Anti Poverty Week

11 - 17 October 2009

Everyone who is interested in helping to raise awareness of poverty as well as reducing poverty and hardship here or overseas is encouraged to organise their own activities during the Week or join in some being organised by other people.

If you are able to organise an event (of any size) that would be greatly appreciated. Please let us know of the details of your event so that we can support you, and let others be aware of it.

Details of the event can be entered directly onto the APW website at:
www.antipovertyweek.org.au/events_form.htm

Tasmanian Education and Training Authority

Expressions of interest are being sought for membership of the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority.

Premier and Minister for Education and Skills, David Bartlett, said the authority provided advice to the State Government on education and training qualifications. "The authority also manages all assessment, accreditation and registration for senior secondary, vocational education and non-university higher education," Mr Bartlett said. "Six positions are vacant due to the terms of office of members expiring at the end of the year.

e-gems web conferencing

Thriving on complexity: Cognitive imperatives for the future workforce

In his presentation, Professor Larry Smith will outline the cognitive capacities that teachers and trainers will need to develop individually, and in their learners, if they are to survive and thrive in an increasingly complex, rapidly changing global society.

Professor Smith will also discuss his Campus Review article, which added a sixth dimension to Howard Gardner’s Five Minds for the Future, designed to inspire lifelong learning among teachers and trainers, managers and leaders.

This will be a live keynote presentation streaming from the AUSTAFE conference.

Keynote presenter
Professor Larry Smith is the Director of the Centre for Business Research at the University of New England (UNE), and Chair of the UNE Research and Research Training Committee. He is also a member of the UNE Academic Board Higher Degree Research Committee, and the UNE Adjunct Appointments Committee.

Professor Smith has been a member of numerous state and national level VET or business-related committees over the last two decades, and is currently a member of the Academic Advisory Board to the Australian Institute of Management, and Chair of the NSW Business Leadership Taskforce.

Professor Smith has been awarded five Fellowships and two Life Memberships from national or international professional associations for his contribution to teaching, learning and leadership in vocational and university education.

Date: Thursday 3 September 2009
When: 11:50am – 1:00pm (AEST)
Where: http://tinyurl.com/egems-austafe

Full URL for session (copy the complete link):
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=675&password=M.B125778A1030C06384D0A198A7F14B

$10 Million for Berwick Technical College

The dream of nailing a career straight out of school is closer to reality for technically-minded Berwick students following the opening of the state's first Technical Education College. Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan today opened the $10.5 million state-of-the-art facility at Berwick's Chisholm TAFE and said young people aged between 15 and 19 would be job-ready by the time they graduated. "As many as 300 young people at a time will receive the highest standard of skills training and unprecedented access to Chisholm TAFE's industry links," Ms Allan said. "The Brumby Labor Government is building three more TEC facilities including Ballarat, Heidelberg and Wangaratta with a total TEC investment - including Berwick - of $32 million. "We are also injecting $316 million into skills reform to bring Victorian tertiary education well into the 21st century by opening up 172,000 new government-subsidised TAFE and training places.

OctoberVET

Memoirs of a VET sector - Examining the past to move into the
future.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVETRA's OctoberVET 2009, co-hosted by AVETRA, NCVER and the University of South Australia, will consider the VET system through the lens of history. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from those who have helped shape the nation's training system.
This event provides NCVER with the opportunity to continue its video project on the history of VET.
For further information, visit:
sian.hallidaywynes@ncver.edu.au
http://avetra.org.au/octobervet

New Chair for NCVER

Dr Peter Shergold AC has been appointed Chair of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

Peter is Macquarie Group Foundation Professor at the Centre for Social Impact.

Indigenous Literacy Day

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Join Patron Therésè Rein, Geraldine Brooks, Kate Grenville, Andy Griffiths, David Malouf, Anita Heiss and a host of other celebrities and writers and show your support for the third Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) on Wednesday, 2 September 2009.

To support Indigenous Literacy Day:

· Purchase a book in a participating bookshop (listed at www.indigenousliteracyproject.org.au), and 5% or more of sales on the day will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP)

· Participate in The Great Book Swap or other fundraising activities (as attached)

· Visit www.indigenousliteracyproject.orgau or call 1800 352 352 and speak to The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Supporter Services team

National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2009

Launch of National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2009

http://www.deewr.gov.au/ministers/gillard/media/releases/pages/article_090824_145709.aspx

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today officially launched National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2009 at Wiley Park Public School in Sydney with the NSW Education Minister, Verity Firth and the Member for Watson, Tony Burke. John Flanagan, best selling Australian author is the 2009 National Literacy Ambassador, and Simon Pampena, stand-up maths comedian, is the 2009 National Numeracy Ambassador.

To access these resources and to find out more about activities in each State and Territory during National Literacy and Numeracy Week in 2009 please visit the website.

$1.6 M Community Based Training in SA

The SA State Government has announced $1.6 million in new community learning projects that will improve the literacy, numeracy and employability skills of unemployed adults. Acting Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Paul Caica said the Community Learning Program provides funding to community-based, not-for-profit organisations to help unemployed people to develop their personal skills and connect to training and employment.

Social Media

The risky business of social media

Social media tools – such as Facebook, Twitter, wikis and blogs – are increasingly powerful and valuable for communicating, collaborating, retaining and harvesting knowledge.

However, despite the widespread use and popularity of social media, and its ability to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration in workplace training, privacy issues and fears of misuse continue to deter many organisations from adopting these tools.

Nick Hortovanyi, CEO of Toast Technology, says that the benefits of allowing staff to access social media in the workplace far outweigh the risks – and that resisting the adoption of social media will result in organisations losing their competitive advantage.
Comparing social media to a ‘steam roller’, Nick explains why it’s critical that organisations act quickly to get on board.

Why should organisations adopt social media?

An ageing workforce
A key factor driving social media adoption is our aging workforce: for example, 60% of utilities workers and half of the Australian public service are expected to retire in the next 10 years. A vast amount of valuable knowledge and experience will be lost when these workers retire – unless organisations act quickly to implement an effective system to retain, share and harvest their knowledge. As experienced workers leave an organisation, social media applications can facilitate flexible and effective training and retraining of remaining and new staff.

Attracting and retaining high quality staff
Within the vocational education and training system, training providers are already starting to adopt social media applications as tools for learners to share knowledge and collaborate, allowing them to undertake training in any location and at any time. This flexibility is something that younger generations, in particular, have become accustomed to and expect. If organisations don’t provide access to social media infrastructure in the workplace, they risk losing high quality new applicants to replace experienced retiring employees.

Capability development
Social media applications can enable management to identify and address areas within a team that need strengthening. Social media can facilitate high-quality mentoring programs, enabling employees to access the most appropriate mentor to suit their requirements, regardless of location and distance. Similarly, organisations can engage specialists from remote locations on a just-in-time or ‘as needs’ basis, using instant messaging and videoconferencing tools (such as Skype).

