Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

We have a team of dedicated Aboriginal Support Officers to assist with: 

• cultural support 

• course enquiries, application, and enrolment assistance

• pastoral care and advocacy

• staff and student liaison

• referrals to internal and external support services

Study and Tutorial Assistance (STA) is a free service aimed at helping you to develop skills and prepare for assessments. You will be matched with a Support Assistant who can help with goal setting, effective study skills, assistance with interpretation of course content, time management and assessment planning. You are able to access three hours per week STA either in-class, one-on-one outside of class times on Campus, or online via Teams or Zoom.

To complement your learning drop-in STA sessions are also held at our four main campuses. You can request a semester calendar from your ASO.

For many students, entering a large training provider like SM TAFE can be daunting. We've aimed to create a welcoming space to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with a supportive environment that celebrates Aboriginal culture and maximises learning potential. Our two established Aboriginal Learning Centres are socially safe environments where students can feel physically, spiritually, and emotionally safe.

Koora Marr is located at our Thornlie Campus situated alongside the Djarlgarra Beeliar (Canning River).  Being home to both mammal and marine life, the Kwooyar (frog) can be seen on the banks of the waterway is the Centre’s adopted logo.

Kadadjiny Mia translates as ‘Knowledge House’ and is located at our Rockingham Campus. The building is wrapped in a mural painted by Jade Dolman Penangke and has many artefacts and pieces such as boomerangs, clapsticks and woomeras displayed in the building.

Students are welcome to use these facilities before, during and after classes. Both centres feature training and meeting spaces, access to computers, wi-fi and kitchen facilities. 

Centre opening hours are from 7.30am to 4.00pm. 

SM TAFE has an active Aboriginal Education, Employment and Training Committee (AEETC) that provides advice to the College on Aboriginal community, education and training needs. The current Chair of the Committee is Robert Taylor, CEO of WAITOC (Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council). 

National Reconciliation Week 2025

National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June), invites all Australians to learn, reflect, and take meaningful steps toward strengthening relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. During this week, South Metropolitan TAFE staff reflected on the theme "Bridging Now to Next,” highlighting the connections between past, present and future.

Various events were held across all campuses, and the week began with a deeply meaningful gathering at our Bentley campus, representing remembrance and healing. First Nations organisation, As One Nyitting, guided us through planting a banksia tree as a living symbol of strength and regeneration. We were honoured to be gifted the name Boola Boorn Boodja for this area, meaning Land of Many Trees.

NAIDOC Week 2025

NAIDOC Week recognises the history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, providing an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures. As NAIDOC Week is officially held from 6 - 13 July during a student and lecturer break, South Metropolitan TAFE acknowledges the week in October.  The theme for 2025 was "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.” 

We commemorated the week with an event held at our Bentley campus, on 28 October. Highlights included a Smoking Ceremony and a Welcome to Country, along with powerful stories from guest speakers Kayah Wills & Andrew Yarran. A presentation from First Nations organisation As One Nyitting involved a guitar and song performance from young members of the family, as a tribute to their Elders to honour their legacy. We continued to build on Boola Boorn Boodja, adding to the Reconciliation banksia tree at Bentley campus.