For several years, TAFE NSW has delivered short courses in the NSW government's Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) program to year 9 and 10 school students. This particular six week pilot course is a first; both for the combination of offerings and for the involvement of local Aboriginal education assistants from the high schools.

TAFE NSW teacher Angela Marr-Grogan says the students are introduced to Gathang, the traditional language of the Birrbay, Warrimay and Guringay people, and participate in a creative hands-on cultural arts project.

"The program helps students develop a stronger sense of their cultural identity through language and art," Ms Marr-Grogan said.

"It will also enable them to explore and pursue a learning pathway at TAFE NSW by enrolling in our courses in cultural arts or language delivered here in Port Macquarie and Wauchope."

TAFE NSW team leader of career pathways, Leonie Nilson, said that YES programs delivered by TAFE NSW on the North Coast have significant positive outcomes for the students.

"We've seen about 60 percent of school students participating in YES programs in North region go on to enrol in a vocational pathway course or enrol in a TAFE NSW course," Ms Nilson said.

A recent research report by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research found that such vocational pathway programs are critical to youth employability, especially for disadvantaged young people.

Simon Walker, the managing director of the centre, said vocational pathways offers valuable mechanisms to address youth unemployment if implemented in tandem with holistic support services.

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