The 33-year-old spoke in a virtual keynote speech as part of the institute's NAIDOC Week celebrations.

The annual week commemorates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultures, achievements, and history.

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Mr Betts told the students about his journey into the AFL through the pre-season draft in 2004.

He also shared the times in his life where he had been racially vilified - both on and off the footy field.

"Some of it was online, some of it was in during games," Mr Betts said. "I've always put on this brave face and said we'll get through it, we'll educate them."

Mr Betts, who has played 331 games for the Carlton and Adelaide Football Clubs, said there were simple ways to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing racism.

"Have those awkward conversations because they are hard to have," he said. "We need to have those awkward conversations so then we can educate each other, educate ourselves, our families, our friends.

"If you do see something, call it out so then we can all move together as one as a nation."

Mr Betts also reflected on his time at the Bendigo Kangan Institute, where he studied back in 2002 and 2003.

Read more: Bendigo marks start of 2020 NAIDOC Week

"I didn't really go to school so it opened up my eyes a bit," he said. "I really enjoyed it and enjoyed the experience, and that's why I still talk about it to this day.

"When I came to Melbourne, the first thing I did was go to Kangan TAFE. That's where my schooling was."

Bendigo TAFE chief executive Sally Curtain said it was an honour to have the Carlton player as their keynote speaker.

"Embracing our Aboriginal culture and paying genuine respect to the traditional custodians of our country is very important to me personally," Ms Curtain said. "Eddie's speech was nothing but inspiring.

"He spoke from the heart and attendees said he helped them gain a better understanding of the issues Indigenous Australians face and the importance of embracing our Indigenous culture.

"At Bendigo TAFE, we are a diverse and vibrant organisation and we have much to be proud of.

"Understanding our country's cultural heritage and sharing that understanding with our students is our responsibility as educators. We need to take that responsibly seriously."

As part of NAIDOC Week, Bendigo TAFE also conducted a virtual Welcome to Country, a flag raising ceremony, a performance by the Djirri Djirri Wurrundjeri Women's Dance Group, and a traditional Smoking Ceremony.

"We were not going to let the coronavirus stop us from observing this important week," Ms Curtain said

"We celebrate NAIDOC Week every year at Bendigo TAFE but this is the first time we've delivered our full program online."

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