The NSW AECG’s Place of Learning program is a local Aboriginal community governed and led education program. Place of Learning programs are governed and designed by a Local Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) with support from Local Department of Education staff and the NSW AECG.
The NSW Department of Education currently supports the Place of Learning program through the provision of funding support and working in partnership with the NSW AECG.
The Place of Learning program has been made possible with funding support and partnership between the NSW AECG and the Paul Ramsay Foundation. See here for more information about the Paul Ramsay Foundation’s work in supporting Aboriginal led education initiatives.
Purpose of the Place of Learning program
The fundamental purpose of the NSW AECG’s Place of Learning program is to provide NSW Aboriginal communities with the opportunity to establish, and have their children attend and benefit from an education program governed by their Local CAPO and designed to suit the educational engagement needs of local Aboriginal kids.
Expansion of the Place of Learning program
The NSW AECG, along with Orange Local Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) and with the support of the NSW Department of Education (DoE), established the first Place of Learning program, Ngurang-gu Yalbilinya (NgY), at Lake Canobolas near Orange in late 2020.
After implementation began in Term 1, 2021, the NgY program has been highly successful in reengaging Aboriginal boys in education. For more information on the NgY program and its outcomes click here.
NSW AECG is currently working with the NSW Department of Education to collaboratively support the establishment of a minimum of 1 new Place of Learning program per year. Once negotiations and agreements are finalised between the NSW AECG and the NSW Department of Education on this matter, an Expression of Interest form and further details on how to establish a Place of Learning program will be shared across the NSW AECG’s Regional Networks and made available on this webpage.
The NSW AECG is working towards sustaining and expanding the Place of Learning program so that other communities in NSW can benefit from the opportunity of alternative education programs which are Aboriginal led and governed through their Local CAPO. We are currently working with the NSW Department of Education to support sustaining the NgY program and establishing an additional Place of Learning program to begin in 2024.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the Place of Learning program contact Joe Cavanagh, NSW AECG Program Manager on 0411 951 456 or joseph.cavanagh@aecg.nsw.edu.au