First Nations to lead new Indigenous centre of vocational excellence
The Federal Government to to back better jobs and skills outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence (ICOVE).
Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, and Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, announced on Friday that Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) Limited and Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd will operate the ICOVE as the host Aboriginal Community Controlled Registered Training consortium.
The Government is to invest up to $24 million over four years to support the establishment of the ICOVE from July 1 this year.
Keep driving improvements
“The Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence will help build partnerships across the sectors of health, construction trades and early childhood education to accelerate our efforts to Close the Gap, match the needs of employers and deliver better employment outcomes for First Nations Australians,” Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles said.
“We know there’s a lot of work to do to improve education, training and jobs outcomes for First Nations people. We need to keep driving improvements – and the focused work from this new Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence will help us to ensure we’re being effective and locally relevant in how we approach this.”
The ICOVE is a commitment under the National Skills Agreement to advance Closing the Gap efforts and will be a national hub for best-practice Vocational Education and Training (VET), focused on supporting First Nations learners.
Providing high-quality training, it will focus on creating more pathways into jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The ICOVE will focus on shaping how training is designed and delivered in cities, regional areas and remote communities, so it better meets local skills and workforce needs.
Competitive grant process
An independent panel of First Nations experts and government representatives chose the hosts through a competitive, limited grant process.
The Coalition of Peaks and its member organisations designed the ICOVE to be structured around innovation, capacity building, policy and advocacy, and research and data.
“We welcome the establishment of the national Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence. This is a significant milestone for the VET and skills sector and to provide more cultural inclusive training opportunities,” executive director Lisa Charles said.
“We congratulate Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service and Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Limited who will host the new Centre of Excellence.”
The ICOVE will connect First Nations training and community-led organisations with industry and employers to strengthen skills and workforce solutions for First Nations people.
Better outcomes
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the centre was an important step towards Closing the Gap in skills and employment outcomes.
“By embedding First Nations voices, leadership and evidence-based practice within the VET system, the centre will strengthen pathways to sustainable economic participation,” she said.
“When First Nations communities design the training pathways, outcomes are better and people can build futures that align with community needs and aspirations.”
For more information go to Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence – Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website.
