Wodonga TAFE and Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service build connections with creativity
Monday, 11 July 2022
As part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, student participants from Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service (AWAHS) celebrated their creativity at Wodonga TAFE, with exhibitions of their work on display.
Photography students from AWAHS presented their works in a final exhibition in The Eddie Kneebone Gallery, and AWAHS students who completed training in the Salon Assistant program also celebrated their achievements.
The photography exhibition showcases the works of participants in the ‘Mubal and Bali Photography Program’, a creative partnership between Wodonga TAFE’s Creative Industries department and AWAHS. This project brought mothers and babies from AWAHS together to learn skills in digital photography and editing whilst also capturing images of other bubs and mum models.
Classes were held at locations on Country throughout our region including Wonga Wetlands and the Burraja Indigenous Cultural and Environmental Discovery Centre, as well as the photography studio at Wodonga TAFE.
Through their involvement in the program, participants came together to continue the tradition of sharing stories, and created images to be shared with their families and broader community. Photos taken include many in traditional clothing and body and face painting. Participants will also gain a certificate of attainment for the accredited Design and Visual Arts units completed.
Photography teacher, Tania Martini, said it was wonderful to be involved in the program, and to see participants grow in confidence as they developed their skills in photography and image editing. “It has been a very positive and rewarding partnership for all involved,” said Tania. “It is always exciting to see students develop their skills, from the first class learning about the cameras, to then coming on campus at Wodonga TAFE and being in the photography studio. The students have created some amazing images to share as part of their Exhibition.”
The Salon Assistant program also showcased students’ creativity as they learned to style both short and long hair whilst also being introduced to the art of haircutting. These skills were easily transferred into students’ everyday lives, inspiring most to continue their passion for hairdressing and enrol into the full Certificate II in Salon Assistant qualification commencing in Semester 2.
Hairdressing teacher, Zoe Wilde, said “The student’s skills are of a really high standard. It is so inspiring to see them want to continue on into the hairdressing industry.”
The Mubal & Bali Photographic Exhibition is open to the public, 9am-4pm Monday to Friday 11-15 July 2022, at The Eddie Kneebone Gallery, Wodonga TAFE, 87 McKoy Street, Wodonga.