Sharing Stories across
Hemispheres
Fiona Knowles – Swinburne University
The history

September 2008 - Helsinki

International Partnership Conference

Two different presentations

Identification of similarities

Stayed in touch

Visited Canada

Program is born
Swinburne University

Registered Training Organisation

Swinburne is one of a few
Australian universities whose
responsibilities span the range of
programs from
apprenticeships/traineeships to
PhDs

Is dedicated to working with
industry

Flexible, realistic training
Sunchild E-Learning

Sunchild E-Learning offers First Nations a flexible and
cost-effective solution for delivering educational content
to students.

The Sunchild model has a proven track record in the
Aboriginal learning community since the program started
in 2000.

Sunchild E-Learning offers grade 7 – 12 education and
post secondary courses.

Accredited with Alberta Learning.
Students

Trainees:

Employed part or full time (Australian partners
include AFL Sportsready)

Opportunity to participate in a cross cultural
subject

Gain credits to their TAFE course

Gives the opportunity to share their heritage
and culture
Aims

Create an opportunity for students
of Swinburne and Sunchild ELearning to share their heritage and
culture with each other via online
social networking

Allows for the observation of
similarities and differences to be
identified unifying first nation
peoples

Gain experience and confidence in
talking openly about culture through
using online resources
The International Partnership
Sunchild E-Learning and Swinburne working
together
 The program was developed together
 The program was kept small
 Good communication – regular updates on
how things are working, problems,
strategies to overcome them
 Annual reviews
 Regular planning sessions

Risks and Challenges for Program

Technology is not always reliable

Time difference between the countries

Australian Indigenous and Canadian First Nation
students do not always have access to computers

Getting students to turn up to campus to access
technology (some travel for over 300kms)

Student interaction time frame
What is the project

a customised cultural accredited unit

students get matched to the unit

introduction to using Skype and online networking
media

Students are given opportunity to complete a culture
subject integrated into their workplace training

Contribute to addressing whole-of-life barriers
Trainees
Indigenous students from Australia and First
Nation students from Canada have shared
their cultural stories and experiences.
Trainees are able to speak and see one
another via Skype.
Success of Partnership Program

This project has been successful, trainees have
embraced the opportunity

Gained confidence in openly talking about their culture

Trainee feedback has been positive

Trainees have been able to identify the similarities and
differences in their Indigenous cultures

Expansion of program to all Swinburne Indigenous
Students

Trainers love participating
Outcomes

Hope to extend the program to other training
opportunities

Continue to grow the partnership to become viable for
all parties
QUESTIONS??????