In a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cultural expression, nine students from Batchelor Institute's Certificate I (CUA10320) and II (CUA20720) in Visual Arts program have made a lasting impression at the NT Training Awards. Nominated by the Department of Education, these talented artists were commissioned to produce 500 screen-printed placemats, turning a hands-on project into a showcase of Indigenous innovation and skill-building.

Held over nine intensive days in July at the Batchelor campus on Kungarakan and Warai Country, the project brought together students from diverse backgrounds—ranging from seasoned screen printers to complete beginners. Together, they designed and produced 19 original artworks inspired by the local flora and fauna of the Northern Territory, featuring motifs like birds, shells, eagles, flowers, and leaves. This initiative not only honed their technical abilities but also simulated a real-world creative enterprise, emphasising teamwork, peer feedback, and efficient production systems.

"The students had the opportunity to develop their artwork to turn them into screen prints onto fabric—for some, this had been something they had wanted to do for some time," the project highlighted. "It was a good opportunity for Batchelor to showcase what we do here to the wider community and to share their stories of their artwork with a wider audience."

Laura Callaghan, Batchelor Institute's Visual Arts lecturer, reflected on the transformative experience: "It was definitely a worthwhile project, like their screen printing skills really improved because the more you do something, obviously the better you get at something. So they learned the screen printing techniques definitely kind of like picked up and then they kind of shared that knowledge between them, so it was really good project in that sense."

The culmination of their efforts came at the NT Training Awards Gala Dinner on Saturday, 13 September, at the Darwin Convention Centre. The nine students were invited as special guests, where their beautifully crafted placemats adorned the tables as keepsakes for attendees. The evening was filled with entertainment, speeches, fine dining, and dancing, but for the students, it was a profound moment to celebrate their achievements and present their work in a professional setting.

This project aligns perfectly with Batchelor Institute's "Both Ways" philosophy, which integrates Indigenous knowledge with contemporary skills to empower students and communities. As a direct result, two communities—Nhulunbuy and Millingimbi—have expressed keen interest in hosting similar workshops next month, highlighting the growing recognition of our Visual Arts program and its role in fostering community-based creative development.

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 cultural strength and self-determination. With campuses on Kungarakan and Warai Country in Batchelor, Arrernte Country in Alice Springs, and Larrakia Country in Darwin, we continue to support students in achieving liberation through education.

Interested in our Visual Arts programs or other courses? Explore more at batchelor.edu.au or contact us to learn how you can get involved.