Newsletter 28 March 2011

     

    New Coalition O’Farrell Government takes the reins in NSW

    TAFE Directors Australia congratulates the new Premier-elect of NSW, Barry O’Farrell, after the State Coalition’s sweeping victory in the NSW Election.

    TDA is keen to engage with the incoming Coalition Government, and was assured of its keen interest to reinvigorate apprenticeships and the interest shown in TAFE by several frontbenchers up to, and during, the State Election campaign.

    The National Board of TDA will meet in Sydney later this month, and TDA hopes this will be an opportunity for the incoming Education and Training Minister to meet TAFE executives and discuss a platform for reform.

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    Policy in the Pub: today in Sydney

    This afternoon in Sydney, TVET will host its first ‘Policy in the Pub’ event in New South Wales for 2011, at the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel from 4:30pm-6:30pm. The Institute Director of Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW, David Riordan, will be one of the guest speakers.

    The title of the event will be ‘International Education: Boom to bust and back again?’, and the afternoon’s panellists are:

    To attend the event, please RSVP to TVET by 2pm today. 

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    National VET Regulator Bill passes Parliament – TEQSA Bill now before Senate Committee

    In an historic week for vocational education and training, the National VET Regulator (NVR) Bill has been passed by both houses of Federal Parliament, allowing the new regulator to begin its establishment.

    All three Bills were passed which will allow the regulator to oversee VET in all states except Victoria and Western Australia.

    TDA welcomed the passage of the legislation which it said marks a milestone in both the management of skills and regulation of training for Australia.

    TDA supported the legislation following intervention by Senator the Hon. Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, to hold a new round of consultations, and align the NVR legislation with TEQSA legislation.

    See TDA’s media release here.

    See a media release from Senator Evans here.

    TEQSA legislation has now also been introduced into Parliament, and this has been referred to a Senate Committee. TDA will make a submission to the Senate Committee to review its detailed provisions.  Further information is available here.

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    Industry Skills Councils Senate inquiry complete

    Industry Skills Councils should review their activities to ensure their primary focus is on training package oversight and delivery according to the final report of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee.

    The report outlines 10 recommendations resulting from its inquiry into the role, effectiveness and processes of Industry Skills Councils. To view all the recommendations click here.

    TDA contributed to the Inquiry. Click here to view TDA’s submission.

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    Initial international student changes pass through Senate

    The first set of legislative changes in response to the Baird Review into international education has been passed by the Senate.

    The Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment Bill is set to provide greater protection to international students and improve the quality and standards of providers.

    View a media release from the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, click here.

    For more information on these changes and further updates please visit the AEI website.

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    A need to redefine ‘at risk’ according to new report

    Counting the number of young people who are unemployed or not studying doesn’t accurately reflect the number who are ‘at risk’, according to a new report from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

    The report says that factors such as ‘gap years’, breaks in study or work, and mixing study with part-time work, mean that many young people are unnecessarily labelled as ‘at risk’, and that the term ‘at risk’ is not very helpful anyway.

    To read more click here.

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    Austrade briefing on Sub-Sahara region

    Austrade will be hosting a market briefing on the Sub-Saharan Africa education market tomorrow, Tuesday 29thMarchat 5pm AEDT at various Austrade offices across Australia.

    It will feature detailed briefings from Austrade’s teams in Johannesburg and Port Louis, summarising the market opportunities across Southern African and Indian Ocean Markets.

    AusAid will provide a comprehensive overview of its scholarship and market development projects that it has coming up across the region.

    The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will provide a briefing on its activities in the market

    There will also be an opportunity for questions to the panel from Austrade, AusAid and DIAC.

    For more information click here.

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    Seeking comment on new Diploma proposal

    The latest version of draft material for the proposed Diploma of Vocational Education and Training is currently available for consideration and feedback.

    Included within the new draft material is a new proposed qualification, the Diploma of Training Design and Development.

    To access the draft material click here. If members would like to respond to the draft, please contact TDA’s representative on the Reference Group for the project, Louise Palmer, General Manager, People and Organisational Development, by 4 April.

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    TAFE teachers and students lending a hand in Queensland

    In the wake of this year’s devastating floods, TAFE Institutes across Queensland have been lending a hand to their local communities.

    An excellent example is the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE, which has pledged to send 60 tradesmen and students to Ipswich every Friday for the rest of the year to help with the rebuilding effort.

