Landing a traineeship inside the classroom has been one of 17-year-old Veronica Thorpe's life-long goals.
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"I had this one teacher who always looked after me when I was younger," said the Kildare Catholic College year 11 student.
"I want to do that for other students. It makes a difference."
For the next two years, Veronica will spend one day a week working with primary students at Mater Dei Catholic College while she completes her Certificate III in education support.
She is one of six Indigenous Australian students who are on the fast-track to working full-time as education support staff.
Five of the students come from Kildare College, while one is at St Francis College in Leeton.
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Although this is the first year the students have been offered the TAFE-certified qualifications, the Aboriginal engagement program has been running across the Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga for many years.
Aboriginal schools and community engagement officer with the CEDWW, Aunty Mary Atkinson said there are hopes to expand the program even more in the future.
"It's important for us as Aboriginal people to nurture those who will be in employment soon," Aunty Mary said.
"If successful, this will become bigger and better. It's the pathway to employment for them."
Given the long history of separation between the Catholic church and Indigenous cultures, Aunty Mary said the schools-based program is a necessary first step in building mutual respect.
"We're on a path of reconciliation together," she said.
Up to 7 per cent of the student body at Kildare College identifies as Indigenous.
Xya-Lilly McLauchlan, aged 16, is one such student. She has already begun her traineeship at Henschke Primary School.
So far in the classroom, she said, she has been mostly helping the students with reading and mathematics.
"It's taught me even the littlest things I know that I take for granted, I was taught somewhere," Xya-Lilly said.
"I don't think about it, but you need all sorts of skills to do well in the classroom."