THIRTY Negrenses are the country’s pioneer-graduates of the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) Program, a joint initiative of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and the Northern Territory Australia.
Of the total graduates, 11 completed the TAE Assessors Skill Set training. They are composed of deans, directors, and heads of various colleges and academic institutions in the province.
Three of them also finished the Certificate II in Business course. While, the other 19 graduates, who are all nurses, graduated the Certificate III in Individual Support.
The Australian VET Program is part of the five-year partnership forged by the province with the Department of Education (DepEd) of the Northern Territory Australia.
Philippine Consul General of Northern Territory Australia Januario Rivas, who spoke at the graduation rites held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City Tuesday, October 9, said the best way to do the linkage between Negros Occidental and Northern Territory is through people to people and region to region approach.
Growing up in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, he said they would like to start the program in the region where he is so familiar with. “It is actually returning back to the hometown, to the home province, and try out the opportunities that we could share with the Philippines.”
Rivas said the advocacy that they are trying to do is education and training as one way of empowering anyone else is education.
“We believe that education is wealth. There are jobs but might not be gratifying financially so that kind of training is meant to provide Negrenses or anyone else a pathway to Australia,” he added.
Under the program implemented in the province starting this year, the training for Certificate III in Individual Support lasted for three to five months. Those for Certificate II in Business and TAE Assessors Skill Set completed the training for at least 10 months.
The combination of face to face and online trainings were conducted at the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) in Bacolod City.
After finishing the training, graduates of the Certificate III in Individual Support will then get a certificate for healthcare in Australian context.
They learned the certificate (course) in the Philippine context in a simulated classroom. When they go to Australia, they will have their industry placement equivalent to the Philippines' on-the-job training.
The TAE Assessors Skill Set graduates, on the other hand, are now qualified assessors of Australia in the trade and skills that Filipinos or Negrenses have, Rivas said.
Rivas said all of these graduates have the potential to be in Australia if they want to apply and follow the migration pathways.
“They are making themselves more saleable for employment and migration,” he said, adding that they are looking at more collaboration works with the province and even expand the program to other provinces in the country.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who was also present at the activity, thanked the Provincial Government’s partners in implementing the program that was able to produce “ambassadors of goodwill” of Negros Occidental to Australia.
As the first batch of graduates, Marañon urged them to be a good example so that many will follow their footsteps.
“Despite the challenges, we are trying to cooperate and work in sustaining this program,” he said, adding that “your provincial government is working hard to make our province a progressive one thus, we try to get assistance from foreign countries like Northern Territory Australia.”
This is the start of a long-lasting friendship and cooperation with the Northern Territory Australia, the governor noted.
Representatives of other partners like the GTNT and Australian Skills Institute and Angels Care Pty. Ltd. present at the graduation rites extended their congratulations to the graduates and gratitude to the government of Negros Occidental and Northern Territory.
“Congratulations to each and every one who passionately believe that through education we can change the world,” GTNT and Australian Skills Institute chief executive officer Kathryn Stenson said, adding that “our mission is not just education for learning experience, but also for employability.”
NOLITC Vocational School administrator Ma. Cristina Orbecido, who is one of the graduates of TAE Assessors Skill Set and Certificate II in Business, said the program serves as a foundation for future courses at the province-run center.
Orbecido said they aim to really improve the courses in the NOLITC through one, aligning it with the international standards.
“The governor wants us to offer international standards among the courses so we will not compete with the local markets,” she said, adding that it will be rolled out in the province starting next year.