Empowering communities: Supporting reconciliation through place-based education and employment pathways.
On this page:
Through the Remote Training Hubs Network, the department is working in partnership with First Nations peoples to improve access to Vocational Education and Training (VET) in remote Central Australia. This initiative responds directly to community-identified barriers to participation in training, including cultural obligations, caring responsibilities, and the inability to travel long distances.
In 2024, as part of the Government’s A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia plan, $30.2 million was committed over five years to establish up to seven Remote Training Hubs across Central Australia. These Hubs are being developed in partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Northern Territory Government, and First Nations peoples. Locations include Yuendumu, Ntaria (Hermannsburg), Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa), Atitjere (Harts Range), Papunya, Ti Tree, and Mutitjulu.
To further enhance the reach and flexibility of On-Country learning, the department awarded a $3& million grant to Desert Peoples Centre Inc. (DPC) to deliver four custom-built Mobile Training Units (MTUs). These MTUs are designed to deliver industry-standard training in carpentry, conservation and ecosystem management, hospitality (cookery), and resource and infrastructure — directly within remote communities
The Remote Training Hubs Network supports the department’s reconciliation efforts by embedding First Nations voices in the design and delivery of training solutions. It also aligns with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, particularly in relation to Priority Reform 1 (Formal Partnerships and Shared Decision Making) and socio-economic outcome areas such as education, employment, and economic participation.
By enabling access to culturally responsive, place-based training, the Hubs and MTUs foster local capacity, strengthen community ties, and create pathways to meaningful employment. This initiative reflects the department’s commitment to co-design, equity, and long-term investment in First Nations-led solutions.