The Communicator

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    Issue 7, 4 September 2008

    ISSN 1449 - 051X

    Topical information and debates of interest to the Australian education and training community

    Please note The Communicator will be merged with The Networker as a monthly e-learning newsletter by Education Network Australia.

    The Communicator  - final edition below

    • HREOC will now be known as the Australian Human Rights Commission
      • The change in corporate identity to the Australian Human Rights Commission will be used on all communications and publications. The new corporate image for the Australian Human Rights Commission is the first step towards ensuring that all Australian audiences know that Australia has an independent national institution with the responsibility to protect and promote human rights in Australia. Australian Human Rights Commission, 4 September 2008
    • Launch of education research lab in Victoria
      • New teaching techniques developed in Broadmeadows will have follow-on benefits for schools across Victoria and the nation. The Ideas Lab, which will be open from September 1st, will help solve one of the major issues facing educators today: how to align student experiences in the classroom with their experience and enthusiasm for technology outside of school. Microsoft Australia Government Affairs, 29 August 2008.
    • Immersive learning no longer underground - education.au
      • Education.au, Australia's national ICT agency owned by all Australia's ministers of education and training, formally announced the establishment of its Immersive Learning Unit. The Immersive Learning Unit (ILU) will act as a channel and professional network for information and collaboration around immersive learning tools and technologies that are relevant to education and training, says Education.au CEO, Greg Black. Education.au, 2 September 2008
    • Online resource to raise awareness of Indigenous grieving traditions
      • Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, and Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, today announced an online resource to raise awareness of Indigenous cultural protocols relating to media coverage of the deaths of Indigenous people. FaHCSIA, 1 September 2008.

    Early Childhood Education news

    • Childcare reform in the spotlight
      • The Australian Government's plans to implement a ratings system to better compare the nation's childcare centres are the subject of discussion with Helen Kenneally, the Executive Director of the industry body Childcare Associations Australia. The World Today, 2 September 2008.
    • P-plates for child centres
      • All new childcare centres would be put on 'P-plates' for up to two years and the number of babies looked after by any one carer may be reduced from five to three under an overhaul of early childhood education being considered by the Federal Government. The plan would introduce provisional licensing for all new childcare centres, which would have to prove they were committed to childhood development and show they were able to hire, retain and continue to train staff. Sydney Morning Herald Online, 2 September 2008.
    • Preschool 'gives maths boost'
      • Going to a good preschool nursery boosts a child's chances of achieving in maths at the age of 10, experts say. But the long-term UK study by academics found the biggest influence on a child's achievement in maths at 10 was the education of their mother. The results indicated that home learning environment, preschool effectiveness and primary school effectiveness all make separate, significant impacts. BBC News, 29 August 2008.

    School Education news

    • Teachers urged to go virtual
      • Speaking at the Expanding Learning Horizons 2008 conference, education experts claim that Web 2.0 technologies such as blogging, wikis and virtual worlds are disrupting traditional ways of teaching. Technology and education consultant Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach described a future that would take place in 'immersive worlds that haven't been invented yet' stating 'Immersive worlds are where our students are spending their time; we (educators) need to be there too.' IT News, 2 September 2008.
    • Blueprint makes Victoria education revolution ready
      • Launching a five year education reform agenda, Victorian Premier John Brumby said better leadership throughout schools, better support for parents to involve them in their child's learning and a restructure of school networks statewide will be the drivers for future excellence in education in Victoria. Premier of Victoria, 2 September 2008.
    • Improving school leadership should be a priority, says OECD
      • Good teachers are the number one factor for excellence in student achievement but next comes high-quality leadership. Governments must do more to recruit and train the best people to run schools, according to a new OECD publication. In today's education world, school principals have a vital role to play in modernising entire education systems, says Improving School Leadership, a two-volume report drawing on evidence from 19 countries. OECD, 28 August 2008.

