Challenger TAFE | Annual Report 2006 - Parliament of Western ...

76 Challenger TAFE | Annual Report 2006
• Challenger TAFE employed the services of Auslan interpreters for a total of 57 hours during Semester 2 2006 in both industry
training (Hospitality sector) and the Adult Community Education sector (Languages). Interpreters were sourced from
independent means or the WA Deaf Society Inc. and were Auslan certifi ed to level II or higher.
• A successful Art Exhibition at Winjan Aboriginal Corporation highlighted works by Tourism, Art and Gaining Access to Training
and Employment students and was attended by more than 150 people from the local community. This program has fostered a
high level of cultural pride for the local indigenous community.
• Eight indigenous students undertook training at a higher level in Certifi cate IV in Business (Governance).
• Training at higher levels was undertaken by indigenous students in Certifi cates III and IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island
Cultural Arts and in Certifi cates III and IV in Tourism (Indigenous).
• English in the Workplace Training was provided to employees of Chicago Bridge and Iron at Certifi cates III and IV levels
in Business.
• Numeracy, literacy and English as a Second Language training was delivered by the Access programs section to support
vocational programs in current skill shortage areas eg welding courses for the Shipbuilding industry and, in Boddington, to
indigenous students undertaking an engineering Pre-apprenticeship course.
Programs designed for people with a disability
• A successful partnership between ACTIV Industries, the Department of Education and Training and Ratio Consultancy trialled
the delivery of the new national Certifi cate I Industry Pathways course to people with a disability. This national project piloted
the course for a range of disadvantaged target groups.
• Challenger TAFE won funding to conduct a national e-learning project, through the Australian Flexible Learning Framework’s
Inclusive e-Learning Strategy, for people with a disability. Entitled Ch@llenging e-W@res, the project involved students setting
up a virtual retail business. The project, designed to increase their employability skills taught students technology skills such
as using a PC mouse, emailing, live chat, website maintenance and wikis, all necessary components of a successful online
business. Students also learned retail management skills such as invoicing, merchandising and stock control.
• A successful Gaining Access to Training and Employment program was designed for people living with a mental illness was
delivered in partnership with the Alma Street Clinic that assists people living with a mental illness. The students participated in
a holistic program that incorporated music and art into the skills development program.
Programs designed for people seeking access to education and training
• Challenger TAFE partnered with InfoXchange Australia to deliver training for Mature Aged unemployed people who participated
in a Green PC program at Kwinana Business Incubator. GreenPC is a program initiative of InfoXchange Australia and its
mission to bridge the ‘digital divide’ by providing eligible disadvantaged members of the community with access to quality
refurbished internet-ready computers. The ‘green’ goal encourages sustainability by recycling existing PCs and by reducing the
impact of electronic equipment waste on landfi ll. In Kwinana a new GreenPC project and workshop was established at the start
of 2006, incorporated for the fi rst time in Australia the provision of accredited training (a Certifi cate I in Electrotechnology) to
GreenPC participants.
• To encourage community members to participate in lifelong learning, Challenger TAFE forged successful community
partnerships with City of Melville’s “Lifestyle Service;” Melville and Leeming Recreation Centres; and the City of Mandurah
Library.
• In order to customise learning programs to meet the needs of local community members, Challenger TAFE used information
provided by existing students on course evaluation sheets leading to adjustments to the delivery times for courses, their
duration. Levels of satisfaction rose in response to the changes.