Cost saving
There is a lot of great open source social media software – so getting started isn’t expensive. Social media can also save organisations time and money by enabling online – as opposed to face-to-face – training. This can reduce accommodation and travel costs, as well as the amount of time staff need to take away from their regular duties to attend training.

What are some of the risks of adopting social media, and how can they be overcome?

Not adopting it
The biggest risk for organisations is to ignore social media. If organisations take this approach, they risk losing relevancy as we move from a manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy. Social media tools will be a key part of this new economy – so if organisations can’t use these tools, they won’t be able to engage effectively in the knowledge economy.

Privacy and misuse
These are the most common concerns for organisations – however, they are relatively easy to overcome by implementing a social media policy.

An organisation’s social media policy should establish clear guidelines around privacy and acceptable use, as well as specifying how management should respond to infractions. An effective social media policy needs to be easy to understand and put into practice – so it should be ‘light’, clear, and concise. It’s imperative that this document is regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with technological advancements.

Check out IBM’s and Telstra’s social media policies online if you’re looking for some ideas on how to get started.

It’s also important to remember that firewalls can provide protection for organisations while they’re finding their feet and establishing what does and doesn’t work for them.InexperienceNot being able to use social media tools effectively is a significant risk. The only way for organisations to overcome this is to provide staff with access to the tools and time to experiment and develop their knowledge.
Organisations need to ‘learn by doing’ – create a blog; create a wiki; experiment with tag clouds and learn how they work.

Once staff have tried out the tools and built up some experience, they will be well placed to become social media ‘champions’ within your organisation, and start educating managers and co-workers in a non-threatening way.

What’s your advice for a practitioner who wants to adopt social media, but their organisation won’t currently support this approach?

Start experimenting with the tools in your own time. Create your own personal blog (using TypePad or WordPress) or a Twitter account, develop your networks, and show your colleagues the responses and value that come from building connections using social media tools.

Getting started

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), provides free resources which can help you to get started using social media tools. Visit the Framework website, flexiblelearning.net.au, to access resources and support networks including:

· Creating an engaging group
· Getting started in e-learning
· e-Gems webconferencing sessions – free, online e-learning professional development opportunities for VET teachers and trainers
· VET Teacher E-learning Tookit – a list of applications and functionality requirements for training provider networks and computers.

AVETRA 2010 Conference

Abstracts are now being accepted for this Conference. The Conference will be held in Surfers Paradise on 8 - 9 April 2010 with abstracts being accepted until Friday 25 September 2009.

For guidelines please go to http://avetra.org.au/annual-conference/abstracts-submission

E-portfolio Exhibitors Show'n'tell

The E-portfolio Exhibitor Show ‘n’ tell will be held the evening before the VET E-portfolio Showcase on Thursday 15 October from 5.30 pm – 8.00 pm at Oaks on Collins, 480 Collins Street, Melbourne.

This is a free event designed to get information about the latest e-portfolio systems and resources. E-portfolio Exhibitors include: Desire2Learn, Mahara, Show me now, Skillsbook, Enigma Interactive, EduPOV

5.30 pm - Event Registration
5.45 pm - E-portfolio Exhibitor Show'n'Tell product demonstrations
7.15 pm - Food, drinks, networking and an opportunity to speak with the E-portfolio Exhibitors, either one on one or in small groups

Register now to attend this FREE show ‘n’ tell and cocktail function – very limited spaces.

VET Portfolio Showcase

The VET E-portfolios Showcase will bring together leaders in education and training from across Australia to discuss how the national training system can best utilise e-portfolios.

Event details
Date: Friday 16 October 2009 Time: 8.15am-4.30pm Venue: William Angliss Institute, 555 La Trobe Street, MelbourneCost: $165 including GST (1st presenter $110 including GST)
Accommodation near William Angliss Institute
Key presenters for this event have been announced. Full program to be released shortly.

The online e-gateway to pay to attend this event will open shortly, however, to ensure you are amongst the first to know when this online payment system is open you will need to sign up for the VET E-portfolio Showcase update email list at: http://tiny.cc/VFXzg.

Community Engagement 3.0

Event: Free Public lecture – Community Engagement 3.0!

Converging architectural design, town planning and social media into online 3D communities online.

Date: Wed 2 Sept, 1-2pm

Where: Main theatre, Australian Academy of Design, 220 Ingles St, Port Melbourne

Learn how locally developed technology has transformed every website into a 3D virtual world.

It is revolutionary and will change the way we use the web. Event managers, architects, local government, technology teachers, town planners, marketing and tourism professionals can now see the future of the web today and how they can take advantage of this exciting new medium. You will gain insight into how every website is now a 3D virtual world with the entire internet becoming a 3D universe of virtual destinations. You will learn how 3D industries such as town planning, architecture and design can benefit from this evolution of the internet.You will discover how products and ecommerce can integrate into a 3D website and how your website can host live events with hundreds of people in attendance in 3D.

Danny Stefanic, founder of the industry leading and Melbourne based company ExitReality, will present and discuss his latest edition to the world of Community engagement, CityHallPro.

The CityHallPro project will provide the convergence of local government (digital democracy), town planning, and tourism overlayed with social media in 3D. 3D design such as architecture, town planning and virtual events integrated with the web provides immersive community platform for the next evolution of the internet.

Refreshments will be served.

Bookings: contact the Academy on 9676 9000 or business@designacademy.edu.au <business@designacademy.edu.au> to book for this free event.

VOLUNTEER GRANTS PROGRAM

The Dept of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has announced the next round of Volunteer Grants Program. This grant opportunity is being provided to support volunteering, and to build social inclusion and community participation in Australian communities.

Closing date is 25 September 2009

The Volunteer Grants Program provides funding for eligible not-for-profit organisations to support their volunteers and encourage volunteering by:
• purchasing practical and tangible small equipment items to help volunteers; and/or
• contributing towards the reimbursement of volunteers' fuel costs incurred when carrying out their volunteering work, including those who use their cars to transport others to activities, deliver food and assist people in need.

Organisations can apply for grant funding from a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $5,000. Funding is limited and applications will be assessed and prioritised according to how strongly they meet the selection criteria.

Eligible organisations must be Australian not-for-profit organisations: Seniors Computer Clubs are eligible if they are incorporated. Clubs that are not incorporated should seek sponsorship from their auspicing body.

You can apply either online or by post.

The funding round is expected to be very competitive and it is essential that applicants read the guidelines and answer all mandatory questions when applying.

