4 June 2004

Left to right, David Reilly, Project Manager CDU; Steve McBurnie, MALU Lecturer, and Andrew Cole, Co-partner Mick Murray Welding alongside the first stages of construction of MALU 3.

Remote secondary students in the Northern Territory will benefit from the announcement of a third Mobile Adult Learning Unit (MALU) to be built for Charles Darwin University.

Construction on the $320 000 MALU three will be completed early in second semester. Built in the Northern Territory for local environment and conditions, MALU three will be equal to the largest double axle trailer manufactured in Australia.

Project Coordinator, David Reilly, said, “when it comes to mobile training facilities, bigger is definitely better.”

Charles Darwin University currently operates two MALU units, each travelling to four remote locations per year for 10-week blocks.

“We take education and training to the community,” said Mr Reilly, “The MALU units are independent learning spaces. Delivery can be done anywhere that is required in the Territory. They are very popular with the communities, which often make requests for their return. At this time, this may take up to three years.”

Communities welcomed the announcement as they prefer training to take place on site. This ensures that the community has control of their trainees and the program.

Principal of Mt Allan School, Stephen Smith, welcomed the announcement saying that “the young people of this area appreciated the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in the trade fields of welding, steel fabrication and automotive provided by MALU 1.”

Principal Deb Williams from Laramba School said “the availability of a third MALU unit will help meet local demand from local secondary aged students for trades and computer studies.”

Mr Reilly said, “MALU is more economically viable and provides more practical solutions. Communities do not have to spend money on building or maintaining classrooms that may not be used continuously due to lack of staff and programs.”

MALU’s primary focus will be on Secondary delivery, providing students with two pathways not available to them previously.

Annette Jamieson, Director Secondary Charles Darwin University, said, “MALU now gives these students the opportunity to complete their VET certificate and then use this to complete their Northern Territory Certificate of Education or they can go on to a Traineeship or Apprenticeship.

“Charles Darwin staff have been working closely with remote school teachers. Teachers work with students before MALU arrives and can therefore deliver far more hours in the limited time MALU is available. The teachers then continue with their program once MALU leaves.

“Whole communities are coming on board. For example, with Retail delivery, it’s not just theory; students are provided access to the community store.” Ms Jamieson explained.

MALU 3 will also be used for Trades delivery and for other multi purpose applications.

To be built by Alice Springs company Goweal Pty Ltd – Mick Murray Welding, MALU three will be 13.7 metres in length, 2.5 metres wide and have an internal height of 2.9 metres.

It will have a stage platform that lowers as a floor using hydraulics to create enclosed spaces for multi purpose use. The gooseneck section will have refrigerated airconditioning with an IDL Unit provided by OPTUS Communications recessed into the roof, with the underneath section having ample room for six laptop workstations.

The IDL unit will allow access to after hours teaching from the School of the Air Studio in Alice Springs. The first program to be offered using the IDL unit will be in Community Services: Children’s Services program.

The rest of the trailer, fitted with evaporative airconditioning, opens out into an extra large classroom with teaching space for the second lecturer.

Mr Reilly said as an example, “By rearranging the swivel doors, the classroom can be reconfigured to create an auditorium incorporating sound and lighting equipment when teaching contemporary music. The unit will also have welding curtains built into the unit.

Andrew Cole from Goweal said, “This is great for the local economy. We actually employ four local staff full time who will work on the construction and fitout.”

MALU 1 was introduced in 1986 delivering about 15 000 hours in welding. MALU 2 began operating in 1998 and delivers 40,000 hours in Local Government, Literacy and Numeracy and IT. Since their inception they have taught around three and a half thousand students.

Plans for expanding the fleet with a fourth unit to service the Top End are already underway.