The ancient art of welding learned at Charles Darwin University (CDU) is helping to build the independent skills capacity of First Nations Jawoyn communities on country spread across 50,000 square kilometres of Northern Australia.
Technical skills in welding have important applications across this vast, remote tract of Jawoyn country, which extends north-west from Katherine to Pine Creek, south to Mataranka, and north-east to Bulman, including southern parts of Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land.
There, new knowledge and skills that First Nations men have drawn from welding training at CDU's Katherine Rural Campus is being put to work by the land's traditional owners in nine Jawoyn communities or clan groups.
These are the Barunga (Bamyili), Beswick (Wugularr), Jodetluk (Gorge Camp), Kalano, Kybrook, Manyallaluk (Eva Valley), Rockhole, Werenbun and Banatjarl (King Valley) communities, with a total population of 800 making up the traditional Jawoyn Nation.
Delivering the Welding Short Course, CDU Agriculture and Rural Operations Lecturer, Jonny McGannon said the expertise imparted to the First Nations men, who are all Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation employees, has wide-ranging benefits.
"The nationally-accredited welding training has helped to build the confidence, skills and workplace credentials of the Aboriginal men," Mr McGannon said.
"But the course benefits – technical knowledge and tangible skills - will also flow from the individual course participants to the wider community.
"The learned techniques for fusing metal together can be used in Jawoyn communities to advance existing industries and, potentially, foster new industries, providing alternative sources of income."
Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation Group Human Resources Manager Amy Murphy said the training has benefits for those participating and communities. These benefits range from learning on country and traditional land management to residential construction and professional development.
CDU course participant Samson Andrews plans to teach his new welding skills to First Nations students as part of the Learning on Country program, in partnership with Aboriginal ranger groups and 15 schools in remote communities, including two Jawoyn schools.
"It is this combination of curriculum and culture that will support remote Aboriginal students to walk strong in two worlds." Miss Murphy said.
"For instance, Samson will teach Jawoyn students how to construct metal cages for feral animal management through the Learning on Country program."
First Nations employees at Jawoyn Contracting will also apply their welding expertise to residential construction and maintenance in three communities, and rangers will use their new skills to construct and maintain fencing, gates, ramps, walkways and signs, she said.
The training saw the Jawoyn men put their welding skills to the test building a 'Purple Bench' in recognition of the movement that aims to break the cycle of domestic violence facing women.
The new bench for the University's Katherine campus was designed by CDU Rural Skills and Mechanics Lecturer Lee Hunt, who co-delivered the welding course with Mr McGannon.