For further information go to the Website: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/volunteers/funding/Pages/volunteer_grant09.aspx

Guidelines: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/volunteers/funding/vgp_round2/Documents/vgp2009_application_guidelines.pdf

Contact Details:
Dept of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Email: vg2009@fahcsia.gov.au
Freecall: 1800 183 374 TTY: 1800 260 402

E-learning for business

With the changing global economic outlook forcing business and industry to become more resourceful and efficient in staff training, are you looking to:
find out if e-learning can really save you time and money?
get up-to-date with the latest e-learning products, resources and technologies?
compare your organisation’s e-learning activities with the rest of the country?

The E-learning for Business event, being held in Brisbane on 15 October, will showcase how e-learning has emerged as a cost effective and flexible training solution for vocational education and training (VET) practitioners, CEOs, policy makers, business and industry.

Hosted in conjunction by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) and ACPET Queensland, this four-hour event will launch the results of the 2009 national E-learning Benchmarking Survey, and feature two interactive sessions:
E-learning in action – See demonstrations of key Framework e-learning products and resources, including Flexible Learning Toolboxes; LORN; E-portfolios; ARED and the QTImPlayer.
VET e-learning hypothetical – A panel of VET leaders from public and private registered training organisations, business, industry and government will discuss the hypothetical question – Does e-learning work in real life?

The panel will include:
Adrian Marron – Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG)
Paul Lang – CEO, Accredited Online Training
Tim Harris – Director, Blue Dog Training
Bob Paton – CEO, Manufacturing Skills Australia
Phil Bullock – Chair, Skills Australia
Kay Giles – Director, Skills Tech

The annual national E-learning Benchmarking Survey, conducted by the Framework’s Benchmarking and Research business activity, is the trusted indicator of e-learning uptake, use and impact in VET.

The launch of the survey results will allow practitioners and training providers to compare their organisation’s e-learning activities with the rest of the country; find out about the latest e-learning trends; and discover what VET clients and learners think about using e-learning for education and training.The survey findings will be broken down into both national and state and territory results, as well as by provider type and industry.

This will help to identify the e-learning trends and demands being made within VET.

For more information about the event, and to register to attend, visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/research, phone (07) 3307 4700, or email enquiries@flexiblelearning.net.au

Date: 3.00pm – 7.00pm (AEST) Thursday 15 October 2009
Venue: Customs House, 399 Queen Street Brisbane Queensland
Cost: $66.00 (including GST)

Givewell Forum

Givewell's Nonprofit Finance Forum

Book now for the early bird rate.

Many charities will now have received a letter in the post inviting them to attend the Nonprofit Finance Forum, which is returning to Adelaide on 20 October and Perth on 22 October.

For those who didn't receive a hardcopy brochure, a copy can be downloaded from our website here.

Book and pay before 15 September to get the early bird registration rate of $265 for nonprofits and $380 for others.

This low-cost event will stimulate discussion and put forward ideas on strategic financial management; with a particular emphasis on confronting the challenges of a tough economy.

The Forum offers a unique opportunity to spend time with a large number of third-sector senior financial managers and decision-makers - combining both a local and national perspective. Speakers include: Andrew Murray former Senator Australian Democrats, Marvin Weinman Chair Outcomes Australia, Paul Murnane Director MS ACT/NSW/VIC and local CEOs John Lynch RFDS Central Operations and Frank Schaper Alzheimer’s Australia WA, along with representatives from SACOSS, WACOSS and more.

Disability Support Worker Awards

The Disability Support Worker Awards recognise up to five individuals and one team of disability support workers. The awards provide the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements and celebrate the invaluable, and sometimes invisible, contribution of these workers in the Victorian disability services field.

Who is eligible?

Any individual (employed as a disability support worker for at least two years) or team of disability support workers, employed in a Victorian disability services managed or funded service is eligible.

Who can nominate?

Colleagues, managers and people with a disability and their friends or families can nominate either an individual or a team for an award.

The Awards will be presented at the Disability Support Worker Conference on 19 November 2009.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON THE 18th SEPTEMBER 2009

Further Information
Awards flyer (pdf document 340KB)
Awards flyer (Microsoft Word document 1MB)
Nomination form (pdf document 198KB)
Nomination form (Microsoft Word document 767KB)
Or you can locate a nomination form at:www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability/dswawards

For more information contact Tel: (03) 9096 2980 Email: wdl@dhs.vic.gov.au

A combined initiative of National Disability Services Victoria, Disability Professionals Victoria, Health and Community Services Union, Australian Education Union, Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability and the Department of Human Services.

National Seniors Australia

Promoting Productive Ageing Online

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr09-je-je096.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2009&mth=8


Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot today officially launched two online tools developed by National Seniors Australia to help recognise and promote productive ageing in Australia. The new internet tools from the research arm of National Seniors Australia, the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre (a joint initiative of National Seniors Australia and the Australian Government) are: The Productive Ageing Centre website - that allows users to find regional information on five broad indicators of productive ageing - activity, health, finance, housing and population. 'They will also help support the important research conducted by the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre,' Minister Elliot said.

2009 Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Apprentices

The Minister for Education Julia Gillard congratulated the winners of the 2009 Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices. Ms Gillard awarded the top employers who have employed and trained apprentices to build their businesses and address skills shortages in local communities in a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra. Maintaining a strong apprenticeship system is crucial to ensuring that we can take advantage of the opportunities that economic recovery will bring. The investment in skills that employers make today will yield dividends for themselves, their apprentices and the nation into the future.

Voctorian ACE Winners Announced

Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan today congratulated winners of the 2009 Victorian Adult Community Education Awards. Ms Allan announced the winners earlier today and said the six winners were each worthy of their awards. Winners included a program helping people make positive transitions back into society after leaving prison, a program building skills and confidence among Gippsland's Koori community, and another helping people with disabilities gain further education and employment. "The field of nominees represented the many outstanding achievements of people and organisations in the Adult and Community Education (ACE) sector," Ms Allan said.

e-portfolio event - 27 August 2009

Emerging technologies
which support
flexible training
and assessment options

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) provides e-learning professional development opportunities (e-pd) to assist local RTOs in embedding e-learning in VET delivery for the ACT community.

On Thursday 27 August 2009, the ACT Framework is hosting an ACT E-portfolios late afternoon event with guest speaker Allison Miller, the Framework’s E-portfolios Business Activity Manager.

The event will:

§ explore how emerging technologies like e-portfolios and mobile devices such as mobile phones can support flexible training and assessment options.

§ examine case studies that will highlight the way these technologies are being used for RPL, workplace learning and assessment as well as satisfying AQTF2007 requirements.

