A DIG in the dirt marked a significant milestone for Tamworth’s TAFE campus yesterday.
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It was the day the campus chose to officially launch the new Binaalbaa Aboriginal Learning Centre, a 5.1 million project which will, on completion, change the landscape of education at the campus.
Earthworks for the centre, which is between the library and sustainability centre which front Janison St, began about three weeks ago.
It is anticipated the centre, which was proposed in 2009, will be completed by July next year.
TAFE New England Institute director Paul Callaghan said the centre, named Binaalbaa, which means wisdom in the Gamilaraay language, was not just about vocational education and training.
“It’s about creating a dedicated space for community elders to meet and pass down their traditional cultural knowledge to the younger generations,” he said.
The centre will become the entry point for the campus. The two-storey building will house indigenous artwork, a story-telling space and dance circle, as well as an exhibition space, staff rooms, a space for elders and a flexible learning space.
“It will include a 120-seat lecture theatre, something TAFE has not had the benefit of before,” Mr Callaghan said.
“And tutorial rooms, computer rooms and a communications room.”
Mr Callaghan said the need for the centre had been growing for some time.
“There is still a lot of work to do in this area – the New England institute region has the highest number of Aboriginal residents and the lowest socio-economic status, so the state government’s decision to fund this project is a strategic move to help secure the future of at-risk youth in this area,” he said.
“We believe Binaalbaa will have an immensely positive impact on the lives of young Aboriginal people, as well as fostering better cultural understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.”
Mr Callaghan said Binaalbaa was not just about “bricks and mortar”.
“It’s a social antidote. Our region has a 7.8 per cent indigenous population, significantly higher than the 2.8 per cent state average,” he said.
“We have about 3898 students enrolled at the moment and we hope that with a facility like this, we can grow to accommodate between 6000 and 7000 students in the next few years.
“We hope the centre will encourage people to come and learn and be role models and will help them to connect to their culture and their future.”