Academy IT: Empowering First Nations learners through flexible training
South Australian based training provider Academy IT is having great success engaging First Nations learners with innovative modular and flexible delivery methods.
As part of a pilot program delivered face-to-face in Fremantle, Western Australia, Academy IT offered the ICTSS00107 Helpdesk Skillset to a cohort of First Nations learners, aiming to ready learners for traineeships.
First Nations peoples represent less than 1 per cent of tech workers and enrolments and completions in VET technology programs for First Nations learners have been declining since 2015.
Academy IT CEO Michael Williams explains learners in the pilot’s cohort had faced challenges, including limited access to culturally appropriate education and training, health problems and family pressures.
In response, Michael says training was offered with a flexible schedule over four weeks, incorporating culturally-inclusive teaching methods such as yarning (storytelling), role playing and hands-on activities.
Michael says the skill set allowed the learners to gain foundational IT and customer service skills, as well as a tangible pathway to employment.
"We felt that using the ICTSS00107 Helpdesk Skillset was a great starting point for the learner to gain some employability skills in general, but certainly to give them a taste of what it can be like in a customer service type role.”
Academy IT students celebrate completing the ICTSS00107 Helpdesk Skillset with CEO Michael Williams in Fremantle.
The skill set is fully incorporated into Academy IT’s Certificate III in IT, providing a pathway for learners to further study and Michael noted it’s also an entry-point for working in tech.
Michael says offering a modular approach, with just four units, rather than a full qualification, contributed to the program’s success including a 90% completion rate and several learners finding employment.
"This is something we're proud of - that we could engage the students, keep them excited and interested enough to continue on and learn and keep learning."
Despite the program's success, Michael says challenges remain, including finding employers to offer traineeships and addressing funding gaps.
Academy IT’s results underscore the potential for modular and flexible delivery to empower First Nations peoples to pursue IT careers.
This case study appears in our Towards Effective ICT Training Needs and Gap Analysis report, which explores challenges and opportunities to strengthen ICT Training in Australia's VET system. This includes recommendations to develop modular and stackable training.