Newsletter: 31 August 2009
- TDA to appear before two Senate Committee hearings this week
- ‘Skillaroos’ farewelled in Sydney – let the WorldSkills games begin!
- Peak bodies join to strengthen Australian international education
- TDA09 Annual Conference hosted by Queensland Institutes this week
- BECAS Chile scholarships update
- NCVER announces new Chair, Dr Peter Shergold
- New TAFE Trade Training Centre for Mackay, Queensland
- Revised Music Training Package now available
- Media profiles the return to TAFE
- Diary Dates
TDA to appear before two Senate Committee hearings
TAFE Directors Australia has been asked to give evidence at two Senate Committee hearings, this week.
- On Tuesday (1 September, Melbourne) TDA will give evidence to the first of three days of public hearings to the Senate Committee on the Welfare of International Students. TDA has already made a detailed submission to the Senate Inquiry, calling for stricter adherence to the regulation of private colleges, a new regulatory framework for Australian VET, and a review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Fund.
- On Wednesday (2 September, Tweed Heads, NSW), TDA will give evidence at a special public meeting on the north NSW coast to the Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Development in its Inquiry into the effects of the 2009 Budget. TDA has provided a detailed submission to the Committee.
TDA’s CEO and directors will report the key issues from the hearings to the TDA09 Annual Conference. Also, a special closed session for both domestic and international sectors will be held during the Conference to assist the TDA board ahead of its meetings at Parliament House, Canberra in November, and to highlight current issues affecting TAFE Institutes before COAG.
Skillaroos farewelled in Sydney – let the WorldSkills games begin!
Twenty-six of Australia’s top apprentices and trainees have left for Calgary, Canada, to compete in the 40th WorldSkills International Competition.
Federal Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Mark Arbib officially farewelled the young Australians, and presented each Team Australia Skillaroo with Australian flags for their journey. Click here for more information.
The competition runs from 1-7 September. TDA will cross live from the TDA09 Conference to view the progress of the Skillaroos team, and wishes all the competitors the best of luck. To follow the progress of the Skillaroos click here.
Peak bodies’ Communiqué on Australian international education
Australia’s peak education bodies including TDA have released a Communiqué outlining steps to support and develop the Australian international education system.
The group includes the Australian Council for Private Education and Training, English Australia, the International Education Association of Australia, the Independent Schools Council of Australia, TDA, and Universities Australia.
It establishes a 10-point plan which includes a stronger commitment to ongoing and effective government-industry partnerships, a national ‘student-safe’ campaign, and the establishment of a national advisory service. To view the full Communiqué click here.
TDA09 National Conference hosted by Queensland Institutes this week
The TDA09 National Conference will be held this Thursday and Friday, hosted by Queensland Institutes of TAFE on the Gold Coast. TDA looks forward to presenting a challenging and informative programme for its members.
Preceding the Conference, delegates can examine speaker extracts and the key issues for consideration for each session. Click here to view the extracts as well as speaker bios.
TDA will include a closed member’s policy session, for both domestic and international sectors during the Conference, and will publish an Occasional Paper from the event ahead of the TDA board meetings due at Parliament House, Canberra, in November.
BECAS Chile scholarships update
The BECAS Chile Technical Scholarship programme is due to be launched online in Chile, during early September.
Australian TAFE Institute courses have been highly valued by the programme, with many selected by a Chilean Industry and Vocational Education Taskforce which provided support to the Government-backed technical scholarship scheme.
Chile-based agents Kangaroo Education, are supporting the scheme, and will host a booth at this week’s Education Expo, to be staged in Santiago. Students selected are expected to begin to visit Australia in early 2010.
NCVER announces new Chair, Peter Shergold
Dr Peter Shergold AC, the former Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has been named as a new high-profile appointee to Chair the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
Dr Shergold is currently the Macquarie Group Foundation Professor at the Centre for Social Impact UNSW.
NCVER was nominated by the Bradley Review of Higher Education as the research agency which may support a wider brief across the entire tertiary sector.
For more information click here.
New TAFE Trade Training Centre for Mackay, Queensland
Queensland Premier, the Hon Anna Bligh MP, has announced a $46 million TAFE Trade Training Centre for the Mackay region.
The centre will be built at Mackay’s Central Queensland University campus and is aimed at supporting improvements to the region’s education opportunities.
For more information click here.
Revised Music Training Package available
Innovation Business Skills Australia (IBSA) has released a revised Music Training Package which includes advances in digital technology and global communication.
The package provides qualifications from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma in music business, music composition, music performance and sound production. For more information click here.
Media profiles the return to TAFE
Adele Horin, columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald, has questioned the success of Federal political direction with regards to private vocational education, which undermined TAFE Institutes, and quality in the marketplace.
The Saturday column points to the experiments of the ATCs and similar policies which have characterised differential education policy between higher and vocational education in Australia. The Adele Horin column is a recommended read.
Diary Dates
TDA09 - The 2009 conference and strategic review for TDA members and associates
Hosted by TDA
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DATE: |
3-4 September 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Holiday Inn, Gold Coast |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information. |
2009 AUSTAFE Conference
Network knowledge future: the only edge you need
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DATE: |
2-4 September 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Peppers Pier Resort, Hervey Bay Queensland |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information |
COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH ISC
Making a Difference...2009 – Excellence, Inspiration, Action
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DATE: |
21 October, 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information. |
COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH ISC
National Accolades for Excellence Gala Presentation Dinner
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DATE: |
21 October, 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Crown Towers |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information. |
ICTC SOCIETY
2009 Conference and Trade Exhibition
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DATE: |
27-30 October |
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LOCATION: |
Geelong, Victoria |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information |
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH INDUSTRY SKILLS COUNCIL
Mind the Gen Gap – Working together to meet workforce challenges
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DATE: |
5 November, 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Dockside Convention Centre, Darling Harbour Sydney |
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DETAILS: |
For more information, click here |
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH (NCVER)
Young people: finding their way in a new era
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DATE: |
10 November 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Melbourne Park Function Centre, Melbourne |
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DETAILS: |
For more information, click here |
AUSTRALIAN TRAINING MARKETING CONFERENCE 2009
Connect, engage, captivate - hosted by Australian Training Marketing
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DATE: |
11- 13 November 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Ultimo TAFE, Sydney |
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DETAILS: |
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
3rd National Conference for Enabling Education
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DATE: |
25-27 November 2009 |
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LOCATION: |
Toowoomba Queensland |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information |
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