    Currently the Institute is seeking the donation of a bus to transport the group each week. To read an article about the efforts of the TAFE Institute and its students click here. 

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    Strengthened AQF approved for implementation

    At its meeting on 18 March 2011 the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) approved the final aspects of the strengthened Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the implementation arrangements.

    Read more here.

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    Call for papers and presentations: No Frills Conference

    The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) invites practitioners and researchers to share their research and knowledge at the 20thNational Vocational Education and Training Research Conference, ‘No Frills’.

    Co-sponsored by NCVER and North Coast TAFE, this year’s conference will be held in Coffs Harbour from 13-15 July.

    The conference focuses on strategies, observations and proven practices that can influence policy and practice for an even better training system in Australia. NCVER seeks presentations that rely on sound evidence based research.

    To be part of ‘No Frills’ 2011, submit your abstract by Friday, 15 April 2011. For abstract requirements and submission details click here.

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    A glowing report to Parliament for Box Hill Institute of TAFE

    Member for Chisholm, the Hon Anna Burke MP, gave a glowing review of Box Hill Institute of TAFE and its students in Federal Parliament last week.

    Ms Burke said:

    “I want to talk about some great things that are happening in my electorate at this time. My electorate is home to a lot of higher education institutions: Monash University, Deakin University and Box Hill Institute of TAFE. I specifically want to speak about Box Hill Institute of TAFE tonight. TAFE does not get a lot of praise and it certainly does not get mentioned much. I think in a lot of people’s minds TAFE is a secondary thing, where tradies go and get their skills and all of the rest of it. Box Hill TAFE is a phenomenal institution—and it certainly does teach tradies, which is a fantastic thing.”

    To see Ms Burke’s full speech click here.

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    Getting to the finish line: insights from research into apprenticeships

    The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is hosting a series of breakfast briefings on apprenticeships, focusing on pre-apprenticeship programs and understanding the ‘psychological contract’ between apprentice and employer.

    The ‘NCVER Research on Toast’ briefings will be held in early May in cities including: 

    For further information and to register, please click here.

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    Diary Dates

    VICTORIAN TRAINING AWARDS
    Closing date for nominations
    DATE: 1 April, 2011
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    NZ VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESEARCH FORUM
    TAFE Governance and Regulations Forum
    DATE: 27-28 April, 2011
    LOCATION: Rutherford House, Wellington
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    VICTORIAN TAFE ASSOCIATION
    Gaining the Edge – Outcomes, Equity and Innovation
    DATE: 3-4 May, 2011
    LOCATION: Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    VELG
    2011 Queensland VET Symposium
    DATE: 12-13 May, 2011
    LOCATION: Hilton, Brisbane
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE LEARNING FRAMEWORK
    Industry E-learning Showcase and Exhibition
    DATE: 25 May, 2011
    LOCATION: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Melbourne
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH
    No Frills
    DATE: 13-15 July, 2011
    LOCATION: North Coast TAFE, Coffs Harbour
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    NSW TRAINING AWARDS
    Nominations closing date
    DATE: 25 March, 2011
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    CRITERION CONFERENCES
    Interconnected Tertiary Education - Stronger pathways across Higher Education & VET for increased participation
    DATE: 30-31 March, 2011|
    LOCATION: Mercure, Melbourne
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    INFORMA EDUCATION
    The 9th Annual Higher Education Summit
    DATE: 27-29 April, 2011
    LOCATION:Sofitel, Brisbane  
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    AVETRA
    Research in VET: Janus – Reflecting Back, Projecting Forward
    DATE: 28-29 April, 2011
    LOCATION: Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    VELG TRAINING
    2011 National VET Conference
    DATE: 4-5 August, 2011
    LOCATION: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    SKILLSDMC
    2011 National Conference
    DATE: 10 August, 2011
    LOCATION:Four Season’s Hotel, Sydney
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
    2011 Conference
    DATE: 11-14 October, 2011
    LOCATION: Adelaide Convention Centre
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE TRAINING FRAMEWORK
    ePortfolios Australia Conference 2011
    DATE: 17-18 October, 2011
    LOCATION: Perth
    DETAILS: Click here for more information.

    GROUP TRAINING AUSTRALIA
    Looking ahead - Group Training National Conference
    DATE: 19-21 October, 2011
    LOCATION: Grand Hyatt, Melbourne
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

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