Newsletter: 8 September 2008

    TAFE MEETS Parliament - Skills Innovation 2020 launch

    TDA 10th Anniversary Dinner and Mick Young Oration

    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Julia Gillard MPThis is the final week to book to see the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP deliver the 2008 Mick Young Oration at the TDA 10th Anniversary Dinner, 6pm 16 September at Old Parliament House Canberra.

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

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

    UPDATE:

    TAFE Meets Parliament: Skills Innovation 2020 forum - 16-17 September

    Due to popular demand, registrations for the 'TAFE Directors and Senior Management' stream of the program are now closed. Registrations for the 'International program' remain open.

    For speaker profiles, sponsor opportunities, to view the program or to register for the 'International Program' of the forum click here.

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    INVITATION TO CEOs FROM CHAIR OF SKILLS AUSTRALIA

    TAFE Directors are invited to attend a special briefing on governance, to be hosted by Skills Australia, Monday 15 September, in Canberra.

    Chair of Skills Australia, Philip Bullock, seeks views on governance arrangements across the national training system.

    Skills Australia has prepared a discussion paper, which will be circulated to TAFE CEOs (along with other stakeholders) for comment towards the end of next week.

    The purpose of the consultation is to obtain TAFE leadership views on matters relating to the establishment of effective governance relationships for Skills Australia within the national training system, and also to consider opportunities to reshape or strengthen broader governance arrangements to ensure the system's smooth operation and a co-ordinated national response to Australia's skills challenges.

    The findings arising from the stakeholder consultation process will be used by the Skills Australia Board to provide recommendations to the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations in the lead up to determinations by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on new models of co-operation with industry and between Australian governments for the national training system's development.

    Location: Tom Roberts room, Mantra Hotel, 84 Northbourne Ave, Canberra
    Date: Monday 15 September, 3:30 - 5:00pm
    Contact: Sue Beitz DEEWR (02) 6240 5784 or sue.beitz@skillsaustralia.gov.au

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    MINISTER O'CONNOR TO LAUNCH FEE-HELP SCHEME AT TDA FORUM

    Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, will launch TDA's National TAFE Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS) at the TAFE Meets Parliament: Skills Innovation 2020 forum, Tuesday 16 September at Parliament House Canberra.

    The TDA Tuition Assurance Scheme allows full-fee paying students to use the FEE-HELP student loan scheme to borrow funds for tuition fee payments and to repay the debt at a later time when students are in employment and have the material capacity to make repayments.

    TAFE Institutes are reminded that the VET FEE-HELP deadline for 2009 enrolments requires registration to DEEWR well before 19 October.

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    MINISTER'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

    Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP, has announced the winners of the Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices in Canberra.

    For a list of winners click here.

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    US REPORT ON STUDYING ABROAD

    For those members interested in mobility and exchange, a recommended read is the report released earlier this year on College Bound Students' Interest in Study Abroad 2008.

    Following on from TDA's successful program in the US and Canada in May 2008, a number of individual colleges are seeking information from our members on current offerings for internships and study abroad programs.

    For those members with programs currently in place and with an interest in attracting college students from the US to your campus please send through program and institutional details to Rebecca Biazos rebeccabiazos@bigpond.com or for more information call 0407 550 180.

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    NEW PROJECTS TO INCREASE SKILLED LABOUR IN REGIONAL AREAS

    The Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard, has announced 15 new projects aimed at addressing the skills shortages in regional areas.

    Industries targeted by the projects include water conservation, transport, tourism, mining and allied health. Challenger TAFE will be involved in one of the projects aimed at training for the management of irrigation.

    To see the announcement click here.

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    SITE CHOSEN FOR TOWNSVILLE TRADES TRAINING CENTRE

    The Queensland Government has announced the site of a $37.5 million trades training centre in Townsville to be built as a part of SkillsTech Australia, which leads trade training for TAFE in Queensland.

    To view a media release from Queensland Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Rod Welford, 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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