From left to right: Dylan Rettke, Liberty Simpson and Treston Namok are students undertaking a diploma of management
The Institute of Indigenous Australia is now offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students an opportunity to obtain a diploma of management in a friendly, culturally appropriate, nurturing environment, both face-to-face and online.
The course, which is based in Inala, Brisbane and can be completed in six months, has been going for about one year but the highly demanded online delivery only began around four months ago – this gives students, not only in Brisbane but all over the country, the chance to study through the Institute of Indigenous Australia.
According to CEO of the Institute of Indigenous Australia, Jermaine Alberts, the course has so far been met with “amazing results” and currently has around 100 students enrolled; a testament to their unmatched dedication.
“It’s not just about giving training; it’s also about making sure that you finish the diploma. We do numerous phone calls throughout the week, we have facilitators, Indigenous support officers, we use the technology we have – applications where we can see your screen they can see ours, we can call the students every day and get it done. That type of support, you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” he says.
CEO of the Institute of Indigenous Australia, Jermaine Alberts
Another element of the course which makes it standout is the empathetic, extroverted, passionate, all-Indigenous faculty who have, or are, studying at the tertiary level and “love connecting with their people”.
“Our people have awesome traditions, practices, and ways of living and engaging, so the reason you need something like this [course] is because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are motivated by different things and they’re inspired by different things, that’s we get – we get that,” explains Jermaine.
“Relationships, connecting, respect, and really getting who that person is and who their family is, the goals they want to achieve, how they want to achieve them, and the process in how they want to achieve them – our service and all of our staff get that, they get what our brothers and sisters need; they need to be connected, heard, supported, and guided every step of the way.”
The diploma has many outcomes, giving students skills in communication, teamwork, self-managing, technology, planning and organising, initiative and enterprise, and problem solving. It will give graduates the opportunity to continue their studies through university or use their newfound, refined skills in the workforce.
Natakka Alberts and Nick McGinness are dedicated staff at the Institute of Indigenous Australia
Jermaine is assured that this course, which has no upfront costs, is right for anyone willing to “have a go”.
“If you’re Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and you want to move forward, you want to create a professional career, upgrade your skills, start your own business, go to university then you should do this course,” he says.
To enrol or request more information about the diploma, contact the Institute of Indigenous Australia on: Free call 1800 105 887 or email [email protected]. The next course starts the 2 June 2014.
Comments are closed.