Newsletter: 7 September 2009
- DPM promotes the quality of Australian education in India
- TDA09 Conference - opportunity to participate in online survey
- Senate hearings - TDA gives evidence to international and regional education inquiries
- Loan scheme information sessions for interested providers
- Invitation to AQF consultations
- Changes to the Victorian school leaving age
- New training department for WA
- Call for papers - 13th Annual AVETRA Conference
- Diary Dates
DPM promotes the quality of Australian education in India
The Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, spent the past week in India seeking to restore confidence in international education, and outline regulatory responses by the Australian Government.
Minister Gillard met with Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Minister for Human Resource Development, Mr Kapil Sibal. She also visited the Madras Christian College, the Madras Institute of Technology, and met with a number of students from Chennai who have studied in Australia.
To view further details regarding her trip to India, click here.
TDA09 Conference - opportunity to participate in online survey
The TDA09 National Conference was held last Thursday and Friday on the Gold Coast. A full report on the conference including photos will be published shortly.
By popular demand, many delegates sought to respond to the presentation of Deloitte’s Gerhard Vorster at the Conference. This included an impact and capability diagnostic developed by Deloitte and an invitation to contribute ratings via an online survey. To take part in the survey, click here. It is planned that the results of the survey will be published in a future issue of the TDA Newsletter.
The TDA09 National Conference was voted by many delegates as one of the strongest for content and strategic input on key issues for the VET sector. An Occasional Paper will be published, and will include a full report for TDA members and stakeholders.
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Dr Ronald Williams, Vice President, The College Board, Member of the American Association of Community Colleges |
Deb Daly, Director Gold Coast Institute of TAFE, and Chair TDA |
Gerhard Vorster, Managing Partner, Deloitte Consulting Australia |
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David Hetherington, Executive Director, Per Capita, Colin Walters, Group Manager, International Group, DEEWR, and Simone Wetzlar, General Executive Manager, People and Sustainability, Theiss Pty Ltd |
Video message from the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP |
Bill Burmester, Deputy Secretary, Tertiary Education, Youth and International, DEEWR |
Senate hearings - TDA gives evidence to international and regional education inquiries
TAFE Directors Australia last week appeared before two Senate inquiries. Transcripts of the evidence are likely to be available by next week. The two inquiries were:
- The Senate Committee on the Welfare of International Students - giving evidence for TDA were Bruce Mackenzie (deputy chair, TDA), Virginia Simmons (board member, Victoria, and representative of the NQC), and Martin Riordan (CEO, TDA). The TDA evidence was reported in Wednesday’s The Age.
- The Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs, in Tweed Heads, northern NSW. At this Committee, TDA’s chair Deb Daly was supported by representatives from rural and regional TAFE Institutes across Australia. The Senate Committee subsequently invited TDA to seek state and territory hearings when they proceed. TDA will circulate the proposed schedule for members.
Loan scheme information sessions for interested providers
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will hold information sessions about the VET FEE-HELP income contingent loan scheme during October.
The information sessions will be provided for Registered Training Organisations that are interested in learning more about the scheme and how to become an approved VET provider.
For details about the events click here.
Invitation to AQF consultations
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Council will release a consultation paper on the changes proposed for the AQF towards the end of September, and will be holding stakeholder consultations workshops to discuss the changes.
The workshops will be held from 28 September to 16 October. TDA members are invited to participate in the workshops. For more information click here. To indicate your interest, please contact the TDA Secretariat, memberservices@tda.edu.au.
Changes to the Victorian school leaving age
Victoria’s Minister for Education, the Hon Bronwyn Pike MP, has announced that from January 2010, the minimum school leaving age will be lifted from 16 to 17.
All Victorian students will be required to complete Year 10, and remain in some form of education, training or employment until the age of 17.
To view the announcement click here.
New Training department for WA
The Western Australian Government has announced the creation of a new portfolio, the Department of Training and Workforce Development.
The new Department will focus on the delivery of education and training services to the WA community.
To view the media release click here.
Call for papers – 13th Annual AVETRA Conference
The Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) is calling for extracts for its 13th Annual Conference which will focus on: ‘VET Research: Leading and Responding in turbulent times’.
The Conference will be held at Surfers Paradise, Queensland, from 8-9 April 2010. Paper abstracts are due by 25 September. For more information click here.
Diary Dates
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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