Local students set to become exhibiting artists

Students are getting involved to create an impressive ceramic art installation for display at Kangan Institute’s new Health and Community Centre of Excellence.

Themed Unity and Diversity, 16 ceramic art pieces have been handcrafted by Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) students under the guidance of ceramic artist Cinda Manins.  

With each piece personally designed by students to reflect their unique identity, the collection embodies the rich diversity of students and a vision for the new centre at Broadmeadows Campus to be a place of belonging for all learners.

AMEP student Roda Alako, one of the 12 students involved in the project, was thrilled with the opportunity to develop artwork for the new health training facility.

The 20-year-old’s ceramic piece, depicting the profile of a face surrounded by flowers, symbolises joy through art.

“I like drawing. When I was smaller, I faced bullying (and) I was stressed in school in Lebanon. But it made me feel happy and at peace when I did my art. It was like my little space when I was stressed,” Roda explained.

“We had a lot of fun with Cinda in this project and our teacher Karen has helped us a lot. I was very happy.”

(Ceramic artist Cinda Manins with student Roda Alako)

The Craigieburn local has been a student at Kangan Institute for one-and-a-half years, advancing her skills from level one to level three in the AMEP.

Skills aside, Roda also values the friendships she’s made on campus – and it’s this sense of camaraderie and belonging that she hopes to share with future campus-mates studying at the new centre.

“We have a big space here (at Broadmeadows Campus) and many activities… it’s very nice. We get more chances to talk and to make friends. When we first came, we didn’t have any friends,” Roda shared.

“(My art) is going in the new building at Kangan; that’s what made me more excited to do it. I hope they (new students) will feel a bit excited to know who Roda is and they are happy when they see my art.

“I just want to tell them – trust yourself, be strong, don’t be too afraid or scared… you can do anything you want. Just believe in yourself.”

(Roda Alako (third from left) with her classmates Maryam Salyo,  Hiba Alothman and Maryam Matti) 

Roda herself is considering a future in health, which means training at the Health and Community Centre of Excellence might just be on the cards.

“I’d like to study dentistry; maybe in the future I can come here,” Roda said.

“I think the centre will be a good thing. It’ll be full of technology. It’ll be helpful for new students who’d like to study here.”

Signalling a new era for vocational education in Melbourne’s north, Kangan Institute’s Health and Community Centre of Excellence is poised to bring industry and best-practice training facilities together to develop the next generation of health care workers and address critical skills shortages in Victoria.

Once complete, the $60 m world class training facility will deliver courses in high priority areas such as aged care, mental health, disability, pathology, allied health, and early childhood education and care.

It will also partner with local industry to respond to urgent skilling needs in community.

Core to the design of the centre is community input, with ongoing community consultation on its development and local identity amplified through the building’s façade, landscaping and other design elements.

Poised to provide long-lasting impact to local and surrounding communities, the new Health and Community Centre of Excellence will be able to accommodate up to 670 students at a time, providing them access to quality educational facilities and opportunities as they prepare for in-demand jobs of the future.

The art will be displayed within the Health and Community Centre of Excellence, which is set to begin operations at Broadmeadows Campus in 2025.

Quotes attributable to Kangan Institute CEO Sally Curtain:

“We are thrilled to see the passion and creativity of our students embodied in ceramic art for our new Health and Community Centre of Excellence.

“Thanks to the Victorian Government’s investment Kangan Institute will be able to provide more in demand training to the next generation of health care workers and address critical skills shortages in our state from the heart of Broadmeadows.  

“This facility is proudly built with our community partners for the community and we’re so pleased to see the excitement of our students who are looking forward to a new, locally-based state-of-the-art training facility.

“Together with project, industry and community partners, this new facility means Kangan Institute will be better able to meet current and future health needs in the community and create pathways to rewarding new jobs.”