Katherine Campus report 

 
 

With approaching wet season weather, Katherine Campus remote field lecturers have been working hard in remote communities before any heavy rains cut access.

The Campus welcomed Gavin Clark who joined the team from Darwin. Gavin will assist Terry Radford, Leanne McGill, Neil Williams and Christine Butler in servicing remote clients.

The Darwin Symphony Orchestra performed in Katherine last week. Guests, including staff and students from CDU’s Katherine Campus, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, and the Department of Corporate Information Services, attended the performance held at Katherine High School.

The Katherine office is also negotiating with the high school to deliver the Certificate III in Children’s Services and Certificate II in Sport and Recreation. The school is eager to offer more vocational subjects to students in 2007.

Presentations were held for students of the high school participating in CDU VTE programs. These included certificates in introduction to vocational education and certificates I and II in rural operations.

A number of students successfully graduated with a certificate, and others received their Statements of Attainment highlighting their achievements in individual units.

Campus administrator Vicki Williams and Director Science and Primary Industry for the Katherine Region Brian Heim presented the certificates. Brian said their efforts were admirable and spoke of further educational opportunities for them.

Both the Katherine Campus and Town Centre have received a number of visitors recently either in the delivery of staff development, introducing new staff or identifying opportunities for programs to be delivered.

William Kelly from the Australian Migrant English Program visited in October to review the current program, offer staff support and assess staffing for the program. The current lecturer, Raina Emerson will take maternity leave in the New Year.

The program is offered by CDU to new migrants in Katherine.

Head of VTE Aaron Devine, Director of Remote Co-ordination Paul Fitzsimons and regional marketing/PR communications officer Jason McIntosh visited Katherine early November. They met with staff at the Katherine Campus, Town Office, and CDU’s Mataranka Station.

Co-ordinator of Community Engagement, Linda Cuttriss provided an introductory presentation early November at the Katherine Campus and Town Centre. Her session was well received and invoked much discussion about individual involvement in community engagement to the wider Katherine community.

Finally, four students were recognised for their academic achievements at a scholarship presentation late November. All were enrolled in Certificate III in Agriculture (Beef Production) and were praised for their achievements by Annette Gillanders, Managing Director of BiZnorth Pty Ltd.

Visit the Katherine Campus website.