On September 26 this year, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Tocal College celebrated 30 years of delivery of training for rural and remote aboriginal communities.
The Aboriginal Rural Training Program (ARTP) has always specialised in providing practical skills training specifically aimed at giving aboriginal community members the skills they need for employment on farms and in rural communities.
From the outset, the focus has always been on delivering training on site - taking the training to the people in the community.
More than 2800 people have completed training through the program.
ARTP was established in 1989 at Yanco in the Riverina.
The first project delivered by ARTP was training for two groups of employees at properties near Menindee and Wilcannia.
Local Aboriginal Land Council and community groups were closely involved in development of this training.
The program grew strongly through the 1990s and now delivers training across all regions of NSW through Tocal College.
ARTP has a strong history of employing and developing Aboriginal staff as trainers who have developed and maintain a strong relationship with communities in regional and remote NSW.
Current trainers are Mark Morgan, Duane Ingram and Warren Ingram with administrative support from Naomi Rawle.
Program coordinator since 2007, Mark Morgan has been with ARPT since 1990.
Prior to commencing with ARTP, Mr Morgan worked as a welder and brings a broad range of skills to the program.
"Our main aim is to build the confidence and self-esteem of our mob," he said.
"We work to give them the skills and qualifications to apply for jobs when they come up.
"They can also go on to further education in other areas, because they have got the confidence that they can do it.
"That's always been my game."
Lecturer Warren Ingram started with ARTP in 2011 delivering training in business and governance, and has a similar diverse set of skills.
"I've worked in a Local Land Council for well over 20 years," Mr Ingram said.
"Prior to that, I was a chippy by trade so I had a trade certificate and saw the importance of education.
"I now teach rural skills - forklifts, fencing, chainsaws and quad bikes and all those sort of skills around rural operations."
Lecturer Duane Ingram has been with ARTP since 2002.
"We get involved with communities," he said.
"We travel down the day before so we get to know the people.
"We interact with the community so we're not just turning up on the spot.
"When people turn up for training they know who they're looking at."
Removing barriers to learning and being flexible are major objectives of the ARTP.
"When we deliver training out in the communities and on the college itself, we take the opportunity to be very flexible," Warren Ingram said.
"We like to make everyone feel involved in the training process, so that they are comfortable.
"ARTP programs have subsequently progressed to further training and qualifications in agriculture and also conservation and land management.
"These qualifications open up opportunities for employment and progression in the farming and also in forestry with skills in timber harvesting and machinery operation.
"There are also opportunities in Landcare and pest management, using skills and knowledge in bushland management and pest control, and Aboriginal cultural sites assessment across NSW."
The Aboriginal Rural Training Program has made a major contribution to the advancement of aboriginal communities across NSW for the past 30 years.
This will continue to develop and deliver the training that is needed for regional and remote communities into the future.
Strong support from rural communities and from Tocal College will see the program continue to thrive for many years to come.
