vision

Wurreker's overall vision is that vocational education, training and employment for Koorie communities support:

• Pathways and employment

• Koorie community development

• Individual Learner Development

• Self determination

Wurreker Aims

The Wurreker Strategy fundamentally challenges the Education, Training and Employment system in relation to:

Resource allocation - by ensuring resources allocated to Koorie training are responsive to the needs identified by the Koorie community,

Support - by creating a system that enables Koorie community decision making regarding the types of training that will support the development and capacity of their communities,

Partnerships - by developing partnerships that provide for greater employment opportunities for Koories, and

Outcomes - by creating a system that will greatly improve educational, training and employment outcomes for Koories

How is this being achieved?

A number of systems, processes and structures have been established or re-established to support the implementation of the Wurreker Strategy. This has occurred at a community, government and provider level. In terms of the Koorie community, this also occurs at a local, regional and organisational level.

Resources have been provided to support Aboriginal community participation in Wurreker.

Government

The State Government, via the Office of Training and Tertiary Education has a responsibility, both as partner and signatory to Wurreker to ensure the ongoing successful implementation of the strategy. To this end OTTE funds Wurreker implementation as part of its portfolio responsibilities.

The Learner Access Branch within OTTE provides policy and operational support and advice to TAFE Institutes and other relevant providers on Wurreker implementation.

Community

Wurreker clearly recognises that the Aboriginal community of Victoria is best placed to make decisions on its training needs and priorities. Hence it requires and supports Aboriginal community participation at an organisational, local, and regional level.

Koorie communities participate in Wurreker through their representation on Local Aboriginal Consultative Groups (LAECGs). LAECGs have membership and Chair Wurreker Regional Committee's.

Organisational

As a partner and the peak body in Koorie education in Victoria, VAEAI is the organisation responsible for the management and implementation of Wurreker at an operational level.