Newsletter: 1 September 2008

    SKILLS 2020 INNOVATION FORUM AND MICK YOUNG ORATION

    TAFE Directors Australia celebrates the 10th anniversary of TDA with a special 2-day forum 16-17 September 2008 and Parliamentary Dinner. The 'TAFE meets Parliament: Skills 2020 Innovation' forum program will include both a domestic and international agenda. Check the TDA website from 2 September for speaker bios.

    Domestic agenda
    International agenda

    Sponsorship opportunities are available for the forum, click here for more information.

    TDA has again initiated the staging of the Mick Young Oration for 2008. We seek your support to make this a successful financial fund-raiser to support two Scholarship holders from the Mick Young Scholarship Trust to travel overseas, for study and a work placement in 2009.

    The event will be hosted by TDA as part of their 10th anniversary, in the historic Old Parliament House, Canberra. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, has kindly agreed to deliver this 2008 Oration.

    Organisations are encouraged to book for the dinner. Make your mark by supporting two Mick Young Scholarship recipients from TAFE to participate in international study and a work placement in 2009.

    To register for the forum click here.

    To make an individual or table booking for the Mick Young Oration click here.

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    DEADLINE REMINDER FOR 2009 VET FEE HELP

    TAFE Institutes should note that successful registration with DEEWR by mid-September will be required for offering VET FEE HELP to students for academic year 2009.

    DEEWR itself is required to process applications. The final day for the Department to lodge Institute applications on the table of Parliament will be 14 October 2008.

    The following is a reminder from DEEWR on the process:

    "For RTOs to be able to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance at the beginning of 2009, then the last day an application can be registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) - this occurs after they have been assessed as meeting all the HESA requirements - is the 14 October. This date is also dependent on the Parliamentary calendar staying the same until the end of the year. If this is the case, then this means that they would receive their VET provider approval on the 5th December 2008 -- which is the day after the last sitting day of Parliament for this year."

    TDA Institutes can access their required certificate for Tuition Assurance by going online at www.tda.edu.au.

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    VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT $316 MILLION TRAINING OVERHAUL

    Victorian Premier the Hon. John Brumby MP, has announced a $316 million extension to its training budget, but also announced increases to course fees for higher level qualifications.

    Key aspects of the Victorian plan include government-subsidised training, an additional 172,000 training places and the hiring of an additional 900 teachers.

    TAFE Directors should note that our newly opened TDA Tuition Assurance Scheme will be critical to the take-up for Institutes of student loans.

    View the Victorian government media release here.

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    EYE-OPENING MEETING FOR REFRAMING THE FUTURE GROUP

    The Reframing the Future funded network, consisting of one staff member from each of 10 TAFE institutes and 10 Enterprise Registered Training Organisations, met in Melbourne last week.

    This was the third meeting of the network and exposed the participants to many of the similarities and differences between enterprise RTOs and TAFE institutes. Members visited three different training organisations.

    For a summary of the visits click here.

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    CALL FOR TDA REPRESENTATIVE - CENTRELINK STUDENT CONSULTATIVE GROUP

    TAFE Institutes are invited to nominate an executive to act for TDA on a new Centrelink consultative committee on students and engagement issues.

    The Centrelink National Student Services Partnership Group includes peak VET and higher education sector representatives. Travel expenses to one-day Canberra meetings are included.

    Please contact Penny Lawrance, TDA Member Services Manager, with nominations memberservices@tda.edu.au. NOTE: The next meeting of the Centrelink committee in Canberra, is Thursday 9 October 2008, and nominees would be expected to attend.

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    AUSAID REQUEST FOR TENDER - EDUCATION RESOURCE FACILITY

    A tender for an Education Resource Facility (ERF) is being offered through AusAID.

    The successful applicant will be required to provide rapid and reliable access to international best practice in the education sector. The key services delivered by the contractor will include advisory, research, analytical, learning and development services as well as a help desk.

    It is anticipated that the ERF will commence in November 2008 for a three year period. The closing date for submission of proposals is 2:00pm (Canberra time) Friday 12 September 2008.

