Newsletter: 10 November 2008

    TAFE teachers shine at Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards

    TAFE teachers excelled at the Institute of Trades Skills Excellence (ITSE) 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards, announced last week in Sydney. The winners are testimony to the calibre of teachers within the TAFE system who have extensive industry knowledge and teaching skills.

    The overall 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award winner will be announced at the Australian Training Awards, 20 November in Darwin. To view the ITSE media release click here.

    Category winners included:

    Michael Cochrane Automotive TAFE/Blacktown
    Bruce Simpson Hospitality, Tourism & Services Wodonga Institute of TAFE
    David O'Dea Cookery TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, Albury
    Jane Trewin Hairdressing Gordon Institute of TAFE
    Stuart Hoxley Fitout & Finish Swinburne University (TAFE)
    Ronald Duffield Services Challenger TAFE
    Michael Landers Structures Miller TAFE NSW
    Steve Wicks Fabrication TAFE NSW - New England Inst.
    Leigh Harris Mechanical Chisholm Institute
    Charles Dornan Mineral Resources Central TAFE
    Stephen Anderson Manufacturing (Advanced) Sydney Institute of TAFE
    Jeff Smith Cons. & Land Management Chisholm Institute
    Brian Heim Agriculture Charles Darwin University
    David McKee Electrical SkillsTech Australia

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    TAFE NSW Quality Awards & Industry Forum

    TAFE NSW showcased innovation across its 10 Institutes, for teachers and professional staff and industry partners last week. The TAFE NSW Quality Awards included 126 exhibits, and was hosted at The Pavilion Centre, at Sydney's Rosehill Racecourse by South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW.

    SWSI Director Barry Peddle created an Industry Forum for the hundreds of delegates to discuss the likely impact on the TAFE sector of the Bradley Review into Higher Education.

    ABC Sydney radio announcer Adam Spencer chaired the 'hypothetical' which heard speakers urging that the value of TAFE Institutes to the community and students not be diminished in any review process.

    Industry Forum guests

    The Industry Forum guests were (left to right):
    Martin Riordan, CEO, TDA
    Dr. Robyn Tudor, Academic Director, JMC Academy
    Professor Gerard Sutton, Vice Chancellor, University of Wollongong
    Marie Persson, Deputy Director-General, DET NSW
    Adam Spencer, host of Forum, ABC Radio
    John Ross, Journalist, Campus Review
    Andre Rolfe, Director Higher Education, DET NSW

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    Hurry! UK opportunity for TAFE Directors

    An invitation has been extended to TDA for two TAFE directors to visit the UK to participate in the Association of Colleges Annual Conference, 17-19 November. The conference is attended by over 1,200 delegates and is an important event on the UK further education calendar. The two representatives will also get the opportunity to visit some of the best colleges around the UK.

    Although short notice, this visit would offer enormous opportunity for directors and is the first step in a growing alliance between TAFE and the recently formed education body, Learning and Skills Development Service in the UK.

    Please contact Pam Caven ASAP for more information or to notify your interest pamcaven@bigpond.com or 0403 383 024.

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    AQTF Excellence Criteria update

    After the success of six TAFE Institutes that achieved gold in the AQTF Excellence Criteria, TDA has sought more information about the program for other institutes that may want to be involved in the next cycle.

    Chris Stewart, Acting General Manager, Quality and Recognition, TVET, answered some questions about the Excellence Criteria and how TAFE Institutes can get involved. Click here to view the information.

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    Pay rise for WA TAFE lecturers

    Western Australian Minister for Energy and Training, The Hon. Peter Collier MP, has announced a salary increase of six per cent for TAFE lecturers. More than 3,000 lecturers across 10 TAFE colleges in Western Australia will receive the pay rise.

    To view a media release about the announcement click here.

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    Presentation by Apprenticeship Roundtable to VET stakeholders

    Vocational education stakeholders have been invited to a presentation being made by members of the 2008 Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable.

    Numbers are limited, so please RSVP to mary.gilmore@deewr.gov.au before COB, 12 November to secure your place.

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    HR Survey released by NCVER

    A joint review of the HR Function in TAFE and public VET Institutes has been completed by academics Andrew Smith and Geof Hawke. NCVER Managing Director Tom Karmel released the survey in Adelaide last week, flagging the move for a more strategic operational role for HR in the dynamic market environment impacting TAFE Institutes.

    Click here for the NCVER media release.

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    Economic downturn to affect international student numbers

    Australia's third largest export, education, could be affected if the global downturn hits Asia, reported The Australian last week. The article suggested that international student numbers could slow and the Australian government could reduce immigration and student visas if the downturn gains pace.

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    Centrelink meeting raises challenging issues

    Director of the CIT Vocational College, Jackie Werner, represented TDA at the Centrelink National Student Services Partnership Group meeting, 9 October last. Many thanks to Jackie, and CIT Canberra, for leading this role on behalf of Australian TAFE Institutes.

    Jackie has reported some of the issues raised about the structure and processes of Centrelink including:

    The location of Centrelink offices

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    E-learning events around Australia

    Australian Flexible Learning Framework has organised a series of e-learning events in each state and territory around Australia. For information on each event click here.

    Along with the national e-learning events, Australian Flexible Learning Framework will also hold the 2008 Industry e-learning forum, 26 November at the Shangri-La Hotel, The Rocks, Sydney. The forum will showcase how various industries are partnering with registered training organisations (RTOs) to incorporate e-learning into workforce development plans. For more information click here.

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    Call for participation - 12th AVETRA Annual Conference

    The Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) has called for papers and presentations for its 12th Annual Conference to be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Coogee Beach Sydney, 16-17 April 2008. The conference will be titled: 'Aligning participants, Policy and Pedagogy: Traction and Tension in VET Research'.

    For more information about the conference or to submit a paper click here.

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    Mick Young Scholarship Trust Race Day - Fundraiser

    TAFE executives are invited to support the 2008 Mick Young Scholarship Trust Race Day, to be held at Royal Randwick Racecourse Sydney, Saturday 22 November.

    TDA recently partnered with the Trust for the 2008 Mick Young Oration, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP in Canberra.

    The Trust helps disadvantaged students every year to continue their studies, particularly in the TAFE sector. Click here for an invitation to the event. Contact Liz Dale to purchase tickets for the event.

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    Public safety feedback survey

    Government Skills Australia, the Industry Skills Council for the Public Safety Sector (police, fire, defence, SES, emergency management, aquatic search and rescue) is currently reviewing the public safety section of its website and would like your feedback through a short survey.

    The survey can be accessed here. For your reference, you can link to the public safety section of the Government Skills Australia website here.

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    Diary Dates

    IDEA 2008
    A series of events focusing on technology and education
    DATE: 12 - 13 November - see website for individual events
    LOCATION: Melbourne Convention Centre
    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.

    ILDP GLOBAL LEARNING FORUM
    Educating for Excellence
    DATE: 17-18 November 2008
    LOCATION: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour
    DETAILS: For more information go to www.ildp2008.com.

    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS
    Australian Training Awards
    DATE: 20 November 2008
    LOCATION: Darwin
    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.

    AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE LEARNING FRAMEWORK
    eLearning08
    DATE: 26 November 2008
    LOCATION: Shangri-La Hotel, The Rocks, Sydney
    DETAILS: www.flexiblelearning.net.au/NSW

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

    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS
    BIG Skills Conference
    DATE: 2-5 March 2009
    LOCATION: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour
    DETAILS: For more information click here.

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