The Wheatbelt trainees will be among only two others drawn from western and northern New South Wales participating in the scheme.
Indigenous project champion for the Wheatbelt region Robin Thorne said the project would provide the skills and expertise for self-governance.
"The key issue is that since the dismantling of the Australian and Torres Strait Islander Commission, the processes that people and organisations go through to acquire funding have changed," said Mr Thorne.
"With the mainstreaming of staff funding there has been a loss of staff, administration and funding in outlying areas," he said.
C.Y. O'Conner College of TAFE business, IT and social sciences director John Smoker said it was national and international knowledge that strong governance structures are crucial to improving social and economic outcomes for indigenous people.
"Indigenous corporations, communities and organisations sit under numerous pieces of legislation, ranging from relevant land rights acts to corporate law," he said.
Mr Thorne said while there was currently no governance in a certified course, the e-governance certificates would provide trainees with a certificate which showed they could run an administration.
"This is very helpful in acquiring funds and will benefit communities in the Wheatbelt," he said.
"The more of that knowledge we can bring to Aboriginal communities with the drive and desire to go after things the community needs, the better their chances."
The Brookton man said he hoped local people saw this as a great opportunity to have a proper way forward.
"And if they do decide to take it up, I hope I can be one of the ones who is a support for them," he said.
Quelle/Source: Avon Valley Advocate, 24.08.2006
