Newsletter: 11 May 2009

    TAFE Institute opportunity - assessment services for 457 visa applicants

    As part of changes to the 457 Visa program, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) has been tasked with progressively introducing formal skills assessment from 1 July 2009 for 457 visa applicants from high risk immigration countries in trade occupations and chefs.

    TRA is seeking Expressions of Interest from Australian Registered Training Organisations to provide offshore assessment services for Temporary Worker Visa applicants (subclass 457). For more information click here. Expressions of Interests close on 2 June 2009.

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    DPM joins TDA for roundtable discussion

    The Deputy Prime Minster, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, has met with TAFE Institute directors in a roundtable discussion following the TDA AGM hosted by Victoria University, Melbourne, last week.

    The roundtable focused on initiatives approved at the recent COAG meeting in Hobart.

    TAFE Institute executives were joined for the roundtable by Philip Bullock, Chair of Skills Australia.


    Dr. John Spierings, Senior Advisor, with Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP
    Guests at the TDA Roundtable
    Chair of Skills Australia, Philip Bullock and TDA Chair, Deb Daly

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    'TDA09' - Call for Papers

    TAFE Directors welcomes a call for papers for its 2009 national conference, to be held 3-4 September 2009, hosted by Gold Coast Institute of TAFE, Queensland. Sector leadership are invited to nominate ideas for contributions and presentations to Pam Caven, Director, Stakeholder Engagement, TDA.

    Early bookings are also open from today.

    The 'TDA09 Recession, Restructure, Retraining - Skills for Australia's Emergence from the Global Financial Crisis' conference will be a strategic event, with a special dinner on Thursday, 3 September.

    TDA09 is a member and associate-only event, designed as an opportunity for targeted networking, policy debate and strategic planning. It will focus on topics including funding and TAFE re-structuring; quality and emergence of the 'One Tertiary' vision for higher and vocational education; green skills; and international engagement.

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    TAFE Institute alliances the key to increasing disadvantaged students in universities

    Universities will struggle to meet the Federal Government's 20 per cent target for disadvantaged students by 2020, according to University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor, Glyn Davis.

    Professor Davis said there are too few eligible students to fill places due to poor school results. The solution, he said, was a stronger partnership between TAFE and university to improve articulation and to build combined institutions.

    See an article from The Australian here. To view a presentation by Professor Davis at the Is it just a matter of degrees? forums click here.

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    International VET numbers rise - AEI data

    VET student numbers from abroad rose sharply during the first quarter of 2009 according to the Australian Education International (AEI) International Student Data.

    VET was again the fastest growing sector, with enrolments increasing 41 per cent and commencements growing 31 per cent in the three months to March 2009, compared with the same period last year. Leading the growth were India and China. Total student commencements across all sectors grew almost 21 per cent over the period.

    To view the full results click here.

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    AEI 'Study in Australia 2010' workshops

    AEI has arranged workshops around Australia throughout May and June 2009, open to all who contribute to Australia's international education and training sector.

    Each one day session will cover the 'Study in Australia 2010' initiatives, briefings on key areas of work, including international student enrolment trends, market research, the regulatory environment, scholarships and the student experience.

    AEI is subsidising registration costs to encourage as many people as possible, working at all levels in international education and training, to participate.

    All participants will also receive AEI 2009 Market Handbook - a country by country analysis of international education and training trends and opportunities for Australian providers.

    Running alongside the briefings will be the annual half day ESOS National Code Best Practice Workshops. For program details and to register click here.

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    Professional development for international education researchers

    TDA has supported a new professional development series of training sessions, conducted by the LH Martin Institute.

    Members and senior executives are invited to take part in the inaugural International Education Researchers' Seminar, to be held on 12 June 2009 in Melbourne.

    This event is relevant to those members who are involved in research or who are interested in influencing the future research agenda for international education.

    See attached flyer on the event or register online.

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    A helping hand for bushfire victims

    Students from the North Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) have provided help to bushfire victims from the Kinglake district by constructing and donating bathroom facilities.

    The ensuite units will be used in temporary housing for those who have been made homeless by the fires. To view an article about NMIT click here.

    TDA acknowledges the help of several TDA member institutes in Victoria which have thrown support to bushfire victims, including mobile kitchens and other aid.

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    Austrade launches e-marketing workshop for education exporters

    Members are invited to register for a half-day workshop that will cover best practice e-marketing principles for promoting TAFE institutes to international markets.

    Speakers include:

    For more information or to register click here.

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    Diary Dates

    LH MARTIN INSTITUTE
    Professional Development for Leaders in Tertiary Education
    DATE: 13-15 May, Melbourne - Heads of Department
    14-15 May, Melbourne - Leadership in international education
    15-19 June, Canberra - Women in Leadership
    26-30 July, Melbourne - Research Leadership Program
    DETAILS: For more information click here
    CHINA AUSTRALIA BUSINESS CONGRESS 2009
    DATE: 19-20 May 2009
    LOCATION: Harbours Edge, Sydney
    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.
    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
    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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