Batchelor Institute logo
Acknowledgement of country

Batchelor Institute would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereign people of the lands on which our campuses are located. As we share our knowledge, teaching and learning and engage in research practices within this Institution and/or conduct business with a variety of external agencies and organisations, we must always pay respect to the sovereign status of our hosts. May their Ancestors always be remembered and honoured, their Elders listened to and respected, all members treated with dignity and fairness — in the present and well into the future.

We also acknowledge and pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever with our hosts, custodianship of country and the binding relationship they have with the land. Batchelor Institute extends this acknowledgment and expression of respect to all sovereign custodians — past, present and emerging. By expressing Acknowledgement of Country we encourage all to extend and practice respect to all First Nations people wherever their lands are located.

Please read this important information
It is a condition of use of the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education website that users ensure that any disclosure of the information contained in the website is consistent with the views and sensitivities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This includes:
Language
Users are warned that there may be words and descriptions which may be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Terms and annotations, which reflect the author’s attitude or that of the period in which the item was written, may be considered inappropriate today in some circumstances.
Deceased persons
Users of the website should be aware that, in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, seeing images of deceased persons in photographs, film and books or hearing them in recordings may cause sadness or distress and in some cases, offend against strongly held cultural prohibitions.
Access conditions
Materials included in this website may be subject to access conditions imposed by Indigenous communities and/or depositors. Users are advised that access to some materials may be subject to these terms and conditions which the Institute is required to maintain
Application details
Position No.

.pdf, .doc, .docx maxiumum file size 8mb

Thank you for your application

Our Batchelor Institute team will get back to you shortly.

Inter-Library loan form
4 characters left

Item

Single article/chapter

Declaration

  • • I hereby request you to make and supply me with a copy of the article or extract listed on this application, which I require for the purpose of research or study.
  • • I have not previously been supplied with a copy of the said article or extract by a librarian.
  • • I have undertaken that if a copy is supplied to me, I will not use it except for the purposes of research or study.
  • • I have read and understood the above statement.
Thank you for your application

Our Batchelor Institute team will get back to you shortly.

Send your enquiry and a Batchelor team member will get back to you shortly
Thank you for contacting us

Our Batchelor Institute team will get back to you shortly.

Search
Celebrating Graduation at Yipirinya School: Empowering Indigenous Language Teachers Through Both-Ways Education
Home Celebrating Graduation at Yipirinya School: Empowering Indigenous Language Teachers Through Both-Ways Education
12 September 2025
4 minute read

Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (RTO 0383), proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work and learn, including the Arrernte people of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). On 10 September 2025, Batchelor staff joined the community at Yipirinya School to celebrate a milestone in Indigenous language education: the graduation of Brenda Inkamala (Western Arrernte), Rhonda Inkamala (Western Arrernte), and Janine Turner (Eastern Arrernte) from the Certificate IV in Teaching an Australian First Nation's Language (10892NAT).

This event, held at Yipirinya School from 12:30 pm until the end of the school day, embodied Batchelor's "Both Ways" philosophy—integrating Indigenous knowledge with formal education to foster self-determination and cultural strength. Brenda and Rhonda specifically requested to receive their qualifications in front of the Yipirinya students, sharing their achievement with the children who inspire their daily work. Janine Turner graduated the following day at the Desert Peoples Centre (DPC) alongside other graduands.

The celebration began with a community barbeque lunch, organised by Yipirinya School. Principal Justin Colley opened the presentation ceremony, introducing the graduates and Batchelor staff. Senior Lecturer Dr Ailsa Purdon presented the qualifications to Brenda and Rhonda, while acknowledging Janine. Both graduates then addressed the gathering, emphasising the vital role of bilingual and bicultural education—a commitment rooted in the school's founding by Indigenous families in 1978 as an independent Aboriginal-controlled institution.

Rhonda Inkamala spoke passionately to the students: "We cannot forget that this school was built by our grandmothers and grandfathers to make sure that you would have the opportunity to learn both-ways." Brenda added, "Thank you to our families and all the other teachers who supported us. It is hard to study without that support."

Fellow graduate April Campbell travelled from Ti Tree to attend, recognising the mutual strength the group provided throughout their journey. FM Gibson, a former Warlpiri teacher and board member of the Warlpiri Education and Training Trust (WETT), also spoke in honour of the graduates' ongoing contributions. The students themselves presented flowers to their teachers, creating a heartfelt moment of community recognition. The festivities continued with a performance by Matthew Mulladad from the NewBoys band, turning the afternoon into a joyful gathering.

This was the first cohort to complete the Certificate IV, starting their studies in November 2023. Over nearly two years, they participated in regular workshops and study sessions, including sessions at Yipirinya School and a field trip to Ti Tree School. The event highlighted academic pathways for Yipirinya students, as Principal Colley noted in his address, inspiring the next generation to aspire to similar achievements.

Attendees from Batchelor included Angela Harrison and Dr Emma Browne from the Languages team and Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics (CALL), along with Education Support staff. Their presence underscored the Institute's commitment to community-led learning, where students, staff, and families form a supportive network.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to the Yipirinya community for hosting this meaningful event. Batchelor Institute remains dedicated to programs that empower Indigenous Australians to preserve and teach their languages, ensuring cultural continuity for future generations.

Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (RTO 0383) is Australia’s leading provider of tertiary education for Indigenous Australians, delivering Vocational Education and Training (VET) and higher education grounded in the “Both Ways” philosophy. With campuses on Kungarakan and Warai Country in Batchelor and Arrernte Country in Alice Springs, the Institute empowers students to achieve liberation through education.