Web version ACAL

October 2018

In this issue

1. From the Co-Presidents

2. ACAL AGM

3. ACAL Webinar • Relational trust

4. 2018 ACAL Conference

5. Happy birthday VALBEC

6. Education IRC update

7. Curriculum Updates

8. Conversation starters

9. Have you read it?

10. Joining the dots: learners … families … communities - 2018 NSW ALNC conference

11. Great resources?

1. From the Co-Presidents

It's been a great month since our last newsletter, with the annual conference well attended. It was good to see so many members and to have the opportunity to combine professional development, networking and some social activities in such lovely company. Congratulations to the conference committee. It was a success in every aspect - from the musical morning introductions, the food, the agenda and range of presentations, and the venues. For those who couldn't attend please see the presentations that have been contributed to the website, and for those who were there please use them to remind yourselves of those light bulb moments and to catch up on those sessions you missed.

On 17th Oct we held our Annual General meeting and we are pleased to have the opportunity to share the president role again. It affords us the opportunity to consult together, share the workload, and provide support as needed. Those important aspects of being volunteers are also shared with the executive committee members, Lorraine and Vicki, and the state representatives. We are fortunate to be surrounded by passionate members who have such a wealth of experience.

Daniella and Jo

2. ACAL AGM

The ACAL AGM was held by teleconference on October 17 and received reports and also elected executive members for 2018-19.

They are

State representatives are appointed by each state.

3. ACAL Webinar • Relational trust

Rosalie MartinThe webinar that accompanied the AGM featured Rosie Martin a criminologist and clinical speech pathologist with expertise in the assessment of complex disorders of literacy acquisition and their treatment. She is also a facilitator of personal courage development and non-violent communication with the Centre for Courage & Renewal.

Rosie talked about relational trust, the four essential elements that lead to relational trust, and applying these principles when teaching adults to read and write.

See Rosie's presentation here

4. 2018 ACAL Conference

2018 ACAL Conference 'Learning in Diverse Communities • Strengths, Reflections, Questions'

September 12-14, 2018 • Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

A reflection from our Convenor, Kathrin Colgan

The themes of the ACAL conference are still ringing in my ears with visions of happy birthday to VALBEC mixed in with determined conversations about our practice, the students and the wider world in which we fit. Some questions that has come out of being involved with organising the ACAL conference in Melbourne this year are how do we promote ourselves, argue our vision and kick doors down?

Indeed, we too are learning in diverse communities, as we continue our practice, by understanding each new student group, whether it be their background, their current situation or their future. When thinking about Tim Rawlings asking us to voice who we are and what we do, I consider how flexible we are, how resilient we are and our constant drive to improve our students' lives. However, do we do this in a bubble? It is not until we come to our ACAL Conference that we share stories, get active and make new plans for change. That is why the conference time is so important.

I have been thrilled with the feedback of the conference, whether it was the presentations from our keynotes, the warm and welcoming music, the lunch as well as all the fantastic workshops. The finest aspect was that everybody found something delightful and reaffirming and also something challenging and controversial. VALBEC and ACAL really enjoyed welcoming all to Melbourne and look forward to next year. Perhaps by then, some doors will be well and truly off their hinges.

Kathrin

Conference feedback

Thank you to all our presenters for making the 2018 Conference a great success.

When asked 'What were the two or three most interesting or useful sessions that you attended?' You replied (amongst dozens of others)

Missed the conference?

Many conference presentations have been added to the website

5. Happy birthday VALBEC

VALBEC fortieth birthday card

VALBEC celebrated it's fortieth birthday with a large card at the ACAL conference and invited participants to add a comment.

See what people wrote

6. Education IRC update

Daniella is engaged with ongoing work with the Education Industry Reference Committee and the Foundation Skills Project working Group. The Foundation Skills training package has been under review and draft units will be released for public feedback from 12th November 2018 through to 7th January 2019. I encourage you all to jump onto the Skills for Australia website and look into the draft release to provide feedback.

Subscribe for SfA updatesand nominate to receive updates on the Education sector. This means you'll receive email updates when SfA release the training products.

Alternatively, go to Education - Foundation Skills and click on the "Training Product Development" chevron once the products have been put online. 

Skills for Australia

7. Curriculum updates

ACAL noted the release of the CGEA Implementation Guide has recently been released and can be accessed through the Victorian Department of Education Website

The new Certificates in EAL have also been released and are available through the link above. These courses are due for implementation from January 2019.

Good luck to all who are preparing for the implementation of these programs.

CGEA Implementation Guide

8. Conversation starters

Faces and fingers

ACAL state representatives have been considering aspects of adult literacy and numeracy that are presented in two conversation starters this month. This is a new initiative that the ACAL committee has started this year. The papers are the views and perspectives of the author and the ACAL committee encourages you all to have a read and use this as both a means of professional development as well as an opportunity to start conversations. We hope they stimulate your thinking and provide an opening for discussions with others to explore the issues.

'VET Literacy Teachers: Our Unique Value Proposition' by Debra Urquhart

In her paper, Debra Urquhart, NSW State Representative, discusses the identity of adult literacy teachers within the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Debra examines this unique position through a debate on qualifications, professional development, curricula as well as regulatory frameworks.

Read the paper

'The Deficit Model of Education – Impacts on Learners and Teachers' by Rhonda Pelletier

Rhonda Pelletier, Victorian State representative has prepared a paper on the deficit approach. This is timely indeed, with many speakers at the conference referring to issues around the deficit approach to adult literacy and numeracy. Rhonda has explored the history of the approach and considered how it is reflected in Australia today.

Read the paper

9. Have you read it?

A review of documents relating to adult literacy and numeracy by Jo Medlin

This month Jo Medlin has reviewed three papers of interest to adult literacy and numeracy educators and provided the links to access them:

Read the paper

10. Joining the dots: learners … families … communities - 2018 NSW ALNC conference

2018 NSW ALNC conferenceThe NSW Adult Literacy and Numeracy Council will hold its annual conference, on Friday 7 December 2018 at the Aerial Function Centre, UTS Sydney.

The conference aims to discuss what the future might look like if programs were built by listening to the learners' needs and aspirations, rather than by fitting learners into pre-determined programs.

Conference details

11. Great resources?

Adult Literacy Connect is currently conducting research towards establishing an online portal of quality curated teaching and learning resources for adult literacy practitioners (teachers, tutors, librarians, volunteers) who are supporting beginning level adult readers and writers.

We want to hear from all adult literacy supporter workers about what resources you use, and how you search for them.

Complete the survey - it will only take 5 minutes and you can go in a draw to win an iPad Air or $50 Readings voucher.

Survey closes October 30th.

Complete the survey

More about the research