Dhirri-Li Education for Work Centre

Rural and remote communities have a shortages of health and related workers, yet young people and adults living in these communities cannot find work.

That is why we established the Dhirri-li Education for Work Centre. Our aim is to give rural and remote young people and adults the entry level skills to work, and build a career, in the health and social care sector.

The inability to find productive and useful work in rural and remote towns is strongly linked to feelings of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, worry, and physical pain. Research shows that unemployed people tend to suffer more from stress-related illnesses such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, heart disease, and arthritis. In addition, experiences such as job insecurity or the reduction or closure of local workplaces can have impacts on both physical and mental health.

Building productive employment opportunities in remote and rural towns improves health by reducing the causes of poor health, and ensuring that there is a local workforce able to deliver health and social care locally to people who are sick or injured. Building employment capacity reduces the cost to government of providing social support and delivering health care in the long term, and supports intergenerational opportunity by providing young children with employment role models within their community.

Supporting rural and remote people into gainful careers in health and social care is not easy. That is because governments have reduced or withdrawn health and social care services over many decades. This has impacted on the aspiration of multiple generations about securing employment - you cannot be what you cannot see - demonstrated through low participation and completion rates at school.

That is why the Dhirri-Li Education for Work Centre is focussed on entry-level roles that provide a platform for lifelong learning and career development. It’s about helping rural and remote people get their foot in the door of our health and social care system, learn valuable skills, and empowering them to make their own choices about their career direction.

A good-paying job makes it easier for rural and remote people to live in healthier neighborhoods, provide quality education for their children, secure child care services, and buy more nutritious food— all of which affect good health.

Visit Centre

Jan Thorne was the first graduate of the Dhirri-Li Education for Work Centre in 2024 gaining a Certificate III as an Aboriginal Wellness Worker. She is now working in her community supporting mental health for Aboriginal people.

1. APPLY TO HEALTH, BUSINESS, SOCIAL CARE OR RELATED PROGRAM

Participants can apply to study an online or local vocation or University qualification from Collarenebri at the institution of their choice. Enrolment in the Dhirri-Li Education for Work Centre is open to students from Collarenebri and surrounding towns and villages enrolled in TVET Programs at school all the way through to TAFE and University. Interested students can contact the Centre and we will liaise with the school, TAFE or University about how we can support work-integrated learning and skills training into their individual program. Enrolment is open to students studying both clinical health sciences or interested in health management, social work or personal care careers.

COMMENCE WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING

2.

Participants accepted into the Program are expected to attend the Collarenebri Community Hub at least twice a week when clinical skills training and career planning programs are being run. At other times participants have access to computers, high speed broadband, a kitchen and supportive health professionals to assist them with their learning goals. 24/7 online tutoring is also available. The Hub has an Aboriginal medicines garden and Elders attend from time to time to run sessions on traditional remedies for illness and injury.

3. PROGRAM

There are two core elements of the program: (1) Clinical Skills or Business Mentoring; and (2) Career Planning. Participants enrolled in clinical programs will need to attend a Clinical Skills Laboratory Session weekly run by a doctor, nurse or other health worker to apply learnings from the classroom. If the participants is in a management or business program, they will be assigned a mentor from the Foundation (or a volunteer) to meet each week for one hour to discuss their learnings and to plan a mentoring program that supports their development. The Career Planning course will be delivered by professionals via Videoconference at the Hub and will provide participants with information about different jobs and long term career opportunities.

GRADUATION & CAREER

4.

The Centre will assist students to find work in their chosen field in Collarenebri or a nearby town where possible. Graduates receive a certificate if they meet attendance requirements and pass their qualification.