Newsletter: 17 August 2009

    TDA09 – National Conference – bookings closing soon

    Final registrations are taking place for the TDA09 National Conference. The Conference, to be held 3-4 September on the Gold Coast, has an outstanding line-up of keynote international and domestic leadership that will highlight perspectives based around two themes: Positioning TAFE to meet the challenges of the global marketplace (Day 1) , and ‘One Tertiary’ sector – implications for domestic and international markets (Day 2).

    Following the success of ‘TAFE Meets Parliament’ in 2008, there has been a strong response. Those interested in registering should do so without delay. Click here for full program details and to register.

    Speakers include:

    Senator the Hon Mark Arbib, Minister for Employment, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Government Service Delivery (invited)

    CONFERENCE

    The TDA09 International Gala Dinner will feature guest speaker, the Hon Geoff Wilson MP, Queensland Minister for Education and Training, and will be held 3 September, 7pm.

    *Special offer: the early bird rate has been extended for registrations of three or more delegates from the same organisation. Download the early bird registration form here. Both the TDA09 Summit and the International Dinner can be registered separately online.

    Sponsorship opportunities are still available; please contact the Conference Secretariat, Kerri Wise on (07) 5562 0164 or tda09@destinationconference.com.au.

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    TAFE CEOs write for The Age, raising concerns over treatment of international students

    The Chief Executive of Chisholm Institute of TAFE, Virginia Simmons, and Chief Executive of Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, Bruce Mackenzie, wrote an opinion piece in The Age last week focusing on the treatment of international students and regulation of private colleges.

    The article urges an overhaul of regulations governing the private college system and better resourcing to support quality housing and transport concessions. It also suggests a placing a cap on the number of registered training organisations in order to increase the capacity of regulators to control the industry.

    To view the article click here.

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    Australian peak bodies discuss international education industry

    Six international education peak bodies met last Friday in Melbourne and agreed to cooperate to further strengthen and develop the international education industry over the short and longer term. A joint statement will be issued shortly by the group.

    Attending for TDA was Martin Riordan (CEO), and David Riordan (no relation !) who heads DET International, and chairs its NSW Ministerial Taskforce on international students.

    The peak bodies attending were ACPET, English Australia, IEAA, Independent Schools Council of Australia, TDA and Universities Australia.

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    Invitation to TDA mission to UK Colleges

    The Deputy Chair of TDA, Wayne Collyer, Managing Director of Swan TAFE, Perth, has kindly prepared a detailed itinerary for a senior leadership VET sector tour of UK Colleges, in November.

    The TDA UK Mission will takeDirectors and key VET sector leadership into leading UK Colleges,and will include a visit to the UKColleges’ Annual Conference in Birmingham.

    To see the draft program, click here.

    Those interested should register with TDA’s support agency, Sue Hart, Commerce Management Services Canberra.

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    NCVER forum – Training for the Recovery

    NCVER facilitated a forum on Training for the Recovery at Parliament House Canberra on 30 July which considered the longer-term implications for the training system of the global financial crisis and how the system should be positioned to support the recovery phase.

    Participants included VET and labour market researchers, industry and policy representatives, Universities Australia, and Anne Jones and Michael O’Loughlin from the Victorian TAFE Association.

    To read more click here.

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    TDA and ACE to undertake study on enhancing retention to Year 12

    The Australian Government has accepted a key recommendation from the Joint National Forum on Schools and Skills Engagement, initiated by TDA with the Australian College of Educators, to commission the two agencies to undertake dedicated research on vocational education school models.

    Funding for TDA along with the Australian College of Educators (ACE) was recently approved by the Federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), for their joint research proposal: Enhancing Retention of Young People to Year 12, especially through Vocational Skills.

    The project follows from the 2008 National Forum on Youth Engagement (Hobart), and issues arising from the roundtable on youth and skills, hosted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training (February, 2009), which was represented for TDA by Kaye O’Hara, Deputy CEO, CIT Canberra.

    To view the expected outcomes of the project click here.

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    2009 NSW Training Awards

    NSW TAFE Institutes are advised that tickets are now on sale for the 2009 NSW Training Awards Dinner and Presentation Night.

    The Presentation Night will be held in The Ballroom, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre on Thursday 10 September.

    The NSW Training Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in the vocational education and training sector. Finalists in the NSW Training Awards can be viewed here.

    For more information phone 1800 306 999 or to book tickets click here.

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    Diary Dates

    2009 AUSTAFE Conference
    Network knowledge future: the only edge you need

    DATE:

    2-4 September 2009

    LOCATION:

    Peppers Pier Resort, Hervey Bay Queensland

    DETAILS:

    Click here for more information
    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:

    Click here for more information.
    COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH ISC
    Making a Difference...2009 – Excellence, Inspiration, Action

    DATE:

    21 October, 2009

    LOCATION:

    Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

    DETAILS:

    Click here for more information.
    COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH ISC
    National Accolades for Excellence Gala Presentation Dinner

    DATE:

    21 October, 2009

    LOCATION:

    Crown Towers

    DETAILS:

    Click here for more information.
    ICTC SOCIETY
    2009 Conference and Trade Exhibition

    DATE:

    27-30 October

    LOCATION:

    Geelong, Victoria 

    DETAILS:

    Click here for more information
    COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH INDUSTRY SKILLS COUNCIL
    Mind the Gen Gap – Working together to meet workforce challenges

    DATE:

    5 November, 2009

    LOCATION:

    Dockside Convention Centre, Darling Harbour Sydney

    DETAILS:

    For more information, click here
    NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH (NCVER)
    Young people: finding their way in a new era

    DATE:

    10 November 2009

    LOCATION:

    Melbourne Park Function Centre, Melbourne

    DETAILS:

    For more information, click here
    AUSTRALIAN TRAINING MARKETING CONFERENCE 2009
    Connect, engage, captivate - hosted by Australian Training Marketing

    DATE:

    11- 13 November 2009

    LOCATION:

    Ultimo TAFE, Sydney

    DETAILS:

    www.atmaltd.com.au
    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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