Des is a Champion of the State and part of NSW’s world-class TAFE system.

“I am an Aboriginal Education and Engagement Coordinator,” said Des.

“My role is to engage with the Aboriginal communities I visit in the far west.”

Des consults with communities and liaises with the TAFE campus in Broken Hill to see how the education provider can best service First Nations people in the state.

“I’m a people person and this is a big people person role,” he said. “I like to go out to community to talk with people about what they see as their training and development needs.”

Des is a Lama Lama/Kukuwaara man originally from Far North Queensland, but has lived in NSW for nearly 10 years.

In that time he has become an invaluable part of the TAFE system that serves the state so well.

“Without TAFE, our communities would be really disadvantaged,” he said. “It gives us access to culturally appropriate training.”