A new Northern Territory shire is boosting learning capacity using an innovative truck-delivered mobile active learning classroom (MALU).
A group of 30 Indigenous men and women from Engawala, 70 kilometres north of Alice Springs, is completing the introductory vocational education course (IVEC) using the facilities of CDU’s mobile classroom.
The newly formed Central Desert Shire Council and Charles Darwin University quickly developed a relationship leading to multiple learning programs across traditional trades.
CDU’s three MALUs are deployed across the Territory teaching a wide range of traditional trades and pathway courses developed in consultation with the local community.
The Engawala community is part of the shire and a strong advocate of education. Three CDU IVEC students are intending to complete further studies in training and assessment so they can teach other community members.
CDU Alice Springs campus administrator David Reilly has just returned from Engawala and said the students were keen to take up positions in the new shire.
“Local people can see the opportunities to shape future decisions at the shire and this is motivating them to access new skills through CDU,” he said.
The new program sees many of the men take active roles in the community administration building and store while they study.
“It’s important for them to see the link between what they’re learning and how it is applied in their workplace,” he said.
CDU operates three MALU units across the Territory and is set to expand the successful training approach with more units announced soon.