Newsletter: 15 September 2008

    TAFE MEETS Parliament - Skills Innovation 2020 launch

    DEPUTY PM TO DELIVER MICK YOUNG ORATION TOMORROW EVENING

    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Julia Gillard MPThe Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP will deliver the 2008 Mick Young Oration at the TDA 10th Anniversary Dinner tomorrow evening (Tuesday 16 September) at Old Parliament House Canberra.

    The evening will begin with pre-dinner drinks and networking from 6pm in Kings Hall.

    If you haven't registered for the Parliamentary Dinner, but would like to attend please, call Kerrie Wise on 0408 942 612.

    TAFE MEETS PARLIAMENT FORUM - TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

    The TAFE meets Parliament: Skills Innovation 2020 forum begins tonight with welcome drinks and registration at the Mantra Hotel, Canberra from 6pm.

    The forum will feature both a domestic and international program to be rolled out over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday.

    To view the program or speaker profiles click here.

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    TUITION ASSURANCE SCHEME TO BE LAUNCHED THIS WEEK

    TDA's National TAFE Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS) will be launched this week at the TAFE Meets Parliament: Skills Innovation 2020 forum (Tuesday 16 September) at Parliament House Canberra.

    Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP will launch the program which 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.

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    PRODUCTIVITY PLACES PROGRAM EXPANDS TO UP-SKILL WORKERS

    Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP and South Australian Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, the Hon Paul Caica MP have announced a $14.1 million plan to give some 2,000 workers the opportunity to upgrade their skills under the Productivity Program for Existing Workers initiative - part of the government's Productivity Places Program launched earlier this year.

    To view the media release click here.

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    OECD REPORT SHOWS POOR SPENDING ON EDUCATION

    The Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) released the 2008 edition of Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators in Paris last week.

    The report revealed that Australia's spending on education was below the OECD amount, ranking Australia 19th out of 28 developed nations. For more information on the report click here. To read what the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP had to say about the results click here.

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    NCVER RELEASES 2008 MARCH QUARTER STATISTICS

    The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released the Australian vocational education and training statistics: Apprentices and Trainees March quarter 2008.

    The results show that in the 12 months up to 31 March 2008, commencements increased 5%, completions increased 2%, yet withdrawals increased by 6%. The issue of attrition from apprenticeships is a key challenge, which was addressed by the TDA White Paper to COAG (March , 2007). See www.tda.edu.au.

    For information on the latest NCVER survey, click here.

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    NOMINATION REQUEST - IBSA EDUCATION COMMITTEE

    TAFE nominations are sought from a senior TAFE executive, to be the TDA representative on the Innovation and Business Industry Skill Council (IBSA) education committee.

    Apart from the general functions of providing IBSA with strategic advice and market intelligence, the committee is currently considering the fitness for purpose of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, which is a close and detailed consideration of its effectiveness as an entry level qualification for trainers and assessors.

    Nominations should be sent to TDA CEO Martin Riordan by Thursday 18 November 2008. Martin.riordan@tda.edu.au. Terms of reference are attached.

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    AEI RELEASES REPORT ON SHORT-TERM STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

    AEI has released a report titled Demand for Short Term Study Abroad Programs in the USA conducted by Innovations in Global Education with assistance from the University of Melbourne.

    The goal of the report is to provide Australian institutions with data about the characteristics and development of short-term study-abroad programs.

    To complement the release of this research, AEI North America is coordinating a series of one-day, interactive workshops across Australia in late September/early October.

    To register to attend the workshops, please click on the link below for your city:

    Perth: Friday 26 September link Brisbane: Thursday 2 October link
    Adelaide: Tuesday 30 September link Sydney: Friday 3 October link
    Melbourne: Wednesday 1 October link

    For further information please contact Jen Nielsen, Manager - Education (AEI North America) jen.nielsen@aei.gov.au.

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    QUEENSLAND TRAINING AWARDS ANNOUNCED

    Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE (MSIT) was awarded the 'Public Training Provider of the Year' at the Queensland Training Awards, 11 September 2008.

    Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE student Jeni Wycha was also rewarded for her hard work and dedication by achieving the 'Vocational Student of the Year Award'.

    For a full list of the winners click here.

    To view a media release from MSIT click here.

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    INVITATION TO THE NLC ANNUAL CONFERENCE

    This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the National Liaison Committee (NLC) - the national peak representative body for International Students. TAFE CEOs and Directors have been invited to attend the 23rd Annual NLC Conference to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 6-8 October 2008.

    The theme of the conference is 'Empowering Students: Representation Autonomy, Education Quality & Welfare Assurance'.

    Awards for the following categories will also be presented at the conference:

    For more information about the conference view the invitation here.

    To register for the conference click here.

    To nominate an individual or organisation for an award 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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