Community and Professional Multi-skilling

Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples is currently working in partnership with government departments, agencies and community organisations to create multiple accredited pathways of Community and Professional Multi-skilling for Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers providing services to Indigenous peoples.

Through the multi-skilling program the College will develop and deliver a variety of community based educational training packages on a fee for service basis to meet critical needs within Indigenous communities in the region. Each package in the program will have accreditation which will enable graduates to receive credits for further tertiary studies if desired.

What is Multi-skilling?

Multi-skilling refers to community capacity building in the delivery of multiple skills training designed to meet diverse needs at an Indigenous community level. Staff working to support community capacity building need diverse and multiple skills. Community capacity building is the present 'jargon' that drives much policy development and program delivery. At present a need to develop and deepen skills for critical crisis intervention exists within the majority of Aboriginal communities across Australia, and in working to repair Country that has been damaged. Environmental repair is a large industry within the non-Indigenous sector. Service providers, whether they be government employed workers or community workers require multiple skills to deal with complex issues of social, family and community distress and environmental damage.

Because it is not possible to separate the personal - professional - political - many workers need personal healing as well as professional skills while at the same time having a capacity for political analysis so they can determine whether they are 'part of the solution or part of the problem'.

The multi-skilling unit will provide, on a fee for service basis, and buy in when necessary, relevant skills enhancement programs for Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers in the region, which are accredited and which will community capacity build in their delivery.

The multi-skilling approach provides pathways between community educational opportunities, TAFE, university undergraduate, and postgraduate programs, into research and development activities for local Indigenous and non-Indigenous futures.

Gnibi also offer a range of intensive professional development courses for public and private sector employees working with Indigenous people. Courses range from one year diploma level qualifications through to Masters and Doctoral level studies.

Updated: 09 February 2012