Students in Central Australia will once again be donning Batchelor Institute’s unique yellow gowns for graduation day on Friday 15th September, in what constitutes the largest graduating class in Alice Springs on record for Australia’s only dual sector Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education provider.
254 graduates will be awarded 348 qualifications, across several industries, with many students taking their new capabilities back to their communities. This year’s graduating cohort come from a range of areas in and around Central Australia, with the top four spots being 172 from Alice Springs, 38 from Santa Teresa, 27 from Ntaria and 18 from Papunya.
The 348 awards conferred this year is an increase from 144 in 2016 and includes awards in Vocational Pathways, Conservation and Land Management, Construction, Food Processing, Visual Arts and Community Services, among others.
Four students will also receive a Diploma of Education Support and one student will receive a Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice.
Twelve students from across the country will be obtaining certificates of completion for the Preparation for Tertiary Success course, which has prepared them for entry into university and built their confidence in pursuing higher education.
Batchelor Institute Interim CEO Mr Kim Jenkinson commended the personal commitment of students in achieving their educational goals.
“Each of them should be justly proud. I encourage every student to take a moment to reflect on how they have been able to overcome numerous challenges to achieve what they have and how they can support others to do the same.
“Our students follow in the footsteps of more than 40 years of graduates from the Institute who have gone on to create a legacy we are proud of. This is the beginning of an exciting chapter for our students as they use their hard earned qualification in the outside world.”
The ceremony will be held at the Desert Peoples Centre at 2pm.