Newsletter: 18 August 2008

    DEPUTY PM TO FEATURE AT 10TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER - BOOKINGS OPEN

    Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Julia Gillard MP will deliver the landmark 2008 Mick Young Oration at TDA's Parliamentary Dinner, 16 September.

    The Parliamentary Dinner will celebrate the 10th anniversary of TAFE Directors Australia and is to coincide with the TAFE Meets Parliament: Skills Innovation 2020 Forum, designed as both an engagement and a network opportunity for Australia's TAFE institute leaders and partners.

    Peak bodies and VET stakeholders are invited to book a table. The event will raise funds to send two Mick Young Scholarship Trust students overseas to extend their study and undertake a work placement.

    To book a seat or a table at the Parliamentary Dinner, click here.

    For the forum program, click here.

    To register for the forum, click here.

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    CANBERRA SKILLS INNOVATION 2020 CONFERENCE -- INTERNATIONAL AGENDA

    Skills Innovation 2020 will also include a parallel stream focused on international engagement. As Australia's 3rd largest export industry, contributing over $12 billion to the Australian economy, the dedicated professional development and network program is targeted towards international directors, managers, members of faculty and emerging leaders from our institutes. The two-day program will provide the platform to consider trends, opportunities and challenges for TAFE International 2020.

    The international program has been designed as an interactive program that will enable attendees to network, share ideas and best practice and consider the main themes in international education from a purely TAFE perspective.

    To register, click here.

    To see the international program, click here.

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    VET VOUCHER PLAN SPARKS DEBATE

    Educational media continue to speculate that the Federal Government is looking toward a voucher-like system for the vocational education sector, in a move toward a more market-driven system.

    TDA Chief Executive, Martin Riordan was quoted in The Australian saying, "The last voucher system was trialed but it really was both poorly targeted and inadequately funded."

    Mr. Riordan said the Government wanted to lift skills levels, "but is being challenged by the cost of the pledge (for the extra places)".

    "We are just keen to see that, in the next commonwealth and state agreement that comes in force next year, whatever funding agreement is ultimately agreed that there's a lift in training funding."

    To read more, click here for 'TAFE vouchers on the Agenda', and click here 'Anger at Voucher Plan'.

    A special Roundtable will be held during the upcoming TAFE Directors Canberra retreat (16-17 Sept, 2008) to review contestable funding.

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    DISABILITY AND EDUCATION - HOW MUCH DOES DISABILITY REALLY MATTER?

    A new study by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) suggests that the poor educational performance of some students with a disability may have more to do with educational disadvantage than the direct impact of the disability.

    NCVER researchers focused their work on outcomes for students in vocational education and training and found that there is considerable variability between types of disability.

    NCVER Managing Director, Tom Karmel said the study provided pointers to ways in which VET providers, including TAFE institutes and private colleges, could better prepare to assist students with a disability.

    To read the media release, click here.

    For a copy of the report, click here.

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    SA STRENGTHENS PEAK SKILLS ADVISORY BODY

    The SA Government's peak advisory body, the Training and Skills Commission, will be significantly strengthened in new reforms targeted to increase the skills base of the State's workforce.

    SA Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, the Hon. Paul Caica MP, announced the appointment of the former Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia, Professor Denise Bradley AC, as the Commission's new Chair. Prof. Bradley is also heading up the current Higher Education Review, commissioned by the Federal Government.

    "The Training and Skills Commission will also oversee streamlined arrangements for the State's apprenticeship and traineeship system to ensure it operates as smoothly as possible for both employers and employees," Mr. Caica said.

    To read Minister Caica's media release, click here.

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    GLOBAL SUMMIT ON SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 2008

    The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) is organizing a Global Skills Summit to take place in New Delhi, India, 17-18 September 2008. The event is a unique opportunity for the Australian VET sector to enhance networks and to engage with India on VET policy development.

    Australian Education International is keen to support TDA, for members considering attending the event. For information, click here to email Anu Jain, Advisor AEI India.

    For more information, click here.

    For a copy of the official invitation, click here.

    To see the e-brochure, click here.

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    TDA SUBMISSION TO REVIEW OF DEEWR INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

    TDA has submitted a response to the Erebus Review of DEEWR International Activities and Offshore Network.

    To view the Submission, click here.

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    TDA COMMENTS ON CHANGES TO MIGRATION ASSESSMENT POLICY

    TDA provided comments to Trades Recognition Australia regarding the proposed changes to the Migration Assessment Policy (MAP), outlining its key issues with the new policy and a series of recommendations for action.

    The Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers (AIWCW) also proposed changes for graduates requiring assessment as a welfare worker, from January 2010. For more information, click here.

    To read TDA's comments, click here.

    For a copy of the MAP visit, click here.

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    NZ INDUSTRY PRESENTATION AND UPDATE

    TAFE Directors Australia was invited to present at the annual Education New Zealand Conference held in Auckland last week from 6-8 August. Our colleagues in NZ asked us to talk on the topic of: "Strewth How do they do it?" - The Australian TAFE Story in International Engagement.

    Some key highlights from the conference included a presentation from the Education New Zealand Board on their Policy Brief for International Education 2008, in the lead up to federal elections that will be called later this year. This policy document summarizes the key issues for the NZ international education sector and is an interesting read. See attached.

    Other highlights of the conference included a presentation from Infometrics on new economic modeling on the impact of international education on the NZ economy.

    For more information, click here.

    To read the Education New Zealand Board's brief, click here.

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    DIARY DATES

    AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY SKILLS COUNCIL
    Agri-food National Conference
    DATE: 25-26 September 2008
    LOCATION: Rydges Melbourne, 186 Exhibition St, Melbourne
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    AUSTAFE
    2008 AUSTAFE Conference: Forging Dynamic Futures
    DATE: 1-3 October 2008
    LOCATION: Regency TAFE, Adelaide
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    VETNETWORK
    VETNetwork National Conference
    DATE: 1-3 October 2008
    LOCATION: Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH INDUSTRY SKILLS COUNCIL
    Making a Difference Conference 2008
    DATE: 15-16 October 2008
    LOCATION: Hilton Hotel, Adelaide
    DETAILS: For more information and Early Bird registration, click here.

    GROUP TRAINING AUSTRALIA
    2008 Group Training National Conference
    DATE: 15-17 October 2008
    LOCATION: Cairns, QLD
    DETAILS: Early Bird Registrations close July 18. For more information, click here.

    DEPARTMENT OF FURTHER EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    5th Biennial Australian Learning Communities Network Conference
    DATE: 25-28 October 2008
    LOCATION: Hyatt Regency, Adelaide
    DETAILS: For more information, email Sharon Smith.

    MANUFACTURING SKILLS AUSTRALIA
    Manufacturing - Skilling for the Future
    DATE: 29 October 2008
    LOCATION: Dockside (Balcony 1), Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour, Sydney
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    CURRICULUM CORPORATION
    21st Century Learning: Acting (Inter) Nationally
    DATE: 10 -11 November 2008
    LOCATION: Sofitel, Melbourne
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    REFRAMING THE FUTURE
    Engaging VET Practitioners
    DATE: 17-18 November 2008
    LOCATION: Crown Promenade, Melbourne
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    THE ASSOCIATION FOR ACTIVE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHERS (AARE)
    AARE 2008 International Education Conference
    DATE: 30 November - 4 December 2008
    LOCATION: Brisbane
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

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