The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) honoured the accomplishments of 46 dedicated students at their Registered Training Organisation’s graduation ceremony.

VACCHO CEO Dr. Jill Gallagher AO, addressed the graduates at a touching ceremony at the Aborigines Advancement League in Thornbury, commending them for their hard work, dedication and resilience. 

“Each and every one of you will walk away with qualifications that will hopefully lead to a long, successful career in the Aboriginal health sector. You now have valuable knowledge that will position you to be future leaders in our Community,” she said. 

The Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles shared his congratulations with the graduates, with Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples Christine Couzens also applauding them.

VACCHO’s Registered Training Organisation is called ‘Yagilaith Djerring’ which is Woi-Worrung language for ‘learning from each other’. It is one of the largest Aboriginal Community Controlled Registered Training Organisations (ACC-RTOs) in Australia.    

Yagilaith Djerring was established 26 years ago for Community who wanted vocational education and training that was culturally safe and led by Aboriginal staff. 

VACCHO’s training programs address the required skills and knowledge needed by the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector by offering courses across Aboriginal Health, Business and Leadership and Social and Emotional Wellbeing. 

Dr Gallagher said she is so incredibly proud to see Yagilaith Djerring grow from strength-to-strength and helps to build a strong Aboriginal health and wellbeing workforce. 

“By increasing the number of Aboriginal people in Victoria’s health and wellbeing workforce, we move a step closer to achieving more equitable health and wellbeing outcomes for our Mob.” 

“Aboriginal culture, and Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing are vital to the path forward for Communities,” Dr Gallagher said.  

Today’s graduation highlights the importance of strong, community-led education. VACCHO is actively advocating for a dedicated ACC-RTO classification to ensure Aboriginal training organisations are properly resourced and adequately funded to create more opportunities for future graduates to thrive. 

VACCHO recently published a position statement advocating for an ACC-RTO classification which is also strongly supported by leading Aboriginal education across Australia including the Institute for Aboriginal Development, AbSec, Tiwi Training and Employment, Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Gallang Place and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd (VACSAL). 

For enrolments and more information, visit the VACCHO Education and Training page.