High school students are getting a head start in the tourism industry through an Aboriginal language and culture course that links education, culture and career opportunities. 

The NSW Department of Education’s Aboriginal Language Pathways Program: Certificate I in Tourism (Aboriginal Indigenous Culture) helps students explore career pathways in the visitor economy while building leadership skills and strengthening cultural knowledge.

The vocational and educational training (VET) course gives students the opportunity to learn about local Aboriginal language and culture and to engage with local tourism knowledge through On-Country experiences guided by Elders and knowledge holders.

The program also supports the revitalisation and sustainability of Aboriginal languages, with local community members playing a key role in developing course materials to ensure cultural integrity and authenticity.

The NSW Department of Education delivers Aboriginal language programs in public schools across the state enabling Aboriginal communities to preserve, teach and use their local languages. Learning an Aboriginal language offers Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students a deeper understanding of local culture and helps build identity, self-esteem and resilience among Aboriginal students.

In 2023, students from Nambucca Heads High School successfully completed a Certificate I in Tourism (Aboriginal Indigenous Culture), with a focus on Gumbaynggirr Country, between the Nambucca and Clarence rivers.

Aboriginal Education Officer Felicia Jarrett, who helped deliver the program, said the school was proud to trial such an important course.

“Maintaining Aboriginal cultures is essential to our society’s identity, and having young people engage directly with Elders and those with deep knowledge of the local culture is a great way to secure the future of these cultures and to create a new generation of people able to share the knowledge through tourism,” she said.

Learn more about the pilot program in the video below.

Find out more about the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to increasing the learning and teaching of Aboriginal languages in NSW public schools here. 

For further information, email the NSW Department of Education’s, Aboriginal Education and Communities Directorate, Languages, Culture and Communities team at AboriginalLanguagesandCulturesCorro@det.nsw.edu.au

Aboriginal tourism drives visitor economy growth

The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 identifies Aboriginal tourism as a key experience category driving growth across both regional and metropolitan areas.

Aboriginal tourism offers visitors a profound connection to the world’s oldest continuous culture, enriching the NSW visitor experience through storytelling, traditional practices and immersive encounters. 

By sharing their deep relationships with land, waters and skies, Aboriginal communities bring an unmatched cultural depth to NSW, inviting visitors to engage with living history.

Storytelling lies at the heart of Aboriginal culture, passing down knowledge across generations. Visitors can experience this heritage with Dreamtime narratives, guided cultural walks, art workshops, performances and Smoking Ceremonies that offer insight into renewal and connection to Country. 

Dawn experiences, including sunrise tours and Smoking Ceremonies, deepen visitors’ understanding of Aboriginal perspectives on nature, renewal and custodianship of Country.

Building talent and capability within the Aboriginal tourism sector will ensure it can meet current and future demand, creating sustainable career pathways and further contributing to visitor economy growth.

Learn more about the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 here.