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Newsletter: 14 July 2008
WORLDSKILLS AUSTRALIA WINNERS ANNOUNCED TONIGHTOver 500 of Australia's best young tradespeople competed in Sydney over the weekend in WorldSkills Australia (WSA), the national competition promoting trade and skill excellence. Australia's TAFE Institutes dominated proceedings, featuring hard-working students, proud friends and parents, with teachers and lecturers full of anxious smiles. Some 70,000 visitors were expected over the weekend. Saturday was one example with CEO Mark Callaghan's YouTube blog boasting six-deep spectators at the bricklaying time-trial competition. The national winners will be announced tonight (Monday). The young medallists, if eligible, may then have the opportunity to represent Australia at the International WorldSkills Competition in Calgary, Canada in 2009. This 27th year of WSA - which began modestly in 1981 -- was the first year that national competition was officially 'going green'. Dusseldorp Skills Forum, in collaboration with WSA, hosted a forum on July 11, Skills in a Carbon Constrained Future. The joint forum brought together senior representatives from industry, government and training bodies to discuss the impact of skills, training and future employment demand on sustainability. For more information about WorldSkills Australia results, click here. VET FEE-HELP REGISTRATION OPENVET FEE-HELP is official! The Department of Employment, Education and Workplace relations will manage its introduction over the next four years, but Budget 2007-08 estimate figures reveal that a slow-take-up to the scheme is expected, with allocations of just $261m in loans expected. TDA worked with DEEWR to hold national information sessions for TAFE Institutes. Organisations seeking approval as a VET provider can apply from today. TAFE Directors Australia already has gained approval for a TDA HEP Tuition Assurance, and in July TDA awaits approval from the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Julia Gillard MP, for this to be expanded to VET FEE HELP - a requirement for TAFE Institutes that apply. For TDA TAS Scheme enquiries contact memberservices@tda.edu.au. For more information on VET FEE HELP, click here. To access the VET FEE-HELP application, click here. To subscribe to the VET FEE-HELP mailing list, click here. AUSTRALIA-JAPAN FOUNDATION GRANTS AVAILABLEThe Australia-Japan Foundation, whose mission is to strengthen understanding of the bilateral relationship, invites funding applications for major and community-based projects. Priority will be given to projects which seek to strengthen Australia's bilateral relationship with Japan in the areas of: Economics and Trade; Security, Regional and International Relations; Education; Science and Technology; Arts; Media; and Sport. Projects will take place in Japan or Australia between late October 2008 and September 2009. Closing date is 25 July 2008. For more information, or if you would like to discuss any ideas for the grants program, please email Rebecca Biazos, Director International Engagement. NATIONAL STATISTICS RELEASED ON VET ENROLMENTSThe latest statistics by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics, have been released. The report shows gradual increases in VET enrolments, but high rates of non-completions remaining a key challenge facing employers, and impacting VET institutions. Tasmania recorded the strongest rise in enrolments, up 5 per cent from the previous year. Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Education and Skills, the Hon. David Bartlett MP said, "Skills are essential to sustaining productivity and economic growth. This trend is especially welcome at this time when skilled people, undoubtedly our greatest resource, are in demand by industry." Other strong rates of growth were enrolments up 4.3 per cent in the Northern Territory, and 3.7 per cent in Western Australia. According to the report, VET students in the ACT are 'skilling-up' with more students likely to be studying at a higher education level compared to the national average. ACT Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Andrew Barr boasted that the increase in the number of students is a vote of confidence in the ACT education system. To download the report, click here. TAFE TASMANIA CHIEF ANNOUNCED AS INAUGURAL HEAD OF TRAINING BODYTasmanian TAFE CEO Malcolm White, board member on TAFE Directors Australia, was announced by Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Education and Skills, the Hon. David Bartlett MP as inaugural CEO of Training Tasmania. Mr. Bartlett said this would be one of several senior executive appointments to the newly re-structured TAFE training system. Mr. Bartlett said the appointment of the CEOs has been eagerly awaited and he is confident that they will provide excellent leadership and experience. To read more, click here. SUBMISSIONS FOR THE REVIEW OF DEEWR'S INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTMembers may have received notice of the current review of DEEWR International Education Group and Offshore Network, being conducted by Erebus International. TDA invites member CEOs or international office directors to provide feedback including evidence and case studies for inclusion in a TDA submission. This review provides a unique opportunity for TDA members to input comments about past experiences and ideas for future directions. To access information about the Review provided by Erebus, click here. This document provides guidelines for those wanting to submit comments for the Review. Submission must be sent by July 25, to Rebecca Biazos, TDA Director International Engagement. VET LINGO UNSCRAMBLEDThe National Centre for Vocational Education Research has released a fully searchable VET Glossary. The glossary contains VET-related terms and concepts, VET-related acronyms, key Australian historical documents, Australian VET organisations and some key international VET organisations. To download the Glossary, click here. MAKING A DIFFERENCE CONFERENCE 2008The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council 2008 Conference, Making a Difference, will bring together both community services and health industry sectors within an innovative and collaborative environment. There will be a pre-conference gourmet dinner Welcome to SA Gourmet Tasting Event for Conference participants. Early Bird Registration for the Making a Difference Conference 2008 closes COB, 29 August. To access the registration form, click here. For more information on the Conference and Welcome to SA Gourmet Tasting Event, contact the Business Development Team on (02) 9270 6625 or click here to visit the website. DIARY DATES
MINISTRY FOR NATIONAL EDUCATION, REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA & TT-TVET EU-ASIA-LINK PROJECT PARTNERS
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| DATE: | 21-23 July 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Bandung, Indonesia |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here. |
| DATE: | 15 August 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Telstra Dome, Melbourne |
| DETAILS: | For more information and to register click here. |
| DATE: | 20 August 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Four Seasons Hotel, George Street, Sydney |
| DETAILS: | For more information and to register click here. |
| DATE: | 1-3 October 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here. |
| DATE: | 15-16 October 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Hilton Hotel, Adelaide |
| DETAILS: | For more information and Early Bird registration click here. |
| DATE: | 15-17 October 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Cairns, QLD |
| DETAILS: | Early Bird Registrations close July 18. For more information click here. |
| DATE: | 25-28 October 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Hyatt Regency, Adelaide |
| DETAILS: | For more information email Sharon Smith. |
| DATE: | 30 October - 1 November 2008 |
| LOCATION: | The Esplanade Hotel |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here. |
| DATE: | 17-18 November 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Crown Promenade, Melbourne |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here. |
| DATE: | 30 November - 4 December 2008 |
| LOCATION: | Brisbane |
| DETAILS: | For more information click here. |
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