Wodonga TAFE Cookery and Patisserie teacher Sarah Whitling was a finalist in the Teacher/Trainer category of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) 2017 Wurreker Awards.

Ms Whitling has worked closely with the Border Koorie community and Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation to design and implement an innovative Back to Work program.

The program offers participants an accredited qualification in hospitality with core skills for work, industry awareness activities and the opportunity to run a social enterprise with Border employers.

The annual Wurreker Awards were judged on Thursday.

Wodonga TAFE’s chief executive Mark Dixon said Wodonga TAFE was dedicated to engaging in partnerships and developing learning pathways for Koorie students that led to jobs. 

“Our close engagement with Aboriginal people and organisations together with the guidance they offer to us has positioned our Institute as a recognised culturally-appropriate education provider,” he said.

“This is incredibly important to us and something that we will continue to invest in.”