Nungalinya College facts for kids
Nungalinya College is a special school in Darwin, Australia. It helps adults learn new skills. It started in 1974. The college is for Indigenous Australians. It trains people to be Christian leaders and help their communities.
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The Story of Nungalinya College
The name "Nungalinya" comes from the Larrakia people. They are the traditional owners of the land. It means "Old Man Rock," which is a reef near Casuarina Beach. This rock was a special place where young men learned important things.
Larrakia people suggested this name for the college. Everyone agreed in 1973. On August 4, 1974, a special ceremony took place. Archbishop Sir Frank Woods placed the first stone. This stone was a large, round granite rock. It came from the Mount Bundey mines.
What Nungalinya College Does
Different churches work together to run Nungalinya College. These include the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Uniting Churches. Other churches and Indigenous communities also support it.
The college helps Indigenous people from all over Australia. It also teaches non-Indigenous people about Indigenous cultures. This helps everyone understand each other better.
Nungalinya College offers courses designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These courses help them learn about life and faith. They can study Christian beliefs at different levels. This includes Certificate and Diploma courses.
The college wants to train leaders for churches and communities. It helps people explore the Bible and Christian faith. It also teaches families to join the wider community. At the same time, it helps them strengthen their own Indigenous identity.
The college is a Registered Training Organisation. This means it is officially approved to teach vocational courses. These are job-focused courses. It offers courses that are recognized all over Australia. The college has a large campus. It is about 10 acres in size. It also has places for students to stay.
You can learn in different ways at Nungalinya. They offer flexible options. You can study from home using distance education. You can also come to the campus for short, intensive study periods.
Nungalinya College also works with other colleges. These include Wontulp-Bi-Buya College in Cairns. It also works with Training Aboriginal Christian Leaders (TACL) in Adelaide.
Courses You Can Study
As of 2019, Nungalinya College offers several courses:
- Certificate I–II Foundation Studies
- Certificate II in Media and Discipleship
- Certificate III-IV in Christian Ministry and Theology
- Diploma of Translating
Famous People Who Studied Here
- Djalu Gurruwiwi was a famous Yolngu elder. He was a master player and maker of the didgeridoo (called a yiḏaki). He completed his Theology studies at Nungalinya College in 1994.
