Newsletter: 23 June 2008

• DEPUTY PM APPROVES TAFE TUITION ASSURANCE SCHEME
• AUSTRALIA/CHINA FTA UPDATE: NEGOTIATIONS RESUME
• LATIN AMERICA SPECIALIST SOUGHT FOR EDUCATION PANEL
• FIRST PAN-AFRICAN TVET & FET CONFERENCE
• WA EDUCATION AWARDS OFFER $375K IN PRIZE MONEY
• AEI APPOINTS NEW COUNSELLOR IN NEW DEHLI
• PRISONERS GET PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
• BRISBANE'S TRAINING LEADERS RECOGNIZED
• SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATORS SOUGHT
• 2008 AUSTAFE CONFERENCE
• DIARY DATES

DEPUTY PM APPROVES TAFE TUITION ASSURANCE SCHEME

TAFE Directors Australia is delighted to announce that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, has approved an application by TAFE Directors Australia to establish a Tuition Assurance Scheme pursuant to the provisions to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (as amended). 

For more details, click here

For the application form click here.

[Return to Top]

AUSTRALIA/CHINA FTA UPDATE: NEGOTIATIONS RESUME

Negotiations between Australia and China resumed last week in Beijing on a free trade agreement. During the recent visit to Beijing of Australian Trade Minister the Hon Simon Crean MP, the two sides agreed that both sides should propose priority matters on which negotiators should aim to achieve early outcomes.

China indicated a priority be given to the issues of investment and quarantine. Australia has nominated education and financial services. It is anticipated there may be another two meetings this year.

To read the media release, click here.

[Return to Top]

LATIN AMERICA SPECIALIST SOUGHT FOR EDUCATION PANEL

The Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) Education Action Group (EAG) is seeking expressions of interest from individuals interested in being the Latin American specialist member on the EAG. Applicants should have a strong knowledge of Australia-Latin America education relationships, be actively working in the region, and have experience in institutional and industry collaboration in bilateral and multilateral projects with the region. 

For more information, click here or email Ingrid Kinch. 

[Return to Top]

FIRST PAN-AFRICAN TVET & FET CONFERENCE

The First Pan African TVET & FET Conference for providers of technical and vocational education and training will be held 20, 21, 22 August 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa. 

Part sponsored by The University of Newcastle, Australia, the conference theme will focus on the value of work in social change and education.

The early bird offer ends 4 July, and the deadline for papers is 27June.

For more information about fees, proposal, registration and workshops, click here.

For enquiries, email info@iacsouthafrica.co.za or telephone +27 21 762 7016 or mobile +27 827713716.

[Return to Top]

WA EDUCATION AWARDS OFFER $375K IN PRIZE MONEY

The Western Australian Education Awards are now up for grabs for the State's educators and schools.

Education and Training Minister the Hon Mark McGowen MP said the awards offer prize money for the best teachers, principals, school support staff, TAFEWA lecturers and schools.

Winner are selected by a panel of high profile community and government representatives based on nomination statements, which demonstrate their innovation, commitment and collaborative approach to teaching and lecturing.

Nominations close 22 August. For further information, click here.

To read the media release, click here.

[Return to Top]

AEI APPOINTS NEW COUNSELLOR IN NEW DEHLI

Australian Education International has appointed Ms Kelly Raj as the new Counsellor (Education) at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, effective 20 June 2008. Ms Raj will represent Australia in South Asia in relation to education and training. She was previously Principal Migration Officer at the Australian Embassy in Beijing. 

[Return to Top]

PRISONERS GET PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING 

Western Australia is leading the way in employment for ex-prisoners, with the nation's first prison-based, pre-apprenticeship training program at Wooroloo Prison Farm.

A total of 10 prisoners graduated 17 June from a week pre-apprenticeship in bricklaying, conducted by training provider Silver Trowel. 

WA Corrective Services Minister the Hon Margaret Quirk MP said the government's focus was on helping offenders to gain valuable job skills, and on reducing re-offending and creating safer communities. Other prison-based training successes include the hospitality industry and horticulture.

To read Minister Quirk's media release, click here.

[Return to Top]

BRISBANE'S TRAINING LEADERS RECOGNIZED

The Brisbane region's top employers, apprentices, trainees and vocational students have been selected as regional finalists in the Queensland Training Awards.

Education and Training Minister the Hon Rod Welford MP congratulated the 18 regional finalists in the seven categories from 107 local nominations. "Vocational skills are more important than ever in Queensland, and these awards show how strong they are at a local level," Mr Welford said.

For more information on the Queensland Training Awards, visit www.qta.qld.gov.au

To read the media release, click here.

[Return to Top]

SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATORS SOUGHT

Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA), the Industry Skills Council responsible for Business Services, is compiling a register of skill development opportunities that specifically target small/micro business owners and managers. The register, which is part of a campaign to highlight the importance of skill development for business success, will be promoted to a range of services and programs that support small/micro businesses.

IBSA is interested in hearing about courses and programs that help small/micro business owners and managers to develop their management skills or solve common business problems.

For those wishing to be included in the register, the following details are required: a brief description of the course or program and how it meets the needs of small/micro businesses; details of any nationally recognized training components; eligibility requirements; contact details, and a website link.

Details should be sent to ibsa@ithacagroup.com.au

[Return to Top]

2008 AUSTAFE CONFERENCE

Members of the TAFE community and broader VET sector are invited to the 2008 AUSTAFE Conference to be held 1-3 October 2008 in Adelaide.

This year's conference theme will be 'Forging Dynamic Futures'. This will be explored through the sub-themes of: 'Leadership'; Business Sustainability; Innovation in Teaching and Learning; and 'Social Inclusion'.

To view the invitation, click here. For more information, click here.

[Return to Top]

DIARY DATES

AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES
Annual Conference

DEPARTMENT OF FURTHER EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DFEEST)
2008 Training Sector Forum - Better skills, brighter futures

ACIVC
2008 ACIVC Annual Conference

NCVER & TAFE TASMANIA
17th National Vocational Education and Training Research 'No Frills' Conference

MINISTRY FOR NATIONAL EDUCATION, REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA & TT-TVET EU-ASIA-LINK PROJECT PARTNERS
First World Congress on teacher education for TVET

NCVER
Apprenticeships: Sustaining Australia's skills - NCVER Research Forum

SKILLS DMC
National Skills Development Conference

VETNETWORK
VETNetwork National Conference

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH INDUSTRY SKILLS COUNCIL
Making a Difference Conference 2008

GROUP TRAINING AUSTRALIA
2008 Group Training National Conference

[Return to Top]

| Copyright Statement|   Disclaimer|  Privacy Statement|