Newsletter: 27 April 2009
- 2020 Broadband Summit pledge for TAFE
- $200 million infrastructure funding - guidelines released by DPM
- Coalition launches education website
- Research - VET's effect on welfare-to-work
- Tender opportunity - VET overhaul in defence
- Sporting opportunities for TAFE students
- Invitation to participate in student benchmark study
- Report into the effects of the Bradley Review on universities
- Call for participants - APEC Womens Leaders Network
- Linking energy production and climate change - forum invitation
- Workshop to improve intercultural relationships between students
- Call for papers - Cities, Town Centres and Communities Conference
- Diary Dates
2020 Broadband Summit pledge for TAFE
TAFE Directors Australia has welcomed the government's response to the 2020 Summit to create an $82 million Vocational Education Broadband Network.
The initiative could directly benefit the 1.5 million students enrolled each year in TAFE Institutes, and another 500,000 external students or industry client groups also provided training.
The DPM released a statement on the program. TDA released a statement, to officially welcome the announcement, especially the benefit to students.
To view the 2020 Summit paper click here.
$200 million infrastructure funding - guidelines released by DPM
Picture: Keith Cowlishow and Kelvin Thomson watch as Computer-Aided Design Instructor, Sandie Benson, shows the Deputy Prime Minister how to use the cutting-edge Gerber system. All photos: Vicki Jones.
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The Deputy PM, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP, has released guidelines for the next round of funding under the $200 million Training Infrastructure Investment for Tomorrow (TIIFT) program for TAFE infrastructure.
The Hon Julia Gillard MP visited TAFE at RMIT in Melbourne to view IT and related infrastructure facilities. The Federal Education Minister was welcomed by RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, at the University's Brunswick campus.
Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Design and Social Context) Professor Tony Dalton, Director TAFE, Allan Ballagh, and the Head of the School of Fashion and Textiles, Keith Cowlishaw, accompanied Ms Gillard and Professor Gardner on a tour of the school's new Computer-Aided Design (CAD) facility.
Ms Gillard was also joined by Federal Member for Wills, Kelvin Thomson, and met students and staff, before being shown how to plot Gerber patterns on the new CAD facility, which she praised as "state-of-the-art".
"We need to keep up with changing skills," Ms Gillard said.
Vocational institutes and other eligible applicants can apply to the Federal Government's TIIFT program for grants. DEEWR advises that the scheme is to enable providers to adjust to the "emerging training needs in their local economies and to enhance their abilities to meet the growing need for green skills."
Coalition launches education website
Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, has launched a new website, Education for Australia, aimed at providing the public with a forum to share their views and ideas about the education system.
Click here to view the website.
Research - Cert III training effect on welfare-to-work
The completion of Certificate III and above significantly improves the employment prospects for those in the welfare-to-work system according to a new paper by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
The paper, Welfare to Work: Does VET make a difference?, found:
- The completion of Certificate III and above significantly improves employment prospects.
- The partial completion of a qualification or the completion of a Certificate I or II is not likely to assist employment prospects.
- The impact of training is dependent on the underlying chances of employment of individuals. If they are reasonably high, then training is less likely to have an impact.
Tender opportunity -VET overhaul in defence
The Department of Defence has issued a request for tender for a panel to re-evaluated Defence Training Model (DTM). Support services are also sought from providers, including specialist training research and consultancies, management and ITC consultancies.
Click here for more information.
Sporting opportunities for TAFE students
Australian University Sport (AUS), the peak governing body of university sport in Australia, has invited TAFEs across Australia to participate in the three Regional University Games being held 5 - 8 July 2009.
- Northern University Games (Sunshine Coast)
- Eastern University Games (Bathurst, NSW)
- Southern University Games (Melbourne, Victoria).
The Games feature a dozen team sports, and a 4 night exclusive Social Program. Each event is expected to attract more than 1,000 athletes. More information about each event is available here.
For enquiries on how TAFE can participate click here or contact Kathryn Lorraway, National Programs Coordinator on 07 3876 2610 ext 16.
Invitation to participate in student experience benchmark study
TAFE Directors Australia has been working closely with i-graduate to enable members to participate in a globally recognised study that will evaluate the experience of international students.
It will also enable TAFE Directors Australia, TAFE Institutes and authorities, to compare experiences against other institutions in Australia and oversees.