    Vocational Education and Training news

    • New opportunities for aboriginal employment
      • The Government will be asked to offer apprenticeships and jobs in building roads, rail, and port facilities around Australian to Aborigines under its $76 billion national infrastructure fund. This proposal is being driven by Warren Mundine, leading Aborginal figure and former ALP president, and Kevin Rudd's business adviser, and Infrastructure Australia head Sir Rod Eddington. ABC News, 2 Septemeber 2008.
    • New Queensland skills plan modernises TAFE
      • Over $280 million will be spent on modernising Queensland TAFE's in the next four years. The Queensland Skills Plan 2008 has recommended this investment in infrastructure, a new ICT system across TAFE systems, increased industry participation in the development of vocational training programs, and the release of TAFE staff to industry to increase skill levels. Programs for attracting and retaining staff in areas of emerging demand (civil infrastructure and sustainable technologies)is also an important aspect of the plan. Qld Minister for Education and Training, 29 August 2008.
    • Tasmania to tackle skills shortages
      • Tasmania has joined the Australian Government's Productivity Places Program. By the end of the year, the state will deliver 458 new training places in identified skill shortage areas with more places to come next year including 108 health places for national priority health occupations, announced by the Council of Australian Government (COAG)on 3 July 2008. The new training places will be targeted at the existing workforce and will be available at the Certificate III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma Levels. Minister for Education, 29 August 2008.

    Adult and Community Education news

    • Partnerships for social inclusion Conference 15 - 16 October 2008
      • The Partnerships for Social Inclusion conference focuses on increasing social inclusion via the development of multi-sectoral partnerships and flexible policy delivery. It is a collaboration between the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne, the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development, the Australian Government and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Local Economic and Employment Development(LEED)Programme. The Call for Papers and Registration are now open. University of Melbourne, August 2008.
    • Government offers funding for volunteers
      • Funds of up to $3,000 dollars are available to organisations in South Australia who encourage volunteers to participate in their activities and programs and can show a benefit to their host community. Applications close on 3 October 2008. South Australia, August 2008.
    • Life Matters discusses volunteering and baby boomers
      • This program examines questions such as : What are the newly retired looking for in their volunteering roles? Are they more discriminating than older seniors? Is there a connection between volunteering and good health? ABC Radio National Life Matters, 5 November 2007.

    Higher Education News

    • OECD - Trends Shaping Education -2008 Edition
      • This book is designed to help policy makers, managers and practitioners in education to think about developments like these and to support long-term strategic thinking in education. Information on how to obtain the book is provided on the site. OECD, August 2008.
    • Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (media release)
      • The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, announced that an Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement will be introduced to make Australian qualifications recognised and renowned throughout the world. The Graduation Statement will describe a higher education qualification in an easily understandable way, relating it to the system within which it was issued and describing qualifications in a clear and consistent way to potential employers and other higher education institutions. DEEWR Media release, 4 September 2008.
    • Graduate Management Association of Australia Inc (GMAA) Star Rating 2008
      • The GMA produces and publishes the annual GMA Star Rating with a detailed survey of the top business schools in Australia. GMA, August 2008.

    International Education news

  • Student visa assessment levels changed
    • Improved compliance by international students studying in Australia has prompted an easing of student visa assessment levels for 43 countries in one or more education sectors. Strong growth in the student visa program with 278 000 visas granted to international students in 2007-08 - an increase of 22 per cent on 2006-07 - combined with the improving visa compliance of many international students, are positive signs for Australia's international education industry. DIAC, 3 September 2008
  • UWA strengthens links with Chinese and Japanese universities
    • A trilateral agreement between The University of Western Australia, China's Zhejiang University and Japan's Kobe University will establish for the first time important education and scientific links between the three institutions. Speaking at the signing of the agreement, UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the trilateral collaboration was based on Western Australia's strength in medical research, Japan's strength in bio-engineering, particularly in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, and China's access to clinical trials. UWA, 22 August 2008
  • Additional scholarships for East Timorese students
    • The Prime Minister has announced that Australia would almost double the number of scholarships available for East Timorese students to undertake full-time undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Australia. The number of places under the Government's overseas aid program would increase from 12 to 20 in 2009, at a total cost of around $3 million per year. Prime Minister of Australia, 25 August 2008.

     

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