§ include an open forum discussion about implementing e-portfolios, and the work being done at a national level to support this.
Time: arrive from 4.15pm for a 4.40pm sharp start, concluding at 6.10pm for networking until 6.30pm
Location: CIT Reid Campus, room number to be provided upon registration.
To register email: kate.whittaker@cit.act.edu.au by Wednesday 26 August 2009 to secure your free place. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information about other upcoming e-pd in the @CT events visit the ACT Framework webpage at http://flexiblelearning.net.au/ACT

2009 Volunteer Grants Round Open

The 2009 round of the Australian Government's Volunteer Grants is now open. Non profit organisations, who are supported by volunteers, can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to purchase equipment and cover the cost of petrol. MORE >>

The Third Sector

NEW BOOK ON AUSTRALIAN THIRD SECTOR
An Australian edition of a highly regarded book on managing and leading third sector organisations has just been released - Managing without Profit: Leadership, management and governance of third sector organisations in Australia. MORE >>

e-gems webconferencing sessions

e-Gems web conference – Later RON! The RON Network in action

RON, the RPL (recognition of prior learning) Online Network, provides a supportive learning environment for people interested in RPL. Through RON, you can join weekly online meetings, participate in online discussions, attend or view face-to-face forums, review current RPL resources, and communicate with other RON members.
This session will showcase RON in action – including member discussions, resources, and the launch of the professional development framework for assessors using RPL. A Western Australian case study will be used to highlight significant developments in RPL in vocational education and training.

Presenters:

Christine Cooper has worked in RPL since 2007, managing the TAFEWA Skills Recognition Project. She believes that strong networks, both state and national, are important for sharing RPL expertise and skills, and learning new ideas and practices. Christine is currently managing an e-portfolios RPL project involving industry and Indigenous learners in the Pilbara region.
Jenni Harding has a keen interest in the use of technology for teaching and learning. Jenni has been managing RON (which was conceived by Joanne Fuller) since May 2008. RON has an average of over 200 views per month, and in early July had over 1000 on one day.
Date: Monday 24 August 2009
When: 12:30pm – 1:30pm AEST
Where: http://tinyurl.com/rpl-ron

Full URL for session (copy the complete link):
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=675&password=M.334EF2566102F05216345C855C9E09

About e-Gems:

The e-Gems series of web conferencing sessions are unique learning and networking opportunities for people working in the vocational education and training (VET) and business sectors. Provided by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), e-Gems web conferences are free and require no registration.

To participate, you must have access to headphones and a microphone and have installed and configured the Elluminate web conferencing software beforehand. If you encounter any problems, please contact Jyothi Jayaram on (02) 6207 4832 or email: e-events@flexiblelearning.net.au (Note: session access opens one hour before the scheduled time.)

To find out when the session starts in your time zone visit: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc

NCVER Report

Assessing the impact of NCVER's research

John Stanwick, Jo Hargreaves, Francesca Beddie National Centre for Vocational Education Research

14 August, 2009

This study examines where and how NCVER's research has influenced vocational education and training (VET) policy and practice.

Towards a better relationship with Advocay NGOs

The Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, met with human rights advocacy non government organisations this morning to discuss how to strengthen the government's relationship with the non profit sector. Speaking at the Attorney-General's Non-Governmental Organisation Forum in Canberra, Senator Stephens provided an update on the development of a new partnership agreement, or compact, between the non profit sector and the government.

SA TAFE Opens door to Job Opportunities

Visitors to a special Open Day will be able to receive careers advice about some of the hundreds of available TAFE SA programs. Employment, Training and Further Education Minister, Michael O'Brian says the Open Day at TAFE SA's Adelaide Campus and Adelaide Center for Arts on Light Square will offer a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in undertaking courses

ALW EVent in Victoria

Celebrate Adult Learners’ Week with theLaunch of the 2009 Fine Print Student and Teacher Writing issue
Tuesday 8 September, 2009
at the North Fitzroy Star Hotel,The Garden Room 32-36 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North(near the corner of Newry Street)5.00 for 7.00 pm
'The Language of Memory and Emotion'Kerry Cue
Kerry Cue, well-known writer, humourist and newspaper columnist will launch the 2009 Fine Print Student and Teacher Writing issue after reflecting on her journey as a writer, her passion for writing of all sorts and her recently unearthed love of poetry embracing ‘online pigs’.

"Whadya mean Close the Gap"

Forum * October 1, 2009


Whadya mean Close the Gap

Whadya mean Close the Gap? is the theme of the pre-conference forum on Thursday 1st October. The forum will build a more sophisticated understanding of how Aboriginal language use is affecting educational outcomes. In particular, it will focus on the achievement of literacy for Aboriginal people and the impact of success or failure on wider social and community objectives. As the forum is hosted by ACAL, many participants will bring an adult education background to the process. However, these issues are too large for educators to tackle alone. Other delegates are invited to contribute from the wider community including employers, Indigenous Affairs, language centres, justice, health and other education sectors.

Early Bird registrations close 19 August. Get in early, save money and make sure you are booked in for the sessions you want! Book online <http://www.waalc.org.au/09conf/reg.htm> or call Conference Organiser Mike Hewitt on (61) 8 9295 1980


Forum registration and details <http://www.waalc.org.au/09conf/preconf.htm>

The Great Debate

'Has Life Improved for People with Disabilities?'
We know that people with disabilities are living longer and that the services have almost doubled over the past 10 years – but has life improved for people with disabilities?
This provocative debate aims to explore the gains experienced by people with disabilities as well as identifying areas needing improvement.
Key Note Speakers Include:
Arthur Rogers Executive Director, Disability Service Division, DHS
Julie Philips Manager, Disability Discrimination Legal Service
Dr. George Taleporos Lecturer, Advocate & Comedian
David Craig Executive Officer, Action for Community Living
Adam Jones Volunteer Solicitor, DDLS
Stella Young Comedian, Broadcaster and Advocate
Attendant Support ProvidedCoffee, Tea and Biscuits Provided
Details
Venue: Hume Global Learning Centre, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows. VICDate: Wednesday 23 September 2009Time: 1pm – 4pm (Registration opens at 1.15pm)Parking: On SiteCost: $55.00 per person

Victorian Government welcomes Funding for ACE

Victorians will receive unprecedented access to Adult and Community Education (ACE) with news the Commonwealth Government has bolstered the Brumby Labor Government's support of the sector with a $36 million funds injection. The Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, Jacinta Allan, welcomed the investment in Victoria's Adult and Community Education (ACE) sector this week.

Ms Allan said the boost - received by 22 Victorian ACE providers - reinforced the Brumby Labor Government's ongoing support and investment in adult and community education. "The Brumby Labor Government has been taking action to create jobs and secure learning opportunities for all Victorians with the implementation of its $15.4 million vision for the ACE sector, A Stronger ACFE - Delivering Skills for Victoria.