Members can contact Rebecca Biazos to receive a copy of the full proposal for involvement in the study. Notice of intention needs to be lodged by 8 May 2009.
Report into the effects of the Bradley Review on universities
Universities Australia has advocated a lift in Federal spending in education, in the release the results of a commissioned study by KPMG into the implications of the recommendations of the Bradley Review of Higher Education.
The KPMG study says that the Bradley recommendations will drive Australian recovery and growth, and provide increases in future skills, productivity, exports and GDP.
To view the findings click here.
Call for participants - APEC Women Leaders Network
TAFE Directors Australia would like to invite members and delegates to join a vocational and technical education delegation to attend the 14th APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN) meeting to be held in Singapore 2 -5 August 2009.
This year's theme, 'Women and Sustainable Development in APEC', is in line with APEC 2009 theme of sustaining growth and connecting the region. The meetings bring together senior officials and leaders from both the public and private sector across Asia Pacific.
As our TAFE institutes continue their engagement across the region, events such as this offer an excellent networking and development opportunities for members. In addition to the WLN program, TDA has arranged with Australian Education International and Austrade in Singapore an additional program of business and partnership meetings with key local institutions.
Please contact Rebecca Biazos Director International Engagement (0407 550 180) by 6 May 2009. Final confirmation is due 30 May 2009.
Linking energy production and climate change - forum invitation
Environment Business Australia and The Climate Institute have extended an invitation to Part 3 of the forum series: 'Australia's role in the global green new deal'.
The forum will be held 29 April in Sydney and will discuss the most effective way to roll out major energy productivity programs - a key element in building new markets, industries and jobs in response to climate change in the middle of economic turmoil.
Greg Combet, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, and Greens Senator Christine Milne will join energy efficiency experts in the debate about a national energy efficiency strategy.
For more information click here.
Workshop to improve intercultural relationships between students
The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) is holding a full-day workshop in Perth on 6 May to explore the importance of intercultural relations between local and international students.
Registrations close 30 April. For details or to register click here.
Call for papers - Cities, Town Centres and Communities Conference
The 10th International Cities, Town Centres & Communities Society Conference titled "Cities in Transition" will be held at Deakin University Waterfront Campus, Geelong from 27-30 October 2009.
The deadline for the call for papers is 27 April 2009, click here for more information. A limited number of sponsorship and exhibition booth opportunities are available, click here to register for the exhibition.
Diary Dates
VICTORIAN TAFE ASSOCIATION
State Conference 2009, 'Delivering Success in a Contestable Future'
| DATE: | 7-8 May 2009 |
| LOCATION: | Victoria University Convention Centre |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here |
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH (NCVER)
18th NCVER Conference: 'No Frills'
| DATE: | 8-10 July 2009 |
| LOCATION: | University of Ballarat, Mt Helen Campus |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here |
LH MARTIN INSTITUTE
Professional Development for Leaders in Tertiary Education
| DATE: | 13-15 May, Melbourne - Heads of Department |
| 15-19 June, Canberra - Women in Leadership | |
| 26-30 July, Melbourne - Research Leadership Program | |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here |
AUSTRALIA INDIA BUSINESS COUNCIL
Australia India Business Conference
| DATE: | 20 May 2009 |
| LOCATION: | Sofitel Sydney Wentworth |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here |
NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Skills Recognition Conference
| DATE: | 25-26 May 2009 |
| LOCATION: | Australian Technology Park, Sydney |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here |
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH INDUSTRY SKILLS COUNCIL
Mind the Gen Gap - Working together to meet workforce challenges
| DATE: | 2 June 2009 |
| LOCATION: | Dockside Convention Centre, Darling Harbour Sydney |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here. |
TERTIARY STUDIES EXPO
TSXPO
| DATE: | 18-19 July 2009 |
| LOCATION: | RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here. |
TDA09 - The 2009 conference and strategic review for TDA members and associates
Hosted by TDA
| DATE: | 3-4 September 2009 |
| LOCATION: | Holiday Inn, Gold Coast |
| DETAILS: | More information will be available soon. |
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
3rd National Conference for Enabling Education
| DATE: | 25-27 November 2009 |
| LOCATION: | Toowoomba Queensland |
| DETAILS: | Click here for more information |
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