eVALBEC 
May 2015 | VALBEC | Web version
In this Issue
VALBEC Conference - a fortnight away
1. 'Streams of Potential - What lies beneath'
VALBEC committee
2. Welcome to the new committee
3. Life members
4. Students and teachers can contribute to Fine Print
Professional development
5. 2015 ACAL Conference • Call for presentations
'Resilience, Risk Preservation: the evolving world of adult literacies'
6. Singing together
7. At the Coalface
8. 2015 Australian Training Awards
Resources
9. The International Year of Light - lesson ideas
VALBEC Conference - a fortnight away
1. 'Streams of Potential - What lies beneath'
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Can a decent education turn young criminals around? Tony Wilson, from Fairfax asked this question when he went inside Victoria's toughest youth prison to see a remarkable school in action. Hear the school's principal, Brendan Murray, at the VALBEC conference. See the Fairfax report.
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Wyndham Community & Education Centre has had many employer-educator relationships over the years. Hear about their success stories, strategies and share best practice ideas for engaging with industry.
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How to meet the double assessment requirements in SEE and discover some ‘hand-on’ techniques for coverage of both the ACSF and the CGEA.
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There are maths skills common to a range of VET courses that students need but often have not seen before - so they are behind even before they engage in the VET course. This hands-on workshop will provide ideas on how to introduce students to concepts and skills needed for further study or for everyday use.
VALBEC committee
2. Welcome to the new committee
At the AGM the members elected the following committee for 2016
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Co-Presidents - Sandra Wolfe (CAE), Barb Van Leest (GOTAFE)
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Secretary /Public Officer - John Radalj (The Gordon)
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Ann Haynes - Treasurer
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Elspeth Collie (Holmesglen Institute of TAFE)
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Meg Cotter (Wyndham Community and Education Centre)
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Sally Hutchison (Olympic Adult Education)
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Jennifer Lees (Victoria University)
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Lynne Matheson (Melbourne Polytechnic)
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Rhonda Pelletier (Chisholm Institute
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Linno Rhodes (Glenroy Neighbourhood House)
3. Life members
Jan Hagston and Pauline O'Maley were awarded Life Membership in recognition of the outstanding and lengthy service to adult literacy, locally and nationally. See a pic on the VALBEC website
4. Students and teachers can contribute to Fine Print
The Fine Print editorial committee will include a selection of writing by students and teachers in the second edition in 2015. It provides a wonderful forum to celebrate the learning and insights of language, literacy and numeracy students and teachers across Victoria.
Deadline: 10 June.
Theme: Significant others in your life and learning
With the broad theme of 'significant others', whether they be family, friends, teachers or other role models, students are asked to write about how they have been an influence in their life and/or education.
Professional development
5. 2015 ACAL Conference • Call for presentations
'Resilience, Risk Preservation: the evolving world of adult literacies'
24th and 25th September 2015 at the Adelaide Zoo
presentations should be relevant, current, informative and captivating sessions on issues and practices that relate to LLN in VET, ACE or industry.
In preparing their abstracts, presenters should keep in mind the themes of the conference:
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Resilience – effectively adapting and dealing with change for the existing and future workforce
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Risk – managing pressures resulting from Commonwealth and State government funding changes and meeting national & international LLN standards
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Preservation – acknowledging and building on achievements to date
6. Singing together
Community Music Victoria and Urban Lyrebirds have formed a partnership and are working towards implementing a Sing English project in the Greater Shepparton region in 2016-2017.
Sing English will build the foundations of a locally delivered professional development program for EAL (English as an Additional Language) teachers and multicultural playgroup leaders in Greater Shepparton, focusing on using singing as a classroom English language teaching tool.
A number of community groups have generously pledged support in the way of financial assistance, training venues and publicity. These include the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, Kildonan UnitingCare, GoTafe and the South Shepparton Community Centre.
More: Jane Coker (Victoria Sings Co-ordinator Community Music) jane@cmvic.org.au
Sharon Duff (Co-Director of Urban Lyrebirds) on info@urbanlyrebirds.com
Websites: www.urbanlyrebirds.com https://cmvic.org.au
7. At the Coalface
A regional mini-conference jointly organised by QATESOL & QCAL for all those involved in teaching English, literacy and numeracy skills
Where: St Patrick's College, 45 The Strand, Townsville
When: 15 - 16 August 2015
Submissions are still being sought on strategies for teaching students with intellectual disabilities and for teaching low level numeracy to adults and adolescents.
Display spaces for relevant resources and services are available free of charge.
More: davidson.hazel@gmail.com
8. 2015 Australian Training Awards
Applications close 29 May 2015
The Australian Training Awards are the peak, national awards for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, recognising individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contribution to skilling Australia.
There are 18 categories presented at the Australian Training Awards. Seven of the awards are available by direct entry, with 11 taking nominations through state and territory training award programmes.
Resources
9. The International Year of Light - lesson ideas
VALBEC is observing 2015 as the International Year of Light (and light based technologies). Each month a VALBEC committee member will provide some resources, inspired by the Year of Light, for the classroom or of general interest to students to use as a springboard for thinking, researching, talking or writing.
In this issue John Radalj offers some ideas about light and optics - magnifying glasses with an iPhone, pinhole cameras and more.