eVALBEC 
May 2016 | VALBEC | Web version
In this Issue
VALBEC Conference - Joining the Dots
1. 2016 VALBEC Conference Friday May 20, 2016, William Angliss Conference Centre
Session taster - Do you have a relationship with your local library?
Session taster - What do employers want from workers and LLN programs?
Fine Print
3. From the Vault: Fine Print 2001 Vol 24:2
Position vacant
4. Parliament's looking for teachers
5. LLN Specialist/Trainer wanted
Awards
7. Australian Training Awards – Only a month to go!
8. Victorian Community Training Provider of the Year
Membership
Professional development
Meetings
12. EAL Curriculum Advisory Group meetings
VALBEC Conference - Joining the Dots
1. 2016 VALBEC Conference Friday May 20, 2016, William Angliss Conference Centre
This year's VALBEC conference will ensure that teachers and assessors keep their skills and knowledge current in the Foundation Skills area. Sessions span across LLN programs, practice and research in disability, prisons, workplaces, libraries, employer groups and refugee, adult literacy and EAL classrooms. Our keynote speaker, Tony Dreise, will lead the day with perspectives on Aboriginal adult education through the framework of 'Learning, Earning and Yearning.'
Session taster
Do you have a relationship with your local library?
Libraries are great place for literacy students to access reading material, practice literacy practices and can be a great resource for LLN teachers. Many libraries run conversation groups and family literacy groups as well as other activities.
Last year the State Libraries of Victoria commissioned research into literacy and role of public libraries. Come and hear about their report findings, learn about what is happening in libraries, how you can make connections and best utilise your service for adult learning.
A1 Public libraries partnering to support adult literacy
What do employers want from workers and LLN programs?
Earlier in the year there were headlines and talk back radio outraged at the poor literacy and numeracy skills of workers. 'Can't spell, can't count: Bosses lash out at workers' lack of skills' said one newspaper. This came off the back of the Australian Industry (AI) Group report that, 'found nine out of 10 bosses complain they have staff who can't calculate orders, prepare work riddled with errors or give confusing directions.'
Come and hear from the AI Group and Michael Taylor, National Policy and Projects Manager, Education and Training, within the Australian Industry Group who is responsible for the management of a number of national education and training projects. Hear what industry want from literacy classes and what is happening in workplaces post WELL funding.
C1 Tackling Foundation Skills in the Workforce
Fine Print
VALBEC's high quality journal for discussion and debate about good practice, theory and policy issues.
2. Fine Print Edition #1 2016
Edition #1 2016 should reach members' mailboxes this week. Once again, there are some great articles to inspire and provide insightful professional reading. Have you considered using Fine Print as part of your professional learning program? Perhaps you could select an article to take to your team meeting. Offer to lead a discussion with your colleagues to suggest ways of incorporating ideas or teaching practices into your programs?
Some examples in Practical Matters: Vox Pops could be great springboards. In Technology Matters, there is a framework to assist students in their online search skills. Taking a whole of program approach for a health promotion initiative is a model that could be used in a range of settings. The list goes on …..
We are always keen to hear about innovative programs. Send your contributions (up to 250 words). info@valbec.org.au
3. From the Vault: Fine Print 2001 Vol 24:2
Each month a VALBEC committee member selects a specific article from the Fine Print archive that illustrates good teaching practice, describes theories related to a ranges of literacies, explores a particular topic of interest or has some synergy with the present environment.
I suspect sifting through the Fine Print archive is going to be my new leisure activity for 2016. Such panoply of knowledge, analysis and commentary about literacy education, in all its diverse guises and contexts, engages practitioners from a range of backgrounds.
I chose 'Change and literacy in the museum: a new way of messaging', Volume 24, No.2, Winter, 2001, which was a Fine Print experiment into panel email interviewing with museum educators and commentators Margaret Griffith, Geraldine Seccola, Barbara Goulborn and Daryl Evans.
Fine Print posed seven questions about how the then one-year-old Melbourne Museum had addressed issues of adult literacy education in its presentation of artefacts. The panel's responses reflected great thoughtfulness and concern about the importance of museums as learning spaces. If you cast your mind back 16 years to the time when Melbourne Museum first opened, you might remember its exciting, dare I say post-modern, look and feel. I remember it clearly. As Goulborn pointed out in the article 'Yes, it is refreshing to be presented with different ways of looking at the world, especially if the 'new' views represent repressed and hidden ones, such as Koorie experiences.' However Evans cautioned that there is potential for adult literacy students to be 'overwhelmed by the spectacle and the detail' and suggested that educators mediate learners' museum experiences through skilfully designed activities. Griffith and Zeccola noted that the museum offered professional development and unlimited access to the museum to help teachers prepare for excursions. I expect that is still the case.
