CAROLINE Tarran was part of a recent group of First Nations teachers to graduate from Bendigo TAFE.<\/p>\n
Keen to pay it forward, she now works as a community services teacher at the TAFE.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I was in my role as Koorie liaison officer, my manager Lee-Anne Habel told me she believed in her staff doing professional development and encouraged me to do the teacher training course,\u201d Ms Tarran said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an Indigenous cohort so that made it more special. I felt comfortable in the class and I felt that we all supported each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Tarran said her career is very important to her because she wants to feel she is effectively giving back to the Indigenous community.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunity services is an important part of our society, and my role is about passing on education and knowledge while providing that cultural lens,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt allows my students to feel safe and ask me questions that they may not be able to ask another teacher or Aboriginal person.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt allows me to support and assist people, equipping them to be the next generation of community services workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m also continually learning from my students. It\u2019s education and discussion, and a lot can be learned from both ends.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result, Ms Tarran said she feels privileged to do the work she\u2019s now undertaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy students have lived experience and work experience, and the training I\u2019m delivering is allowing them to get a qualification to expand opportunities within their own roles or move up to management,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love giving our First Nations people the opportunity to study, breaking down the barriers and questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also about enabling them to gain confidence that will in turn help them grow in their own work in servicing our First Nations community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CAROLINE Tarran was part of a recent group of First Nations teachers to graduate from Bendigo TAFE. Keen to pay it forward, she now works as a community services teacher at the TAFE. \u201cWhile I was in my role as Koorie liaison officer, my manager Lee-Anne Habel told me she believed in her staff doing […]<\/p>\n