Baiting the Digital Hook

Teachers and trainers are consistently challenged by the limitations that time and distance place on their ability to connect and engage with learners, peers and their wider industry. Sue Waters is widely known for her role in supporting teachers and trainers in their use of mobile and web 2.0 technologies to break through these barriers and create connections to help them learn together as part of a global community.

At last month’s Getting Connected 09 conference, the Community Facilitator for Edublogs.org (The Edublogger) and aquaculture lecturer from WA-based Challenger TAFE, provided practical examples of how online social networking tools such as Facebook, Ning and Twitter have created powerful professional learning networks (PLNs) of aquaculture teachers, trainers, learners and the wider fish farming industry.“Traditionally, knowledge is held in ‘vaults’— in the minds of solitary experts and individuals, often unavailable due to distance and time constraints and collected in places that may be inaccessible to all.“PLNs allow teachers, trainers and learners to harness the collective intelligence of others in the same field to help them solve problems and reflect on ideas instantly and without the need for face-to-face interaction,” she said.

Conference participant, Jo Hart, who is a literacy and numeracy lecturer from CY O’Connor TAFE in regional WA, cited geographic isolation and distance as her reason for actively maintaining her Twitter PLN. “Canada and the US are the incubators of literacy and numeracy thought and research. My Twitter PLN gives me instant access to that breeding ground of information and support, which I would never have in regional WA,” she said.Sue outlined the main online social networking tools and the ways in which she uses them to support her role as an aquaculture lecturer:
Facebook – Used to engage and connect with learners, who are given the option to add her to their Facebook account, knowing that they can use the chat function, email or leave comments on her wall. Sue said that while her learners seemed reluctant to contact her via email, they regularly engaged with her through Facebook.
Ning – Uses AquaEd, a global online community providing opportunities for collaboration between aquaculture teachers and trainers and industry. Members of AquaEd engage in regular industry-related discussions and share photos, videos and other useful materials to enhance their learning experience. Sue used AquaEd to source training material and images for an aquaculture e-learning unit that she couldn’t have sourced through traditional methods.
Twitter – Uses the instant messaging medium of Twitter to exchange ideas, information and views relating to teaching and training in the aquaculture industry. She said she can receive near instantaneous responses to questions and validation of her ideas.
With all of the benefits of using online networking tools and connecting with a PLN, Sue urged conference participants to take ‘baby steps’ when getting started with online networking.Her wiki, PLN Yourself! provides a one-stop-shop of practical, easy-to-navigate instructions for those seeking to build a PLN, including her top five steps:
· Set up your own Twitter account
· Start your own blog
· Subscribe to blogs
· Start using a social bookmarking tool
· Join a Ning community

For further information about Sue Waters, visit The Edublogger, her personal blog or the AquaEd Ning.Sue’s Baiting the Digital Hook presentation at Getting Connected 09 is now available online. Getting Connected 09 is a free online conference hosted by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), aimed at fostering online connections between vocational education and training (VET) practitioners and engaging learners in e-learning options within the VET system.

NCVER PAPER

A profile of VET providers 2006

This summary provides a profile of both TAFE institutes and private providers in the provision of publicly funded vocational education and training (VET). It provides data on student characteristics and outcomes, which demonstrate the extent of variation in the sector in 2006.
http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2163.html

NT has a rise in Apprenticeships

The number of Territorians taking up apprenticeships and traineeships this year has nearly doubled in the past three months. The Chief Minister Paul Henderson said 698 young Territorians had begun apprenticeships in mid-May - that figure has now nearly doubled to 1305. "We are on track to meet our election target of 10,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships over four years," Mr Henderson said. Recruiting more apprentices will result in more jobs, economic stability and prosperity for the Territory.

Victorian 2009 ACE Finalists

Adult learners from all corners of the state are among the finalists in the 2009 Adult and Community Education Awards announced today by Minister for Skills and Workforce participation, Jacinta Allan. Ms Allan said the 22 finalists reflected the strength and diversity of adult, community and further education as a result of ongoing support from the Brumby Labor Government. "The 2009 ACE Awards shine a spotlight on the success of people and organisations involved in Adult Community Education," Ms Allan said.

IDEA10

IDEA10 will be held in Melbourne between 9 and 12 March. 2010

IDEA 2010 will again be a series of events focusing on technology and education.

More information will to be sent out soon; for now please mark your diaries.

Please refer to the Link Affiliates website which will be updated as more details become available: http://www.linkaffiliates.net.au/ Should you have any immediate enquiries please contact: ideaconference@usq.edu.au or via telephone +61 7 4631 2444.

National VET Equity Advisory Council

As agreed by Ministers at the meeting of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE) in November 2008, the new National VET Equity Advisory Council (NVEAC) has been established to replace the Advisory Alliance and the three National Vocational Education and Training Advisory Taskforces (Equity, Disability and Indigenous) as the national advisory structure for equity groups.

NVEAC will provide high-level advice on matters relevant to improving the participation in VET and achievement of students from equity groups in VET, and the performance of the national VET system in support of such students

NVEAC will meet for the first time on Thursday 13 August in Melbourne. Attached is further information on the new Council and its members, as well as a link to the NVEAC website.

The secretariat for the new Council is managed by TVET Australia.

A helping hand for volunteers in SA

The Minister for Volunteers Tom Koutsantonis is encouraging not-for-profit groups to apply for a share of $150,000 to support their volunteers.

Applications open TODAY for this year’s Volunteer Support Fund, which helps volunteer groups provide training and resources to volunteers.

AVETRA CONFERENCE 2010

Call for Expressions of Interest in running a pre-conference workshop at the AVETRA conference 2010

Pre-conference workshops have often been arranged at the AVETRA conference and this is planned again for 2010. Workshops give the opportunity for people interested in a particular research-related VET-sector issue to enjoy in-depth discussions in a relatively small group.

In 2010 the workshops will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday April 7th, at the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE, Queensland. The tentative time is 2.00pm-5.00pm, although this may vary slightly. The cost will be around $80 per delegate (2009 figure) and there will be a minimum of 15 attendees for each workshop to run, in order to break-even. The conference secretariat will receive registrations and make all arrangements.

Workshops will need to have some research focus and this could include (but is not confined to):

Research methodology or methodologies
Discussion of research evidence around a particular theme
Research capacity building

For 2009, summaries of research workshop outcomes were written up by presenters for publication in AVETRA’s researcher magazine Research Today, May edition.

You are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (of two pages or less) to run a workshop. Please submit this to the President, Erica Smith, at e.smith@ballarat.edu.au, by Wednesday 30 September 2009. Please include the following information:

Title of the workshop.
Description of the workshop as it would be sent out to potential registrants (up to 200 words).
Name, affiliation and brief biography of the proposed workshop leader(s) that makes clear their expertise in the proposed topic area.
Relationship of the workshop to VET research.
Expected benefits for AVETRA, AVETRA members, other conference delegates from Australia and/or overseas, and/or VET research in general.
Any unusual technology requirements for running the workshop, and expected budget for meeting those requirements (please contact the conference secretariat avetra@conferenceaction.com.au if you need help with costings)
An undertaking that you will not withdraw your workshop once it has been advertised.
Any other information that may support your proposal.

