Teachers in the Victorian city of Wyndham are being offered the opportunity to work in the Pilbara in remote Indigenous communities during the school holidays.
The skills exchange, pioneered by One Tree Community Services, is inviting educators who work for Wyndham City to take up short term roles in remote child care services.
One Tree Community Services’ operations manager for Victoria, Claire McManus, said the paid opportunity gives people valuable experience to work among Indigenous communities.
“We are always looking for staff who can offer enthusiasm and fresh skills to our rural and remote services,” McManus said.
“We serve a large Indigenous community and Wyndham has one of the highest Indigenous populations in Victoria which is growing year on year.”
McManus said the opportunities are mutually beneficial as they give educators a better understanding of the wants and needs of an Indigenous community and use the skills learned in their own settings.
“This year alone, two educators have spent time at Wickham Children’s Service in the Pilbara.
Earlier this year members from the Wyndham Aboriginal community spent time in Roebourne meeting the team from One Tree. As part of their fact-finding mission, they also met traditional owners of the land, the Ngarluma and Noongar elders.
One of the educators was Kristine Willems, who arrives in Pilbara on Monday.
“I have been an educator for thirty years and currently work at College Road Kindergarten in Wyndham,” Willems said.
“Experiencing life outside of Victoria is about expanding my horizons, experiencing a different side of life and caring for children in a completely different environment.”