eVALBEC September 2013eVALBEC September 20131. Adult Learners' Week
2. Scoping a Foundation Skills Professional Standards Framework
3. 2013 International Year of Statistics • What about your own statistics?
4. What I'm reading now ...
5. VALBEC Numeracy Forums
6. ACAL conference 'Local practices, global contexts'
7. Free Seminar with Professor Mary Hamilton
8. Address Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills (TAELLN401A) • NMIT
9. Artful Dodgers Studios
10. Australian Council of TESOL Associations (ACTA) International TESOL Conference
11. Listen to the stories of First Year Out Teachers • Share Your EAL experience • TESOL
12. 'VATME/VicTESOL 30 years on - Is it still migrant English?'
13. Free numeracy resources
14. Employment opportunities • Jesuit Community College, Collingwood
Adult Learners' Week in Australia is part of an international festival of adult learning.
Each year, Adult Learners' Week is celebrated with hundreds of events and activities designed to promote the benefits of learning – in the home, at work and in the community – and to highlight the many options available.
Adult Learners' Week provides an opportunity for informed discussion about the current provision of adult learning in Australia and to consider what improvements are needed to take Australia forward.
Renowned cartoonist Judy Horacek has indicated her September theme will be 'Learning'.
Visit her website and have a laugh
Who is a foundation skills specialist? Is there a foundation skills field?
Answers to these questions are being explored through a national project to scope the development of a foundation skills professional standards framework.
The scoping project is underway to generate discussion among those working in foundation skills to define and strengthen the identity of the field, advance the status and standing of the profession and explore options for developing professional standards.
VALBEC has adopted the International Year of Statistics as our theme for 2013. Each month a VALBEC committee member will be digging up some fascinating numbers that you may find interesting and potentially useful in classroom activities. This month it's Linno Rhodes
I had nominated looking at the football for my month of highlighting interesting statistics, but I'm a bit over the footy at the moment so I've done some research into the not-for-profit area, social inclusion and education - and discovered some very interesting statistical facts:
There are an estimated 600,000 registered NFPs in Australia - 59,000 of these are considered 'economically significant'. The sector employs 890,000 staff or 8.5% of total Australian employment. Not-for-profits also contributed 4.1% to total gross domestic product in the financial 2006-7 year.
In 2011, 75% of people aged 20 -24 have a year 12 certificate but people living in the most disadvantaged areas are 20% less likely to finish year 12 or equivalent.
5 % of Australian adults experience three or more complex disadvantages that can limit their participation in society.
From the report - How Australia is faring: Education pathways and skills-2011
23 November - 1 December is Social Inclusion week (socialinclusionweek.com.au)
(For a comprehensive look at the most disadvantaged areas in Australia you can download the report 'Dropping off the Edge' ) from The Office for the Not-For-Profit website: www.acnc.gov.au
I like to have a few books on the go – I’m right in the middle of ex- Age journalist James Button’s book, ‘Speechless - A Year In My Father’s Business’. The author is Labor Senator John Button’s son who spent a year working as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s speechwriter. I enjoyed the earlier part of the book where he outlines his years growing up with Senator Button as his Dad and his radical years as a student activist. But as the book continues he finds his time writing speeches that are rarely used by Rudd, and relegated to nights spent on his own in the quietest city in the world –our nation’s capital - Canberra. I am learning a lot about the politics of the public service!
I really enjoy writing that has an historical event or period, as the foundation, which is why I am a big fan of Geraldine Brooks – also on my bedside table is her novel ‘Caleb’s Crossing’ about the first Native American to graduate from Havard. She is an ex-pat and another ex-journalist. She also delivered a great 2011 Boyer lecture series on ‘The idea of home’ – worth listening to via podcast or similar e-technology.
I like to read young adult fiction and am currently enjoying Fiona Wood’s second YA novel, ‘Wildlife’. Her first book ‘Six Impossible Things’ was set in the inner-suburbs of Melbourne I know well, which is always a thrill. And of course I always have the current issue of ‘Fine Print’ close by for the evenings when I feel the need for inspiration.
