New GEGAC Academy Trainees, Zac Stewart and Peter Harrison. Photo by Troy Brown/GEGAC
Since 2018, GEGAC’s Academy Traineeship program has provided work experience, professional training and life skills for 18 young Aboriginal people from our community.
We are excited to continue to grow that number, providing Academy Traineeships for another 3 young local Aboriginal people in 2024/25.
This year’s Academy cohort includes Community Engagement Trainee Zac Stewart, and Men’s Aboriginal Health Worker Trainee Peter Harrison, who began their traineeships last month.
Kaiela Rodgers is also doing an Academy Traineeship this year.
As a Community Engagement Trainee Zac will be reaching to community, especially young people, listening to what the needs and opportunities are, and planning activities for youth and community to engage with GEGAC services.
Peter’s role will see him working with our Aboriginal Health Team, encouraging and supporting the increased use of health services by local mob.
Both Peter and Zac will also undertake formal studies as part of their Academy Traineeship.
In 2022/23, seven Aboriginal staff continued or completed formal qualifications with the support of GEGAC, and that number continues to grow.
GEGAC’s sustained investment in the education and career training of young Aboriginal people in this community continues to get attention beyond East Gippsland, as a finalist and winner of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association’s Wurreker Awards several times in the past few years.
GEGAC CEO Kenton Winsley said the Academy program, and broader efforts to provide Aboriginal staff with ongoing education, training and leadership opportunities, was critically important to so many aspects of GEGAC’s present and future.
“We will continue to create more opportunities for Aboriginal people – especially young Aboriginal people – to find education and careers that inspire them here at GEGAC, and to progress in those careers into leadership positions,” he said.
“Our goal is that these young leaders of tomorrow should have careers that inspire them, to do great, important work that contributes to this community. We must find more ways to keep our talented, knowledgeable, hardworking Aboriginal people in roles that support their community, and that are valuable to them and their mob.”
“At GEGAC, we are proud of the investments we have made in expanding education and career opportunities for community, and grateful to have such excellent local people to invest in.”
Stay tuned for more stories about our Academy Trainees in the weeks ahead.