2017-2020 Strategic Plan

Vision

We are an Indigenous, ecumenical training college offering spiritually focused, transformational learning pathways for our communities.

Mission

To provide opportunities to people to be trained in Indigenous theology, and models of community development and suicide prevention. We will work with our multiple stakeholders to deliver contemporary, contextual community focused and quality training and academic courses. Our Mission Statement will adapt over time to reflect the changing need of our client base through spiritually focused transformational learning.

Goals

To provide high quality educational programs that respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, students and our church partners.

To do this we will:

1. Consult with communities and partners to ascertain their needs for training and development.
2. Review our programs considering this feedback.
3. Develop partnerships with appropriate VET and/or HE providers.
4. Consider the appropriate form of funding strategies to deliver the programs.
5. Continue to raise the College profile in both community and training sector.

We will know if we have achieved this if:

• Our communities and partners either know about the changes we implement and are engaged in our future models.
•  We offer a diverse mix of educational pathways, research capacity and appropriate course provision.
• Our past students indicate that their studies equipped them for the roles they now hold.
• We can collate information about how communities have been strengthened by our graduates.
• Our enrolments and retention rates improve beyond our annual benchmarks.

To provide an accessible and cooperative learning environment that is sensitive to cultural differences and ways of learning and communication.

To do this we will:

1. Implement course evaluation surveys to ascertain student views on the support, cultural and learning aspects of the program.
2. Follow up with students who fail or leave programs to understand the challenges they had.
3. Appoint where possible appropriately skilled indigenous staff.
4. Work with and adapt our teaching staff to implement teaching, communication and curriculum changes as indicated by findings.

We will know if we have achieved this if:

• Our completion rates improve.
• Our enrolments and retention rates improve.
• We see an improvement in our course evaluation feedback.
• Referrals to the college increase.
• Proportion of Indigenous staff increases.

To strive for effectiveness and efficiency in the organisation and delivery of services.

To do this we will:

1. Prepare a 5-year operational plan and develop a balanced budget to support this work, with consideration of our financial situation and funding strategies.
2. Review our student to staff ratio and course offerings and devise a model for sustainable delivery.
3. Ensure that our staffing portfolio and administrative systems are streamlined and fit for purpose for our current needs and ongoing plan.
4. Maximise the benefits of our volunteering model.

We will know if we have achieved this if:

• Our expenses do not exceed our income and we are also meeting our planning targets.
• Our staff have good work/life balance, appreciate their working environment, have appropriate professional development and not exhibiting work related stress.
• That it meets the Board expectations.