16 January, 2024

The head of the region’s Aboriginal Land Council has backed a move by TAFE NSW National Environment Centre (NEC) to arm locals with the skills to tap into the booming conservation industry.

From next year, TAFE NSW will offer a Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management at its Thurgoona campus, allowing locals to learn hands-on skills for future jobs in bush regeneration and biodiversity.

It comes during a massive surge in “green” jobs nationally, with the number of positions jumping by 38.5 per cent over the last seven years, according to the Global Green Skills report.

Meanwhile, major projects underway in the Border region, including the Inland Rail and Murray Darling Basin Plan, are adding to the jobs demand for bush regenerators and biodiversity officers.

A move by the Federal Government to hand over the management of vast tracts of land to Aboriginal Land Councils is also driving demand for more conservation skills.

The CEO of Albury and District Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), Dennis Mirosevich, commended TAFE NSW for helping Border locals engage with conservation.

“The Albury and District LALC supports and endorses the Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management at TAFE NSW National Environment Centre in 2024,” Mr Mirosevich said.

“We look forward to supporting TAFE NSW and helping expose the next generation to these skills for local year 11 and 12 Aboriginal students into a conservation career.”

He said the organisation had recently developed its Community and Land Business Plan, which included an Indigenous Ranger Program to help manage local Aboriginal lands.

The course will see students attend TAFE NSW NEC and learn practical conservation skills on the campus’s 180 hectare working farm.

TAFE NSW NEC head teacher of agroecology, Jacqui Vyner, said students would also attend other community project sites.

“The current generation are more environmentally conscious than the previous generations and there is so much demand for bush regenerators, biodiversity officers and park rangers,” Ms Vyner said.

“This is a unique opportunity for locals to get the in-demand skills and real-world work experience to start their journey in conservation.”

She said units in the course included maintaining wildlife habitats, identifying plants and land forms, planting trees and shrubs, and environmentally sustainable work practices.

Media contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, mobile 0477 722 428