I would say Fine Print's panel email interviewing experiment was a success. My few words above capture only a fragment of the panel's exploration of museology. This is an extremely well-considered, thought provoking article that touches on important questions around multimodality, literacy, and access to representations of knowledge. Reading it in 2016 gave me new insights into how Melbourne Museum helps adult learners (me included) discover new possibilities of what text, literacy and knowledge mean in the 21st century.
Elizabeth Gunn
Position vacant
4. Parliament's looking for teachers
The Victorian Parliament is looking for teachers who wish to participate in an advisory panel to help guide the future development of parliament's education program. If you have a keen interest in civics education and want to help shape the direction of parliamentary education in Victoria, the Victorian Parliament wants to hear from you. Apply by 6 May 2016
5. LLN Specialist/Trainer wanted
Consultant LLN specialist/trainer required by RTO in Victoria delivering training and assessment in the General Construction sector, CPC08 Training Package.
The role will include providing support/advice regarding foundation skills training and delivery of foundation skills training to students.
Minimum Requirements
TAE80113 Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice or equivalent
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or equivalent
Australian Business Number (ABN), Police check / Working With Children Check
Driver's licence and own vehicle, ability to travel within Victoria.
Closing Date: Friday 20th May
Contact: Lee-Anne Bowles, Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager
Skill Training Victoria M: 0488 104 310 E:leeanne.bowles@stvic.com.au
Awards
6. Learn Local Awards
These awards are to recognise the outstanding achievements of organisations, programs and individuals within the Learn Local education and training sector. Nominations close on June 3.
A prize fund of $50,000 will be shared across five award categories.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in Melbourne on Thursday, 8 September 2016.
7. Australian Training Awards – Only a month to go!
Do you know an excellent LLN practitioner? The Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Practice Award recognises innovation and excellence by an individual involved in improving LLN skills in an educational, community or workplace context. The closing date is 31st of May.
8. Victorian Community Training Provider of the Year
A great way to get recognise the work in the vocational training and education sector.
Membership
9. Paying membership fees
Thanks to those who have jumped right in and paid membership fees. Paper invoices were sent before Easter.
Member benefits include
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Access to free numeracy resources
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three times a year - a high quality journal for discussion and debate about good practice, theory and policy issues. Feedback and contributions are actively sought from members about content and issues.
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eVALBEC - our e-mail communication keeping members informed of professional development activities, general committee activities and more up to date policy changes.
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Discounts for the Annual Conference and other VALBEC statewide professional development.
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Issues-based forums.
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Focus on significant policy issues impacting on the field. Member benefits continue to develop to meet member needs. Tell us what you'd like.
Paying your membership
Right now you can join/renew online
Professional development
10. 'Stories of Resilience'
ACAL's 'Stories of Resilience' project is all about adult learners telling their own stories of this kind of experience, and having their words published on the web. Many adult learners have found it motivating to share their stories with a wider audience - what about your learners?
We are looking for stories about resilience in adult learning. Your students may have already written something during the year that could be adapted or re-drafted. We are accepting written or spoken text, audio or video. This could be a good way for people to revisit their year's work. Join with us in this celebration of the learning journeys of our adult learners.
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Follow the stories via facebook: http://facebook.com/learnResilience
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More at ACAL http://acal.edu.au/rapal-stories-project.htm
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Additional files, inc brochure and release form: https://goo.gl/SWWERC
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Contact Michael Chalk, the project worker, via ace@michalk.id.au
In collaboration with RaPAL (Research & Practice in Adult Literacies, UK).
Please pass on this info to anyone who may appreciate the opportunity.
Meetings
11. CGEA Champions Meetings
The CGEA Champions group is a group of practitioners that meet once a term with the CMM at RMIT in the city to discuss the implementation of the CGEA. Discussions include new government policy and procedure, validation and moderation, ideas for professional development and sharing of resources. The next meeting will be on Thursday 2nd June 10-12.30pm. If you are interested in joining the group contact Tim Morris on tim.morrris@rmit.edu.au
12. EAL Curriculum Advisory Group meetings
The EAL curriculum advisory group (CAG) meet once a term at VU in the city. This group of EAL practitioners and CMM meet to discuss the implementation of the EAL Frameworks. This includes information sharing of resources, teaching, changes in government policy and procedures as well planning for validation and professional development days. The next meeting will be on Wednesday June 1st 3-4.30pm.
If you are interested in joining the group or finding out more contact Angela DiSciascio. Email: ADiScias@gordontafe.edu.au