³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾

7 September 2022

A new Vocational Education and Training (VET) program is developing skills and creating job opportunities for young people at Don Dale Youth Detention Centre (DDYDC).

The Certificate 1 in Agrifoods Operations provides young people with the skills they need to enter the agricultural, horticultural and conservation industries as well as key components needed for jobs in the construction industry.

Since the program began earlier this year, 13 young people had completed the course, three are enrolled and two had got jobs as a result of having the certificate.

The program is delivered by Aboriginal man Don along with Top End School of Flexible Learning (TESOFL) pathways coordinator Jess McIver operating out of DDYDC.

Don, who is a trainer and assessor with the Department of Education’s Registered Training Organisation, said the qualification had been well received.

“One of the boys who completed the course is now working as a landscaper in Darwin and the other has got a job in construction which is good to see,” Don said.

“The great thing about our program is that it is optional but we find the young people that put their hands up to do the course really enjoy it.”

Don said the young people have built a cultural garden, veggie garden and a yarning circle that is maintained as part of the program.

As part of the program the young people learn how to maintain the work place, work safely, support irrigation and gardening work and learn how to operate and maintain small machinery.

The young people have established their own vegetable garden where the grow sweet potatoes, basil, cucumber, tomatoes, bok choy, bananas, paw paws, sweet corn and other herbs and vegetables which are then used in their school cooking classes.

“I tell the young people doing the program that I will pass on the skills that I know but it is up to them how much they get out of it and they go into it knowing that it is hard work,” he said.

“The young people who enjoy it, really enjoy it and I often hear that they’d love to be spending all day in the garden”.

“They take a lot of pride in keeping the place well cared for.”

The Certificate I in Agrifood Operations Program is one of the VET certificates delivered to young people attending the TESOFL campus at DDYDC.

Pathways Coordinator at TESOFL Jess McIver said vocational education was more than just delivering a career pathway for young people.

“How we implement this program is more than just developing young people’s skills for work. The program also physically challenges young people and builds their social skills and confidence to relate with others in healthy way,” she said.

“We’ve offered programs that have led to careers in hairdressing, construction, ranger and environmental management and now with the help of the Agrifoods program we are starting to see new pathways open up for young people post detention.

“Don and the program are held in high regard by the young people and all the staff here.”

Acting superintendent at DDYDC Adam Neep said the VET program was extremely valued by staff and students alike.

“It gives the young people a bit of variety in their day and certainly you can tell when they’ve had a bit day in the garden with Don,” he said.

“VET is so invaluable in giving young people the tools they need to get a job and be active and positive members of the community upon their release.”

Don is a self-confessed “dinosaur” having spent more than 30 years delivering vocational programs across the Northern Territory and Darwin.

He got his start in gardening working for Bill Hunter at the Department of Defence nursery after Cyclone Tracey.