March 2018
In this issue
1. From the Co-Presidents
2. TAE80113 Graduate Diploma in Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy practice
ACAL supports the actions
3. 2018 ACAL Conference
4. 2018 WAALC Conference registration opens
5. National Industry Insights
6. Inclusion of people with a disability in VET
7. 2018: The year of Lifelong Learning and Yuendumu
8. ACAL supports adult education
9. Enrol in TAELLN80113 Graduate Diploma of Adult LLN
10. QCAL - Using an articulatory approach to pronunciation teaching
1. From the Co-Presidents
One of the joys of being part of the ACAL Committee is the opportunity it provides us to see the passion and enthusiasm of adult literacy and numeracy proponents across the country. This month we’ve been inspired by remote Aboriginal communities where lifelong learning is the current focus, curriculum writers who fight for the best educational outcomes for their students, and community groups and volunteers who happily spend their time promoting adult literacy.
Kicking of the year with a Facebook campaign to inform people about the current state of training for adult literacy teachers, we have been pleased to see around 600 people engaged. We have tagged ministers across the states, encouraged members to email or write to their state representatives, and will continue to raise issues associated with the Graduate Diploma in Adult LLN Practice and with other training opportunities.
Each month we will showcase an issue that effects adult literacy and numeracy in Australia and encourage you to get involved. In conjunction with the social media campaigns, we will be providing additional information on the website. Next month we’ll be looking at the FSK Training Package.
The ACAL Conference planning team has been undertaking some fabulous work and the call for papers has closed. Kathrin Colgan is the convenor of this conference and together with Daniella, hosted a Zoom session earlier this month for prospective presenters. It was exciting to hear diverse and engaging ideas for the conference and it is shaping up wonderfully.
Work with the Education IRC is continuing and for those of you who work with students with a disability, we would encourage you to bring your insights to the current cross sector project that was highlighted at a recent meeting with details below.
Daniella Mayer, Jo Medlin Co-Presidents
2. TAE80113 Graduate Diploma in Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy practice
Although few programs currently mandate higher level qualifications for delivery of LN courses in Australia, maintaining a workforce of experienced practitioners who have knowledge of theoretical underpinnings of literacy and numeracy teaching and learning is valuable. The TAE80113 provides a support base for others who benefit from contact from practitioners with deeper understandings, provides a human resource for upskilling and training other staff, and future-proofs the field.
ACAL is concerned with the general lack of incentive to engage in higher learning about literacy and numeracy, and the removal of TAE80113 from the VET student loans program on 15 January 2018 further decreases engagement opportunities. Unfortunately this follows the cancellation of the Commonwealth scholarship program. Additionally, the requirement for trainers and assessors to hold the TAE80113 is out of step with the research undertaken under the National Foundation Skills Strategy and is not informed by an understanding of the LN practitioner cohort: the Foundation Skills Professional Standards Framework identifies that no single qualification defines a literacy numeracy specialist.
ACAL supports the following actions:
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Petitioning of state governments where TAE80113 is currently delivered to reinstate the VSL status of TAE80113 (VSL status can be accorded to qualifications on two state subsidy lists: presently Victoria is the only state that retains TAE80113 on the subsidy lists)
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NSW: John Barilaro, Minister for Skills
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Qld: Hon Shannon Fentiman, Minister for Training and Skills Development
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Qld: Hon Grace Grace, Minister for Education
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SA: Hon Susan Close, Minister for Education and Child Development and Minister for Higher Education and Skills (check results of 2018 election for updates)
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NT: Hon Eva Dina Lawler MLA, Minister for Education
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Petitioning of Commonwealth Government for reintroduction of other incentives (eg scholarships, career pathways) for engagement in LN qualifications:
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Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
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Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
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Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion
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Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, The Hon Karen Andrews MP
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Revision of TAE80113 qualification rules through the review of the TAE training package. Have your say here:
Send your feedback to info@skillsforaustralia.cominfo@skillsforaustralia.com by Tuesday 3rd April, 2018.
