2014 ACAL Conference Gold Coast 2-4 October

Pre-conference Forum

Thursday afternoon, 2 October 2014

12.00 – 5.15pm, Crowne Plaza, Surfers Paradise

Frameworks: do they inhibit or enhance the literacy spiral?

The combination of LLN skills (as detailed in the Australian Core Skills Framework) and Core Skills for Work is referred to as Foundation Skills in the vocational education and training sector. In the school sector these two types of skills are described as General Capabilities and in the higher education sector they are referred to as Graduate Attributes. (Ithaca Group, 2013, Core Skills for Work, p.1. DIISRTE)

Every time a new framework is introduced it tends to confuse case workers and literacy and numeracy providers. This has major implications for individual learners and their literacy learning spirals.

In view of the uncertainty about what constitute Foundation Skills, the Australian Core Skills Framework, Core Skills for Work, Core Skills for Employment & Training, the VET Practitioner Capability Framework and Skill Sets, we ask:

What are these frameworks?
What are their purposes?
How do they fit together and link to programs?
How are literacy and numeracy conceptualised within them and perceived by practitioners?
How is the individual learner positioned within the frameworks?

These questions will be addressed through presentations and discussions during the forum.

Program and speakers

Time	Activity	Key participants
11.00 - 12.00	Registration	Participants are invited to nominate membership of one of the following discussion groups: Workplace, Employment, Community, High School, Vocational Education or Higher Education
12.00 – 12.45	Welcome	Dr Jean Searle, ACAL Conference Convenor
	Introduction	Dr Ann Kelly, President QCAL, Forum Chair
	Opening of Forum	Mr Michael Hart, State Member for Burleigh & Member, State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee Michael is the State Member for Burleigh and Member of the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee. Prior to his election in 2012, he worked in a number of industries including aviation and manufacturing, and was a small business owner.
	Opening address: Overview of Foundation Skills	Mr Alec Wickerson, Director, Foundation Skills Policy, Department of Industry Alec recently joined the Department of Industry as Director of Foundation Skills Policy. Previously he worked for ten years in the Commonwealth public service on programs and reform in the areas of health, secondary education and tertiary education.
12.45 – 1.30	Lunch	Relish Restaurant
1.30 – 3.00	Panel with 3 speakers:
	View from employer	Ms Kim Moore, Learning and Development Programs Manager, Unity Water Kim is a dedicated Learning and Development Manager with 15 years' experience in the utilities and local government sectors. She specialises in designing quality workforce programs to build team capability. Each program Kim touches will be unique and will deliver strategic outcomes for the business. She loves to smile, have fun and inspire others to succeed.
	View from VET	Mr Cameron Baker, Deputy CEO, Manufacturing Skills Australia Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) is one Australia's 11 national Industry Skills Councils, recognised and funded by the Australian Government. The organisation's roles include the ongoing development and maintenance of national vocational qualifications and training products for the manufacturing industry, gathering and providing industry intelligence and assisting companies with their workforce development. MSA is pursuing the future success and sustainability of a vibrant, traditional and advanced manufacturing sector. Cameron Baker is the Deputy CEO of Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA). MSA is one of Australia's 11 national Industry Skills Councils, recognised and funded by the Australian Government. The organisation's roles include the ongoing development and maintenance of national vocational qualifications for the manufacturing industry, gathering and providing industry intelligence and assisting companies with their workforce development needs. Cameron was appointed to MSA at the end of 2013 with more than 16 years' experience in Vocational Education and Training (VET). Cameron's previous roles include: General Manager – Skills and Engagement at the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC), Commercial Director – Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) and various educationally focused appointments over 10 years of service with the Department of Defence. Cameron holds qualifications in teaching, public policy development, quality audit, business and human resources management.
	View from the community	Dr Allie Clemans, Faculty of Education, Monash University Allie Clemans is currently Director of Graduate Education in the Faculty of Education at Monash University in Australia. She teaches and researches in the area of adult education and lifelong learning. This work spans diverse learning contexts - workplace education, vocational education and training (VET), adult community education and higher education. She has published in the area of professional learning of educators and on lifelong and its capacity to enhance participation and transform livelihoods. Recent research projects have included a review of lifelong learning and employment prospects in Australia for UNESCO Bangkok and an evaluation of the uptake of Green Skills in Training Packages.
3.00 – 3.30	Afternoon tea	Mezzanine
3.30 – 4.30	In the light of what the speakers have said, discuss: Which programs and frameworks do you use? How do they fit together? How do you meet the needs of the individual learner? How do you address literacy and numeracy? What issues do you face?	Participants work in the discussion group they have nominated at registration: - Workplace - Employment - Community - High School - Vocational Education - Higher Education
4.30 – 5.15	Feedback from the groups Questions/Review	Group nominees Participants/panel members/Professor Stephen Reder
5.15	Close of Forum	Conference registration now open

6.00pm Welcome to country and reception

Ticketed event $25 per head - includes hot and cold canapés and two drinks per person (beer, wine, soft drink). Additional drinks at bar prices.