You will be notified of the outcome of your EOI in early October 2009 following a selection and approval process involving members of the AVETRA Executive.

We would like to stress the importance of these workshops and our thanks to those offering to run them. However AVETRA is unfortunately not in a financial position to offer payment to those running workshops.

NSW Education Cuts

The Rees government's attempt to slash TAFE teachers' conditions will cost the state $350 million in vocational education outcomes, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. Dr Kaye said: The Rees government is penny pinching on public investment in TAFE by trying to force teachers into longer hours while giving them less control over how they organise their time.

These trade-offs amount to $55 million being taken away from the NSW TAFE system.

What's new with e-portfolios?

An emerging technology trial, a new suite of resources and funding allocations – these are just some of the major e-portfolio developments in vocational education and training (VET) this month.

Check out the articles below for more detail.

New resources for embedding e-portfolios

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), has developed a suite of five brochures, each designed to answer the detailed questions from specific user groups within the VET system:

learners – what do you need to consider when developing your e-portfolio?

teachers and trainers – how would your teaching or training philosophy affect the incorporation of e-portfolios into your program?

CEOs and managers – how can you create a more client-centred culture within your organisation?

IT and teaching and learning support staff – what do you need to consider when supporting teachers, trainers or managers to introduce e-portfolio-based learning?

employers, professional bodies and career services – how can you enhance your employment processes or the employability and career planning of learners in your organisation?

The brochures form part of the Framework’s existing E-portfolios Resource Bank – a comprehensive and central online resource including articles, news, blogs and events dedicated to e-portfolios and their application in VET.

Read more

Emerging technology trial - E-portfolio trial highlights need for digital literacy curriculum
A recent technology trial, which integrated an e-portfolio system with web 2.0 tools, questions the popular belief that most modern-day learners (and particularly young learners) are naturally technologically savvy.

The trial, conducted by Charles Darwin University (CDU) and funded by the Framework, set out to integrate the Blackboard e-portfolio tool with Kaltura, an open source video sharing platform. In the process, it uncovered some interesting training and useability issues when relating to digital technologies.

Read more

Framework awards funding for e-portfolio trials

Three registered training organisations have been awarded up to $10,000 each to develop and implement an e-portfolio system which enables learners to move quickly and efficiently between education and training, employment and industry areas.Funded and supported by the Framework, the E-portfolio Implementation trials will provide the opportunity to implement an e-portfolio system to generate, manage and validate evidence for learners from skill shortage areas.

NCVER PAPER

New directions in European vocational education and training policy and practice: Lessons for Australia

Roger Harris, Michele Simons
National Centre for Vocation Education and Training
05 August, 2009

A striking feature both in the European Union and Australia is the wide scope of issues that governments are addressing and the role they envisage for VET.

Making Links 2009

The Conference where Social Action and Technology Converge

Making Links is one of Australia's leading forums on information and communications technology (ICT) for workers in the not for profit sector.

This year’s theme-- Sustaining Communities in Tough Times will address the twin challenges of the global economic crisis and environmental sustainability.The conference will open with a skill-building workshop on website optimisation and accessibility followed by a film & digital arts festival on Monday the 16th of November.

The main conference will take place on the 17th – 18th November.

New NSW AMES Resource

CERTIFICATES I, II and III IN SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH
Workbooks and Audio CDs
You can also visit our web site if you wish to purchase online.
http://www.ames.edu.au/content/publicationscategory.aspx?pcid=5

Qld Awards

Hairdressing, horse racing, aeroskills and administration are among the industries to be represented at the 48th Queensland Training Awards state finals next month. Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson said the State Government's longest-running and most prestigious vocational awards had attracted more than 600 statewide nominations, which had been narrowed down to 48 finalists. "These awards showcase the hard work and dedication that is furthering careers, boosting local economies and enriching the lives and professional experiences of Queenslanders," Mr Wilson said.

Gippsland Community - Dialogue to Change Program

ASCN is running a 'one off' follow up Introductory Workshop with the Gippsland community this Friday with some key local stakeholders.

Contact Mark Brophy - mark.brophy@studycircles.net.au - for details.

E-learning for business

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) and ACPET Queensland invite you to attend the E-learning for business event, including the launch of the 2009 national E-learning Benchmarking Survey results.

This event is being held from 3.00pm - 7.00pm (AEST) on Thursday 15 October 2009, at Customs House in Brisbane, Queensland.

With e-learning emerging as a cost-effective and flexible training solution in the current economic climate, E-learning for business is a premier event for business and industry leaders. Now is the time to join this important conversation about continuing to take e-learning forward.

The event will feature interactive sessions demonstrating key e-learning products and resources, as well as a special hypothetical panel comprised of vocational education and training leaders including:

Adrian Marron – Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG)
Bob Paton – CEO, Manufacturing Skills Australia
Phil Bullock – Chair, Skills Australia
Paul Lang – CEO, Accredited Online Training
Tim Harris – Director, Blue Dog Training
Kay Giles – Director, Skills Tech


To register to attend, please visit http://flexiblelearning.net.au/research and complete and fax the registration form.

Awards Announced

2009 Diversity@Work Awards BREAKING NEWS

Due to overwhelming high demand, Diversity@Work is pleased to announce submissions for the 2009 Diversity@Work Awards will remain open until 5:00pm Wednesday 12 August 2009.

No further extensions will be offered, so get in fast.

Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.diversityatwork.com.au/awards/nominations

Contact Jodie North, RDI Marketing, jnorth@rdimarketing.com.au or telephone: 03 9862 4222 for more information.

Associations Forum

The fourth annual Associations Forum National Conference was held on 29-30th July 2009 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. With delegate numbers up 25% on the previous year, this was the biggest AF conference yet.


The PowerPoint presentations from the conference have been uploaded to our website (where permission has been given). As a member of Associations Forum, you are able to access the papers at http://www.associations.net.au/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=258

The Compact Consultation Paper

The consultation paper on a national compact between the government and the third sector (or non profit sector) is now available at www.socialinclusion.gov.au/forums. Accessible formats are also available on request.

The national compact is a form of partnership agreement between the government and third sector that will set out how we can work more effectively together for the wellbeing of Australian communities.

There are plenty of ways that you can contribute to the ongoing discussion. For more information, visit www.socialinclusion.gov.au/compact or call 1800 607 839.

