Education

Desert Knowledge CRC student update
The current complement of students supported by the Desert Knowledge CRC is as follows:

• 30 PhD Students.
  
• 3 Masters Student.
  
• 5 Honours Students.
• 5 Vacation Research Projects.
  
• 5 Australian Apprentices/Trainees.

Top: Participants in the 2008 DKCRC Student Forum, Alice Springs. Pictured are students, core project leaders and expert ‘coaches’ , selected to provide students with support and feedback. Bottom: A group discussion during the forum, held at the Desert Knowledge Precinct

At the DKCRC, learning new things and sharing what you already know is a key part of our business. The Education Program has been integral to all our research activities since the establishment of the DKCRC in 2003. Our work is about building the knowledge base on deserts through education, training and capacity exchange. By providing more reasons for people to live, study and work in the desert we will have more researchers on the ground, be able to solve more problems and discover new things. We have developed strong partnerships between educational institutions, Aboriginal organisations,

businesses and researchers in the desert—partnerships that are strong, flexible and mutually beneficial. The Education Program recognises the contribution that all learners can make to desert knowledge and actively supports students at a range of levels. We enter partnerships with organisations that have the skills and knowledge to work with everyone from school age to postdoctoral students, we produce education and training resources¹, and we undertake research that’s important to finding solutions to demand-driven education and training.²

Outcomes

• A cohort of students from DKCRC partner tertiary institutions across Australia who are excellent researchers with skills, knowledge and experience that can assist in providing desert solutions for the future.
• Skilled desert researchers and workers who are desirable employees for desert organisations.

Program Components

Time out to relax and compare the notes at the Student Forum’s visit to Titjikala, in February 2007. Left to right: Ms Annie Kennedy (PhD), Mr Harry Scott (CEO Titjikala Community), Mr Ken Clarke (PhD), Mr Jerry Chun-Ping Wang (PhD) and Mr Nick Webb (PhD).

• Postgraduate training caters for PhD, Masters and Honours students. By 2010 we expect to have 26 PhD graduates, six of whom are Aboriginal, three Masters and four Honours students. A curriculum of four postgraduate courses, to be offered through partner universities, is being developed.

Undergraduate training

• Undergraduate training includes our Vacation Research Program. In 2008 we have five VRP students, with the potential for more by 2010.

Vocational education and training

• Vocational education and training includes the Australian Government’s Australian Apprentices program. In 2008 we have supported five Australian Apprenticeships (three completed). Four of these apprenticeships were held by Aboriginal people.

Secondary education

• We work closely with schools, such as Centralian Senior Secondary College, and through science initiatives such as the Australian Government Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations’ Australian School Innovation in Science Technology and Mathematics project. ASISTM projects supported include School DustWatch³ and Linking Desert Knowledge with Pedagogy Research for Middle-School Curriculum.

Research

• The DKCRC assists in researching the education issues that are important to desert people.2 For example, we have a partnership with the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation through its Partnerships for Success Project in Port Augusta. This program helps to identify those elements that help to make Aboriginal students successful in their journey through secondary education.
• We support the Central Australian Education and Training Network, a 100-member-strong group of educational providers, Aboriginal organisations, businesses, and state, territory and federal government representatives.

Advisory

• We provide information to governments, educational institutions and businesses to help them to make better decisions about education and training services available to desert people.

Participants

Alicia Boyle is the project leader of the Education Program in the DKCRC.

The project’s participants are:

• Australian National University

• Charles Darwin University

• CSIRO

• Curtin University of Technology

• Desert Peoples Centre (Centre for Appropriate Technology and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education)

• Flinders University

• Murdoch University

• Northern Territory Government (Alice Springs Desert Park)

• Southern Cross University

• University of Adelaide

• University of Queensland

• University of South Australia

• University of Western Australia

• University of Wollongong

• Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation

<sub>Notes
1. For a full list go to www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/publications/educationreports.html
2. Young, M et al. 2007. Growing the desert: educational pathways for remote Indigenous peoples. National Centre for Vocational Education and Research, Adelaide, SA. See also: Guenther, J et al. 2007. Growing the desert: regional and educational profiles of the Australian desert and its Indigenous peoples. DKCRC Report 10, Desert Knowledge CRC, Alice Springs.
3. http://school.dustwatch.edu.au</sub>