Linno Rhodes
Practical workshops to introduce participants to the new resource 'Building Strength with Numeracy', a collection of activities that builds on and updates elements of the previous resources, as well as including many new, previously unpublished ideas, activities and student practice exercises.
This forum is nearly full.
Places still available.
Sydney Sep 30-Oct 2, 2013
Full session details are now available with over thirty sessions to choose from focussing on eight conference themes.
Save the date: Tuesday 22nd October, 5-7pm
Venue: Victorian University Flinders Street Campus.
Mary Hamilton is an educator based at the Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning at Lancaster University, UK. Her work has focused on local literacies, informal learning and how texts, old and new interact with learners.
She is a keynote speaker at this year's ACAL Conference in Sydney later this month.
VALBEC, in conjunction with Monash University and Victoria University, have arranged for Mary to visit Melbourne.
This seminar will appeal to literacy educators who want to discuss their classroom realities, their learners needs and how policy intersects with social practice.
More information on Mary Hamilton's work and interests
How do you best cater to the needs of learners with diverse LLN skills?
This practical, interactive course at is aimed at VET teachers who would like to increase their awareness of learners' LLN needs and tailor delivery to meet their needs. The workshops focus on key understandings and practical strategies to assist with learner engagement and success.
On successful completion participants will be granted a statement of attainment for TAELLN401A Address Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills.
*Please note: The scope of this course extends beyond the requirements of this unit.
The Artful Dodgers Studios (ADS) is a program of Jesuit Community College and offers open access music, multimedia, and art skills development for young marginalised people aged between 15-27. Pre-accredited courses working alongside our professional artists and musicians include - Sustainable Arts, Tune In, Graffiti and Young Women’s Art. People can work on individual or collaborative projects and no previous experience is required. For more information please contact us on 9415 8700, drop into the studios for a visit at 1 Langridge Street Collingwood or check out the website www.artfuldodgers.tv. Enrolments take place on Mondays 10-1pm
#ACTA2014 Meeting the Challenge, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
30 Sept - 3 Oct 2014
Registrations opening in September 2013
Thursday, September 5th, 2013, 5 - 7 pm
Three teachers new to EAL (schools and adult sector) will discuss stories of being first year out teachers, challenges in the curriculum and the type of support/mentoring they have received. Student and time management will also come under discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own stories.
Venue: Little Markov, Carlton, 350 Drummond Street Carlton
Free but registration essential.
Thursday 31 October, 5 - 6.30pm
A presentation and discussion by Alan Williams, Lecturer in TESOL, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne.
Venue: Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne
Registrations open early October
'Building Strength with Numeracy' is a collection of activities that builds on and updates elements of the previous resources, as well as including many new, previously unpublished ideas, activities and student practice exercises.
Jesuit Community College, Collingwood is seeking a CGEA teacher (as one of 3 team teachers) to deliver and assess CGEA to young people aged between 15-25 years in our innovative program. The program focuses on literacy and numeracy in an integrated curriculum accessing outdoor education, arts and music. Available casual position is for 12 hours pw including planning and preparation – (9 hours face to face). Mon 12.30 - 3.30 and Thurs; 9.30 – 3.30. plus 3 hours planning / assessing. Beginning term 4. Desirable – experience in delivery and assessment in SEE (LLNP) using ACSF. Please phone Linno Rhodes, Training and Curriculum Coordinator on 9415 8700. Or email linda.rhodes@jss.org.au
ACFE, ACE, RTO and TAFE managers can post adult literacy, language and numeracy practitioner job ads in eVALBEC. Send your request (50 words limit) to info@valbec.org.au by the 26th of the month.
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eVALBEC is the monthly electronic newsletter of (VALBEC) the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council.
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This is the electronic newsletter of VALBEC, the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council, and is sent to about 1000 practitioners on the first of each month (other than January). It is also available in the 'News' section of our web site
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