3. 2018 ACAL Conference
September 12-14, 2018 • Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
The premier event in Melbourne this September is going to be the ACAL Conference. The keynotes for the conference have been announced. Dr. Darlene Ciuffetelli Parker, Professor in the Faculty of Education at Brock University, Canada will be joining us, as will Dr. Jenny Horsman Community-based researcher and educator, Canada. We will profile these speakers and their work in coming issues and online, so stay connected!
The ACAL website has some details about the conference and information will also be released through our facebook page.
4. 2018 WAALC Conference registration opens
The 2018 WAALC conference will bring together enthusiastic and experienced teachers to share their best and most creative ideas to help adults grow their literacy and numeracy skills.
The presentations will focus on practical ideas for teaching that have been tried and tested in classrooms, and less formal settings, and proven to be successful and enjoyed by learners. Presenters may choose to focus on any aspect of teaching: writing, pronunciation, reading, maths, engagement in learning etc.
5. National Industry Insights
The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) has published updated information on their website regarding the VET teacher training and Foundation skills. There are links to further reading as well as skills forecasts into these sectors.
6. Inclusion of people with a disability in VET
The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) is undertaking a project that aims to identify what is needed to better include people with disability in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and workplaces. There are a variety of opportunities to have your say.
7. 2018: The year of Lifelong Learning and Yuendumu
ACAL were excited to hear that the Pina Pina Jarrinjaku Adult Learning Centre in Yuendumu are celebrating the year of lifelong learning. The program will start with a gathering in the Pina Pina Jarrinjaku to learn about the delivery of adult learning programs in community, as well as a presentation by the Warlpiri Education Training Trust. This will be followed by a walking tour of WYDAC, the Bilingual Resource Development Unit and the Child & Family Centre. The day walking tour will finish at Pintubi Anmatjere Warlpiri (PAW) Media for a BBQ, where PAW mob will officially open their new Language & Culture Room.
8. ACAL supports adult education
In the past month we have been pleased to provide a letter of support to Charles Darwin University regarding the delivery of the TAE80113. ACAL advocates the delivery of TAE80113 as a key factor in maintaining and building a strong and credible LLN education workforce.
Image: Sculptures from Atauro Island - beachside art sale Dili Timor Leste
9. Enrol in TAELLN80113 Graduate Diploma of Adult LLN
The Charles Darwin University is now accepting enrolments for Term 2 in TAELLN80113 Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice - a contemporary, accredited applied learning program which provides the skills and knowledge required to work effectively in adult language, literacy and/or numeracy teaching roles.
This year, ten enrolled students will have the opportunity to apply to participate in a stimulating applied learning activity overseas in Timor Leste, subsidised via a student mobility grant. Prepare for a rewarding career in your chosen field - or move in a new career direction, while engaging with a mix of theoretical and practical applications.
The program is delivered online and students can study one or more units at a time. For further information, please contact Richard Dela Pena on 08 8946 7529, or richard.delapena@cdu.edu.au
10. QCAL - Promoting literacy for adult learners using an articulatory approach to pronunciation teaching
Direct articulatory pronunciation instruction is an important step to help adult learners develop the proper phonological decoding and increase efficiency and fluency in their reading skills. It also has positive consequences for their spelling and writing skills. In this hands-on presentation, ideas for integrating kinaesthetic pronunciation techniques into adult literacy learning will be demonstrated.
Arizio Sweeting is an expert in the articulatory approach to pronunciation teaching and a teacher educator with over 25 years of experience in adult teaching and learning. He is committed to helping language teachers in different contexts to integrate kinaesthetic pronunciation techniques into their classroom practice. He can be contacted at arizio.sweeting@gmail.com.
QCAL PD session 9.30am Sat. 19 May, Kenmore Library, Kenmore Village Shopping Centre (cnr Moggill & Brookfield Rds)
More information on the QCAL website: www.qcal.org.au
Registrations will be open on the website in the second half of April.
Entry $5.