Tribune’s note

Senator McCarthy's principal action on 8 May 2026 was the joint announcement of the Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence (ICOVE), a national VET hub backed by up to $24 million over four years from 1 July 2026. Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Limited and Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd were named as the host Aboriginal Community Controlled Registered Training consortium, selected through a competitive limited-grant process by an independent panel of First Nations experts and government representatives.

The centre is positioned under the National Skills Agreement to advance Closing the Gap by linking First Nations training organisations with industry across health, construction trades and early childhood education in urban, regional and remote communities. The portfolio frames ICOVE as a community-led mechanism embedding First Nations leadership and evidence-based practice directly into the VET system.

Primary records (1)

The official records this note draws on — the raw primary documents themselves, as published.

MediaFirst Nations organisations to lead trailblazing new Indigenous Centre of Vocational ExcellenceMalarndirri McCarthyFriday 8 May 2026