Yesterday we were honoured to host many distinguished guests at the official re-opening of our Blacktown Campus, as well as celebrating 70 years of continuous operations since our origins as the Eastwood Evening College.
Auntie Julie Jones, a proud Dharug woman, started the event with a warm Welcome to Country, beautifully delivered in language. Her people have been in the Blacktown community for over 65,000 years.
“Community is really important. These colleges do such an enormous job for an enormously, sometimes disadvantaged, range of people. I know a lot of my people have been through community colleges and community is the hub of everything…On behalf of the Dharug people, welcome here to Blacktown”.
Mayor of Blacktown, Councillor Tony Bleasdale, remarked upon the strong growth and great diversity within the Blacktown community, noting that Macquarie Community College, with its long history in the area and relationships built through serving the community, was a very welcome return to Main Street.
Mr Stephen Bali MP, Member for Blacktown, echoed Auntie Julie’s remarks on the importance of community, and their role in educating and passing on knowledge to the next generation. He thanked Macquarie Community College’s Board of Directors for having the vision to return to the heart of Western Sydney and helping some of the most vulnerable in society.
Mr Bali was greatly encouraged by the opportunities and pathways to education that are being offered. “How do we engage people and help the ones who have fallen through the cracks and think that the world is against them? What Macquarie Community College does is, with the wonderful teachers and support staff in the college, gives that opportunity to say ‘yes you can do it’….”.
Macquarie Community College has been well known in the Blacktown and Mt Druitt area for the last 20 years. We have been able to establish a great reputation and loyal following for the provision of quality Migrant English language classes and Vocational Education and Training to residents in Western Sydney.
David Collins, Executive Director State Training Services NSW spoke in support of the excellent work Macquarie Community College does in the provision of inclusive adult community education. The College will be offering a range of subsidised and fee-free courses under the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled, ACE and the new JobTrainer/Skilling for Recovery programs to eligible students. Courses include employability skills targeting jobseekers, English language and digital literacy and full qualification Community Services courses for careers in high growth industries such as Aged Care, Disability and Child Care as well as Business.
Check out the photos and videos from our event on Facebook.
We are excited to be back in Blacktown and hope to see you on our campus soon!
MCC Blacktown
Level 1, 125 Main St
Blacktown
Ph: 1300 845 888
www.macquarie.nsw.edu.au