First Peoples education support

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Graphic image representing First Peoples education and support at The Gordon TAFE

Tailored support to help you succeed

The Gordon is committed to helping First Peoples students achieve their full potential in education, training and employment.

  • The First Peoples Education Support team, located in the Kitjarra Centre, offer support, mentoring and connection to services and support including tutoring. Outreach activities and relationships with families and community are instrumental in the consistent rise in number of First Peoples students at the Institute.
  • Additional literacy, numeracy, digital literacy and wellbeing support is available at The Gordon. Students can contact any of the  wellbeing and support services directly or can speak with a Koorie Support Officer to arrange an  appointment.

For more information, please contact a Koorie Support Officer (Kaleb or Kiralee) or reach out directly to one of the wellbeing support services at The Gordon.

Kaleb Owen 

Phone: 0478268291      Email: kowen@gordontafe.edu.au

Kiralee Hogema  

Phone: 0422442727     Email: khogema@gordontafe.edu.au


Kitjarra wurrun-ngeen

Kitjarra wurrun-ngeen is a welcoming, safe space for all First Peoples students and community. You are welcome to drop in for a yarn, and use the kitchen and study facilities.

The First Peoples Education team are located at the Kitjarra Centre at both Geelong campuses. 

  • Kitjarra Wurrun-Ngeen Centre, Building A, Ground Floor, Fenwick Street gate, Geelong City Campus
  • Kitjarra Drop in Centre, Building A, Library, Geelong East Campus

Celebrating culture

Each year, the team at the Kitjarra Centre work alongside students to be actively involved in the design and delivery of activations for significant dates including National Reconciliation Week (NRW) and NAIDOC Week.

Where possible, work that has been created as part of these events is displayed throughout the year. This includes the collaborative ‘hands’ artwork that was created during a student-led event for National Reconciliation Week which is displayed at the City Campus Library.

Community resources

Wathaurong Co-operative: Family, community and health services and supports
Phone:          5277 0044
Email:           admin@wathaurong.org.au
 
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Corporation
Phone:          4308 0420
Email:           admin@wadawurrung.org.au
 
13YARN: 24/7 crisis support
Phone:          13 92 76
Email:           enquiries@13yarn.org.au          
 
Link up Victoria: Supporting the Stolen Generations and their families
Phone:          1800 687 662
Email:           linkup@vacca.org
 
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service: Support in Criminal Law, Family Law and Civil Law
Phone:          1800 064 865
Email:           vals@vals.org.au

Djirra:  Legal and non-legal support to Aboriginal people who are experiencing family violence.
Phone:          1800 105 303
Email:           info@djirra.org.au
 
Aboriginal Housing Victoria
Phone:          9403 2100
Email:           clientservices@ahvic.org.au
 
Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Phone:          5241 5700
Email:           reception@narana.com.au
 
 
Kinaway Chamber of Commerce
Phone:          9416 2304
Email:           info@kinaway.com.au
 
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
Phone:              9742 8300
 
Killara Geelong Indigenous Women's Hub, 83A Purnell, Bacchus Marsh Rd, Corio  3214
Phone:              0499 286 221

Financial support and scholarships

Reconciliation Action Plan

At The Gordon our vision is for a community where First Peoples participate equally and equitably in all aspects of life. We have clear actions within our Reconciliation Action Plan to help support this. Find out more about The Gordon's Reconciliation Action Plan.

Specialised training

In addition to all other courses offered at The Gordon, there are a number of initiatives designed specifically to upskill First Peoples students at The Gordon and across the community:


Listen to our students...