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Training

Departmental Overview:

The CAAPS Training Department operates within the Vocational Educational and Training (VET) national framework, delivering a variety of accredited and non-accredited courses in the community services sector. RTO staff, in consultation with a range of key stakeholders (community members, employers, supervisors, trainees, trainers and assessors) deliver and assess community services training in the workplace to support employment for Aboriginal people in their communities.

Our Principles:

We aim to for practical, flexible and integrated learning for Aboriginal people, using training models that are all based on the following principles:

• Promote community ownership and involvement in the development of training programs.

• Incorporate Indigenous identities, cultures, knowledge and values to the program content.

• Establish ‘true’ partnerships in the program delivery through the engagement of senior community members to support CAAPS delivery in the workplace.

• Ensure ongoing consultation and flexibility in course design, content and delivery to best meet the needs of the community workplace.

• Ensure that we have quality staff and that there is committed advocacy for the program in the community and the workplace.

• Provide student support services and networks in the community and in the workplace.

• Provide appropriate funding that allows for sustainability in program delivery.

In general, mainstream models of practice are developed within western systems of knowledge and may ignore an Aboriginal ‘worldview’. When these models are applied, they can serve to disadvantage Aboriginal people. This results in a feeling of disempowerment as Aboriginal cultural beliefs/values and family systems are ignored, misunderstood and/or disrespected. Consequently, Aboriginal people may disengage from training or assessment opportunities.

There has also been a push to impose other Indigenous people’s cultural approaches (from other countries) on Aboriginal Australians. This can have devastating outcomes as it serves to weaken Australian Aboriginal culture. Often these approaches are embedded in western disease ideology which is very different to an Aboriginal concept of holistic health and well being.

Community-level engagement

Engagement on the ground in communities throughout program delivery ensures a high level of community participation, leading to successful employment outcomes for Aboriginal people. CAAPS ensures that:

• Communities will be strengthened in a sustainable method; when training is complete communities will be stronger and have improved access to resources and support networks across their Shire.

• Increased employment opportunities and a decrease in the feeling of vulnerability often experienced by Aboriginal people in communities.

• Improved opportunities for the development of children as families are freed from dependence on the welfare system and can move toward financial independency. 

• A higher level of engagement with schools through workplace role modelling and development of employment responsibilities.

Our Training Programs:

Working closely with Healthy Families and the Dolly Garinyi Hostel (providing supported accommodation for the Healthy Families clients), the RTO team facilitates community services training (Certificate I, II and III) in a number of remote and urban communities, conducts pre-employment programs, the Cross-Cultural Awareness Program, the Indigenous Family Violence Offender Program (IFVOP), the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program and the Introduction to the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Misuse (IPTSM) Program to individuals and organisations. The RTO also continually develops innovative, collaborative resources for distribution among the community services industry, runs VET and VETis programs and coordinates the Youth Wellbeing Program across a number of NT communities. Please check out each of the training program’s pages for more information on their content and assessment strategies.