A partnership between multiple agencies recently delivered vocational education and training to the remote community of Galiwin'ku.

From February 24-28, Lana Collier, an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Vet Lecturer from Batchelor Institute, led the delivery of a unit from the Certificate III in ECEC – Provide Care for Babies and Toddlers – showcasing how collaboration can empower local learners on Country.

The initiative brought together Batchelor Institute, Shepherdson College, East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC), and the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training, alongside local childcare and Families as First Teachers (FaFT) settings.

The program, which began in 2022 as part of the Galiwin'ku Child Circle collaboration—a network of programs supporting children from conception to five—provided hands-on learning opportunities for a minimum of nine students, with community interest often attracting additional participants.

This group was the second cohort, following the first group of five who graduated with their Diploma in ECEC from Batchelor Institute.

"This was a fantastic example of agencies and community working together to make education accessible and relevant," Ms Collier said.

"Our students spent mornings in face-to-face training and afternoons in real childcare environments, interacting with babies and toddlers to meet the unit's assessment requirements—everything from changing nappies to encouraging gross motor skills like crawling and walking."

The delivery aligned with the training package's need for a working ECEC environment, offering students access to feeding, changing, sleeping, and play spaces. Local FaFT and childcare facilities played a pivotal role, hosting sessions to ensure students gained practical experience with "real live babies," a critical component of their certification.

Shepherdson College RATE Professional Learning Leader Llani Caffery Panuve said the work was "more than just a course—it's about building capacity in our community".

"The Adult Ed room and YM Library were ready, and we're excited to see our Cert III ladies, all of whom work in programs across the Galiwin'ku Child Circle network, take their skills to the next level," she said.