UNESCO Literacy Prize Winners

ICAE congratulates our friends from Nirantar for having been awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize 2009.03-08-2009

A newspaper produced entirely by women in rural India is among the winners of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes this year.

Innovative literacy projects in Burkina Faso, Afghanistan and the Philippines won the other three awards, while a programme in Bhutan received an Honourable Mention.

The laureates were proclaimed by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, on the recommendation of an international Jury.One of two awards of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, supported by the Republic of Korea, goes to Tin Tua’s Literacy and Non-Formal Education Programme in eastern Burkina Faso. The NGO’s name means "let’s help ourselves develop" in the Gulimancema language. It has achieved excellent results by using participants’ primary language, producing reading material locally, and focusing on gender and sustainable community development.

The second award of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize goes to the NGO Nirantar’s project "Khabar Lahariya" - "news waves" - in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. It has created a rural fortnightly newspaper entirely produced and marketed by "low caste" women, distributed to more than 20,000 newly literate readers. Its well-structured method of training newly literate women as journalists and democratizing information production provides an easily replicated model of transformative education.

The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, supported by the People’s Republic of China, also has two awards. The first is being given to the Pashai Language Development Project implemented by SERVE Afghanistan, a British NGO. The community-owned initiative provides meaningful literacy, livelihood, public health and nutrition education to about 1,000 Pashai ethnic minority men and women annually. Despite the conflict in Afghanistan, the project has managed to maintain its emphasis on education, especially for women and girls. Participants learn to use written material in their local language and in Pashto, one of the country’s two official languages.

The second award of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy goes to the Municipal Literacy Coordinating Council, Municipality of Agoo, La Union, Philippines, for its Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning Programme, which makes available a vast array of education and training opportunities to the entire population, including the neediest. The municipal authority’s leadership in coordinating activities is a key factor in eliminating illiteracy and sustaining lifelong learning in the area’s 49 villages.

The Jury commended the project’s joint funding by the government, NGOs, the private sector and international donors as exemplary.

Finally, the Honourable Mention of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy is awarded to the Non-Formal and Continuing Education Programme of the Ministry of Education of Bhutan, for its holistic approach to literacy and its success in reaching remote areas. The Jury welcomed the programme’s emphasis on literacy as an integral part of the country’s "Gross National Happiness", as well as its focus on adults and out-of-school youth, particularly women and girls.

The UNESCO International Literacy Prizes are awarded every year in recognition of excellence and innovation in literacy throughout the world. Complying with the United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD) thematic calendar, the theme for this year’s Prizes was "Literacy and Empowerment".

The award ceremony will take place at UNESCO in Paris on the occasion of the celebration of International Literacy Day, 8 September.Each award is worth US $20,000, a medal and a diploma.

Related LinksThe UNESCO literacy prize winners 2009http://www.unesco.org/en/literacy/literacy-prizes/winners-2009/

World Conference - July 2009

2009 World Conference on Higher Education

The World Conference gathered over 1,000 participants from around 150 countries at UNESCO Headquarters over four days (5-8 July).Visit the World Conference website where you will find:

News and summaries of panel debates, round tables and workshops
Audio and video recordings of the conference
Reports and background documents on higher education
Voices of the future

CONFINTEA VI

* Know the roadmap to CONFINTEA VI and the FISCActivities on education throughout life will take place in several countries, thus preparing the participation in Belem’s events.

Roadmap [download] http://www.fisc2009.org/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:know-the-roadmap-to-confintea-vi-and-the-fisc&catid=3:noticias&Itemid=11

FISC: Belem, November 28-30 The International Civil Society Forum (FISC) is a world event on Youth and Adult Education (Y&AE) and it will be held in Belem, capital of the State of Para, Brazil, from November 28th to 30th , 2009. It is a plural space for reflective thinking and proposal formulation that seeks to foster the exchange of experiences and organize the advocacy process in the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education.

For more information, visit FISC website or send an e-mail to comunicacao@fisc2009.org

Victorian Training Award Finalists Announced

Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan today congratulated the Victorian businesses, students, training providers, teachers and support staff who made the finals of the prestigious 2009 Victorian Training Awards. Ms Allan said the calibre of this year's finalists reflected the high quality of the Victorian training system and the vital role of skills in driving economic growth and creating rewarding jobs for all Victorians. "The Brumby Labor Government is taking action through the world-class Victorian vocational education and training (VET) system is delivering the skills our businesses need to continue to grow and create jobs in challenging economic times," Ms Allan said. "Now in its 55th year, the Victorian Training Awards are the state's pre-eminent awards recognising outstanding achievements in the training sector for industries ranging from hospitality and tourism to engineering and manufacturing

Writing Workshops in the ACT

Vivacious verbswith Charlotte Clutterbuck 10-1pm Saturday 8 August Verbs are the powerhouse of writing. Charlotte will show you how to make verbs work for you with precision, clarity and economy, but above all with energy. Topics:
Tenses, moods and voices;
How to reduce verbal sludge by avoiding compound verbs;
The uses and abuses of the present Participle;
Commanding, pleading or inviting - the force of the imperative;
Don't be passive - the importance of active writing;
Using the grammar checker to monitor your readability.
Charlotte Clutterbuck has a PhD in English Literature and has published a book of poems, Soundings (Five Islands Press, 1997) and Encounters with God in Medieval and Early Modern English Poetry (Ashgate 2005), as well as reviews, articles, poems, essays and the scripts for the internationally acclaimed series of short animated films, The Web. An experienced teacher at Univerities, Schools, and in Adult Education, she has taught courses on Business and Academic Writing, English Literature, Creative Writing, and Grammar Cost: $45 members, $36 member concessions, $70 non-members (includes 6 month membership).
Venue: ACT Writers Centre workshop room, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon ACT.
Bookings on 6262 9191 or www.actwriters.org.au/workshops09.htmlThe importance of little words with Charlotte Clutterbuck 2-4pm Saturday 8 August Did you miss out at school on learning about articles, conjunctions, prepositions and pronouns? Did you not even know that you didn’t know? Topics:
Articles - the simple power of 'a' and 'the';
The ins and outs of prepositions;
Pronouns - We don't want to offend you';
Conjunctions - never underestimate the power of a but.
Charlotte Clutterbuck has a PhD in English Literature and has published a book of poems, Soundings (Five Islands Press, 1997) and Encounters with God in Medieval and Early Modern English Poetry (Ashgate 2005), as well as reviews, articles, poems, essays and the scripts for the internationally acclaimed series of short animated films, The Web. An experienced teacher at Universities, Schools, and in Adult Education, she has taught courses on Business and Academic Writing, English Literature, Creative Writing, and Grammar Cost: $30 members, $24 member concessions, $55 non-members (includes 6 month membership).
Venue: ACT Writers Centre workshop room, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon ACT.
Bookings on 6262 9191 or www.actwriters.org.au/workshops09.html

