Run by the Career Development Association of Australia, the workshop was well received by those in attendance with facilitator Narelle Milligan saying it was the first workshop of its kind in Port Macquarie.

"There was a lot of interest in it, we had about 15 different careers advisors from around Port Macquarie in attendance," she said. "The main thing we wanted to get out of it was to tell people to be proactive in encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to take up a career in teaching."

She said there was an under-supply of Aboriginal teachers and the workshop provided an opportunity to discuss strategies on how to improve.

"The North Coast has one of the highest percentages of indigenous people in the population," Ms Milligan said.

During the morning session the importance of role models was discussed and it was noted that the material was "excellent and well thought out".

"We discussed the need for diversity, the importance of role models and how they don't have to be sportsmen. We also discussed the art of motivational interviews."

For more information, log on to the Career Development of Australia website at www.cdaa.org.au or phone 1800 222 390.

paul.jobber@fairfaxmedia.com.au