A cooperative venture, involving Gwydir Shire Council, New England Institute of TAFE, Bingara Central School, Warialda High School, Adult Learning and the University of New England, has the primary goal of promoting lifelong learning. Originally formed in 2000, the Gwydir Learning Region (GLR) has gone from strength to strength, building on the ‘can do’ attitude in the local community. Winner of the 2006 NSW Training Initiative Award, it is a model for other areas wanting to promote community development, enhance regional development and establish itself as a learning community.
GLR caters for all ages and competencies. For people wanting to improve their numeracy and literacy skills through to TAFE and university level distance education, the approach is based on individual learning rather than one size fits all. Individuals are able to extend their learning, develop new skills, discover new interests, achieve personal goals and pursue employment pathways previously not available to them.
As a key player in this initiative, Council is demonstrating the importance it places on strategic partnerships with other local stakeholders to build social capital so vital for rural and remote communities.
GLR is also an innovative means for aligning skills development with local employment needs. With a growing number of older people in the local community there was a need for more aged care workers. A course in Aged Care and Nursing at Certificate III level was designed for school and mature aged students. All nine participants are now employed in this field.
“Truly powerful communities are those that can identify the gifts of those people at the margin of society and pull them into community life,” said Council’s General Manager, Max Eastcott. “Gwydir Learning Region is about achieving this outcome.”
A theatre course organised by GLR assisted the establishment of a live theatre company who regularly make use of the beautifully renovated Roxy Theatre.
A shortage of people with a heavy vehicle license was identified by a Council staff member and this has now been addressed through a GLR course.
“GLR is about locals taking control of their futures and building their community the way they want it,” said Martin Bower, Careers and Community Education Officer at Warialda High School. “Its about reversing the slow downward spiral of rural communities, and the unbalanced development and marginalisation of people in accessing new technology and essential skills.”
Impediments to further education in rural areas, such as distance and costs, demand a local, affordable and flexible solution. GLR certainly meets all of these. Vocational education can be the catalyst for building new confidence and vitality. Reskilling the community, bringing community projects to fruition and developing opportunities for new business ventures is building a sustainable and more prosperous future for Gwydir.
