Industry Collaboration Award

Winner: Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and Northern Territory Correctional Services

In 2018, 250 prisoners from Alice Springs and Darwin correctional facilities graduated with nationally recognised certificates delivered in partnership by Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and Northern Territory Correctional Services. In the same year, 370 prisoners also completed licences such as white card, forklift, food safety, first aid and working at heights.

The partnership sees accredited and non‑accredited training delivered in correctional facilities. The integrated training model incorporates peer learning, where prisoners with trade backgrounds can complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to deliver the course and is underpinned by the ‘both‑ways’ philosophy where Aboriginal and western ways of learning are simultaneously applied.

The commitment to providing opportunities for prisoners to transform their lives through education and training is down to a shared vision to provide prisoners with foundational skills that align with external employment requirements. The model developed by Batchelor Institute and Northern Territory Correctional Services is one that is regarded as industry best practice, with correctional facilities in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria implementing similar models in recent years.

Runner up: Training Steps for Capability