Published on Thursday, 12 September 2024 at 10:48:06 AM
Picture: Nicola Yalden accepting her PKUC graduation certificate with Curtin University's Kelly Nowak, Photo Credit Flying Fox Media
On Friday 6 September, the Pilbara Kimberley University Centres (PKUC) held a special celebration at the Red Earth Arts Precinct to recognise 50 regional students who have completed their qualifications in 2024.
Collectively, the students have studied at six different education institutions, completing courses ranging from Certificate IVs, and enabling programs to gain entry to university, to bachelor’s degrees, and postgraduate certificates, diplomas and master’s degrees.
Indigenous graduates who completed a Certificate IV in Leadership and Mentoring were part of a pilot program that was co-designed and developed by the PKUC and Trainwest, for the locally contextualised delivery of the Cert IV course to Indigenous employees of Rio Tinto and the broader community in the Pilbara.
Previously, this course had only been available to employees and community members who could undertake travel to Perth, and these Cert IV graduates were among the first to attend face-to-face training locally at the Karratha PKUC Study Hub.
Around half the graduates are employees in local Pilbara industries, having completed courses to upskill in project management, asset maintenance and management, and rail infrastructure engineering.
For these students, study has provided context and understanding in their current work roles, enabled them to leverage new knowledge to excel in work tasks, and has been a motivator for career development.
With newly qualified nurses, teachers, and social workers, the 2024 graduates and are now fulfilling much needed roles as health professionals, educators and industry specialists in the Pilbara.
The PKUC’s Dux was awarded to Melissa Cotterell, who completed a Master of Social Work, and was the highest academic achiever in the 2024 cohort. Tracey Blanket was the recipient of the PKUC’s Community Spirit Award for her outstanding support of fellow students while completing the Certificate IV in Leadership and Mentoring.
PKUC now has 499 students supported across five study hubs in Karratha, Port Hedland, Tom Price, Onslow and Broome.
In addition to supporting tertiary education, PKUC delivers a Santos sponsored STEM in SPORT Science Research Project involving local high school students and athletes, and supports migrants through the Chevron Community English Program.
Susan Grylls, PKUC CEO, said, “We are partnering with universities, RTOs, and local industry stakeholders to deliver courses which will upskill existing workforces and address regional skills shortages. PKUC’s commitment to the equity of access to education in the regions is critical to ensuring remoteness does not equal disadvantage.”
A huge thank you Rio Tinto for sponsoring the evening and to all our scholarship sponsors for their generous support; Red Hawk Mining; Hon. Melissa Price, Member for Durack; Woodside Energy and Joint Venture Partners; Nickol Bay Fertiliser Co Pty Ltd; Yaandina Community Services; Karratha Eyecare; BCI Minerals; Broome International Airport; Mirnuthantu Maya and The City of Karratha.
Back to All News