    For more information click here.

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    GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS UPGRADE FOR GORDON INSTITIUTE OF TAFE

    Victorian Skills and Workforce Participation Minister, the Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, has announced a $500k grant to fund the planning and design phase of a redevelopment for The Gordon Institute of TAFE, Geelong, Victoria.

    To view the media release click here.

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    2008 VICTORIAN TRAINING AWARDS

    The 2008 Victorian Training Awards - where the Victorian training community comes together to celebrate excellence across the sector - were held 21 August, Melbourne Docklands.

    The award was sponsored by the Victorian TAFE Development Centre, and recognises a registered training organisation that demonstrates outstanding achievement in all aspects of the delivery of VET.

    Congratulations to the winner of the Victorian Large Training Provider of the Year Award, Wodonga Institute of TAFE - a TDA Member. Wodonga Institute of TAFE is one of Victoria's fastest growing TAFE providers. It offers a range of specialist training programs and has built a strong reputation for targeted workforce development, higher level qualifications, and assisting regional employers cope with years of severe drought.

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    NEW WAYS OF WORKING IN VET FORUM 5

    Reframing the Future is facilitating an interactive, national two day forum: 'New ways of working in VET Forum 5', 17 and 18 November 2008 in Melbourne. The forum will encourage fresh thinking about innovation, agility and responsiveness in the VET system as well as showcasing 2008 projects.

    For more information click here.

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    APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR AUSLIST

    Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP has announced the release of AusLIST - the online directory of Australian providers and the courses they deliver outside Australia.

    For more information about AusLIST click here.

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    AGRI-FOODS NATIONAL CONFERENCE - 25-26 SEPT 2008

    The Agri-Foods ISC reminds TAFE Institutes that registrations are essential, for their upcoming National Conference. CEO Arthur Blewitt has engaged senior Australian VET leadership in a strategic programme, including Skills Australia Chair, Phillip Bullock.

    The International Agri-Foods Winner will also be announced. For registrations, click here.

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    COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH ISC SYMPOSIUM

    The Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council (CS&H ISC) will hold the Symposium: Creating Centres for Excellence in Training Delivery in Remote and Rural Australia event 18-19 November 2008.

    The symposium will bring together a range of influential stakeholders from industry and VET and aims to discuss issues around building and sustaining skills development in rural and remote areas.

    For more information or to register click here.

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    DIARY DATES

    TAFE MEETS PARLIAMENT: SKILLS INNOVATION 2020
    TDA Leadership Forum
    DATE: 6 September, Parliament House
    17 September, Canberra Institute of Technology
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.


    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.


    AUSTRALIAN COLLABORATIVE EDUCATION NETWORK
    2008 WACE Asia Pacific Conference
    DATE: 30 September - 3 October 2008
    LOCATION: Manly, Sydney
    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.


    AUSTRALIAN TAFE MARKETING ASSOCIATION
    Adapt-Forecast-Lead Conference 2008
    DATE: 8-10 October 2008
    LOCATION: William Angliss Institute Conference Centre, Melbourne
    DETAILS: For more information and Early Bird registration, 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.


    ADULT LEARNING AUSTRALIA
    48TH Annual National Conference
    DATE: 30 October - 1 November 2008
    LOCATION: The Esplanade Hotel
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.


    LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES 2008
    DATE: 5-7 November 2008
    LOCATION: Sunshine Coast Mooloolaba TAFE, QLD
    DETAILS: The conference will investigate new and emerging earning technologies and their use, and address these issues under the theme of Learning Connections. Learning Technologies 2008 is about learning, creating and making connections in knowledge construction.
    For more information or to register, click here.


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


    COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH INDUSTRY COUNCIL
    Supporting the Health Profession - The next wave of workers
    DATE: 26 November 2008
    LOCATION: The Sebel, Albert Park, 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.


    PRINCIPLE MEDIA LTD
    Learning Technologies Conference
    DATE: 28-29 January 2009
    LOCATION: London, UK
    DETAILS: For more information click here.


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