Successful part time freelance writing with Des McNicholas1-5pm Saturday 15 August Recognising that most freelancers juggle their craft with other commitments, this workshop looks at the nuts and bolts of building a successful part-time writing career and making sure the work keeps flowing. Participants will explore the benefits and pitfalls of part-time freelancing; discuss ways of developing (sellable) ideas and finding markets; and identify some general tools and tips on the freelance writing process. Des McNicholas is an established freelance writer who has written hundreds of published articles on topics as diverse as management, financial planning, technology, computer games, national accreditation standards and school fetes. He also does a great deal of business writing and editing. Des’ work has appeared in numerous publications, including PC PowerPlay, In the Family, Noggin Magazine, Thinking Business Magazine, The Canberra Times, PC Authority and Atomic. Cost: $60 members, $48 member concessions, $110 non-members (includes 12 month membership).
Venue: ACT Writers Centre workshop room, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon ACT.
Bookings on 6262 9191 or www.actwriters.org.au/workshops09.html

Web conference

Recognising existing skills using e-portfolios: an international perspective on the use of e-portfolios for RPL assessment

“As we move further into the digital age, electronic portfolios are beginning to play a key role in the RPL (recognition of prior learning) process” says e-learning champion, Allison Miller. Allison writes the lead article, for The Knowledge Tree e-journal Edition 18, on international perspectives in the use of e-portfolios for RPL assessment.
Talk to Allison in a live conversation about e-portfolios on Monday 10 August.
The Knowledge Tree is an e-journal of learning innovation which aims to foster and share in-depth knowledge and provoke debate on e-learning issues and innovative practices. It is recommended that participants read the lead article prior to attending the live conversation with Allison.

Presenter
Allison Miller is the Business Manager for the E-portfolios – Managing Learner Information business activity, for the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework). Her other Framework roles have included South Australian E-learning Innovations Coordinator, and the Project Manager for the Inclusive E-learning (Youth) Project. Allison was the Coordinator of South Australia’s premier e-learning event, e-Dayz, in 2006 and 2007, and the E-learning Development Coordinator for TAFE SA, Adelaide North in 2006. Allison has been involved in the VET sector for more than seven years as a lecturer in business finance, administration and small business management and has more than five years experience in creating e-learning environments for learners and staff.

Details
Date: Monday 10 August 2009
When: 12:30pm – 1:30pm AEST
Where: http://tinyurl.com/egems-eportfolios
Full URL for session (copy the complete link): https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=675&password=M.A59441B90B57B447659D15663E184B

Tasmanian Learning Boom

Parts of the new and innovative Bridgewater and Southern Midlands learning hub were unveiled today for community input and consultation.The aptly named ‘Learning Federation’ aims to increase opportunities for education and training for everyone in the community - both young and old.David Llewellyn, Member for Lyons, representing David Bartlett, Premier and Minister for Education & Skills, said the Tasmanian Polytechnic’s recently announced Bridgewater Trade Training Centre (TTC) was an important element of the Federation.

National TAFE Conference

The Productivity Places Program, innovation and sustainability in the vocational education and training (VET) sector will be the key themes at this year's TAFE in Rural and Isolated Communities conference. Employment, Training and Further Education Minister, Michael O'Brien, who'll open the conference at the Port Lincoln TAFE tomorrow says the conference will bring together around 130 TAFE and VET providers from around Australia.

Ten News Report on Jobs and Skills in Regional Australia

AgriFood Skills Australia will feature in a report about jobs and skills in regional areas, to be broadcast on Ten Network News at 5pm Thursday, 6 August- Eastern Standard time).

The report will be shown on the late news at 10.30pm and again from 11 o'clock the following morning (Friday, 7th August).

The Ten News crew - reporter Frank Coletta and camerman Sean Boyd - explore the availability of regional jobs, skills and services in Tamworth and across the north west inland region of NSW. Tamworth is the 2009 Tidy Towns winner and typifies many other well developed regional town and city centres. The report is set against rural and industrial backdrops in and around Tamworth and is based on AgriFood's Regional Skills Summit in Narrabri on 3 July.

Those interviewed by Ten News include: AgriFood CEO Arthur Blewitt; Narrabri Mayor Robyn Faber; Tocal College Principal Dr Cameron Archer; the Director of Primary Industries Innovation Centre, Professor Bob Martin; Program Manager for Careers Network Inc (based at West Tamworth Public School) Debbi Taekata; the Community Officer for the Australian Cotton Research Institute, Kate Schwager; and the CEO of pasta manufacturer Bellata Gold, Doug Cush.National approach to jobs in the regions - The Ten News report amplifies AgriFood's efforts to explore jobs and skills availability in regional areas, and to identify job opportunities for workers displaced from other industries. AgriFood's regional approach to jobs and skill is helping to identify job demand and the availability of suitable regional services. On 3 July, AgriFood hosted a Regional Jobs Summit in Narrabri in collaboration with the Northern Inland Regional Development Board (NIRDB). It attracted close to 100 people from various industry sectors, education, research and government agencies, who participated in a series of discussions, panels and presentations and in a subsequent working group, coordinated by AgriFood. FULL REPORT


National Conference - Further, AgriFood will now include a Regional Jobs and Skills Summit at the National AgriFood Conference in Sydney on 24-25 September. The conference theme, New Thinking, seeks to set a strong national blueprint for regional skills, jobs, workforce development and policy reform, highlighting the vital role of agrifood to the national economy and raising key issues in terms of skills and workforce development. Stakeholders are encouraged to register through this link for the conference: NATIONAL CONFERENCE WEB PAGE


AgriFood Skills International Fellowship - Two international fellowships valued at $10,000 each are available now on the AgriFood website: FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION FORM


The Get Real Factor - The Get Real Factor is available now in print form. Copies are available at no charge to assist vocational trainers and assessors to address language, literacy and numeracy issues when working with training packages relevant to the agrifood industry: ORDER HERE


RTO Forum in Melbourne - AgriFood hosted its first national RTO Forum in Melbourne last week week (30 July), bringing together key RTOs. AgriFood CEO Arthur Blewitt and Training Products Manager David Greentree led discussions about the delivery of training packages under AgriFood's Bridging the gap approach, new policy changes to the national training system and industry expectations resulting from these changes. The forum presented speakers who were directly involved in recent policy review. RTO FORUM FLYER


New industry assistance for indigenous employment and retention - From 1 July 2009 the reformed Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) provides employers in industry groups across Australia with a greater range of services to recruit, train and retain indigenous employees. A new simplified contracting arrangement means that employers will find it easier to access assistance offered under the reformed IEP.

For more details visit:

www.deewr.gov.au/Indigenous or call the Indigenous Employment Line on 1802 102.