December 2015
In this issue
Winners are grinners
1. Excellence in literacy and numeracy practice award winner
2. NCVER Foundation Skills Literature Review project: winners
Professional development
3. 2016 ACAL-ACTA Conference • Early bird closes on Dec 20!
Conference extended - choose between 1 and 5 days
More choices…
BBC broadcast by keynote speaker
Stories project
Education statistics
5. Australians more educated than ever before
From the President
I can't believe it is the end of 2015 already. It has been a busy year for ACAL and 2016 promises to be just as busy.
Remember that the 2016 ACAL-ACTA Conference is earlier this year and Early bird registration closes on Dec 20. Don't miss out.
Sharing student’s stories about resilience in adult learning is a great activity for your students at the end of the year, or the beginning of next year. Find out more.
ACAL are eagerly looking forward to successful scholarship holders producing a literature review and thank NCVER and the University of Technology Sydney for their support of this project.
ACAL will hold a face-to-face committee meeting in Sydney early next year so if you have key points we should consider please forward them to info@acal.edu.au before Jan 25th.
May you have a blessed and restful Christmas and be refreshed for the New Year.
Jenni Anderson, ACAL President
Winners are grinners
1. Excellence in literacy and numeracy practice award winner
Lyn Wilson, manager of the Sydney TAFE – Petersham College Foundation Studies section has been awarded the Excellence in Literacy and Numeracy Practice award at the 2015 national training awards.
Since 2004, Lyn has worked collaboratively with industry to address the challenges experienced by business and organisations in developing their Indigenous employment strategies, particularly with regard to language, literacy, and numeracy skills. Lyn’s model of good practice, and designs of Indigenous pre-employment and other training programs, have been key to the significant number of employment outcomes achieved for Aboriginal people in Sydney.
Our heartfelt congratulations to Lyn on the well deserved recognition and on her contributions and achievements in the field.
2. NCVER Foundation Skills Literature Review project: winners
Four practitioners have been successful in being awarded scholarships through a competitive process to contribute to the NCVER funded Foundation Skills Literature Review project. The project is a partnership between the NCVER, University of Technology Sydney and ACAL.
The successful candidates are:
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Lynda Cameron, Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE in NSW
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Daniella Mayer, Chisholm Institute of TAFE in Victoria
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Joanne Medlin, Western Sydney Institute of TAFE in NSW
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Jane Newton, Manufacturing Skills Australia based in Sydney
The scholarship holders will each be producing a literature review on an assigned area, with mentoring support from researchers at the NCVER and the University of Technology Sydney.
The ACAL member on the selection panel commented that it was heartening to see 14 applicants express interest, bringing with them strong educational qualifications and experience.
Congratulations to Lynda, Daniella, Joanne and Jane.
The completed literature review is expected to be completed by mid 2016, and available on the NCVER website.
Professional development
3. 2016 ACAL-ACTA Conference • Early bird closes on Dec 20!
Early bird rates close on 20th December 2015. Most sessions have limited numbers so you will need to book early to secure your first choices.
Four organisations are collaborating to host this International conference: WATESOL and their peak body ACTA, and WAALC and their peak body ACAL.
Conference extended - choose between 1 and 5 days
The conference organising committee has pleasure in announcing that two symposia have been added on Monday 11th April.
More choices…
There are 6 keynote speakers. On two occasions we have paired keynote presentations where you will need to choose which to attend. You also have the difficult task of selecting from 12 concurrent sessions.
BBC broadcast by keynote speaker
Listen to Dr Vicky Duckworth in a recent BBC4 Women's Hour Interview with her former learner Marie about literacy and poverty.
More about Dr Vicky Duckworth
Stories project
4. 'Stories of Resilience'
When adults return to learning, as you know, it can have a positive effect across their whole life. People often feel stronger, more capable or their self-esteem grows in some way. They might feel more connected to others or their community, navigate the world of work more confidently or be more likely to encourage others around them to engage in learning.
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.
Education statistics
5. Australians more educated than ever before
Australians are more educated than ever before, according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The report indicates that nearly six out of ten Australians have a qualification, and over one quarter have a degree.
The 2015 figures illustrate a substantial increase in education levels – especially for women – in contrast to those of the previous generation.
'Since 1990, the proportion of working aged women (15-64 years) with a degree has increased four-fold from around 7 per cent to 29 per cent, while the proportion of men has increased more slowly from 10 per cent to 24 per cent,' said Michelle Marquardt of the ABS.
'In those 25 years, the proportion of women of this age group with a qualification rose from 34 per cent to 60 per cent while the proportion of men with a qualification increased from 45 per cent to 61 per cent.'