2017 AGM and webinar Oct 18

Following the AGM, Dr John Geunther, Research Leader Education and Training, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education will speak on ‘Evidence as a tool for contesting the incontestable assumptions of adult learning policy’. John was a keynote speaker at the recent ACAL Conference.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Members are advised that the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Australian Council for Adult Literacy will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 commencing at 3.30pm ADST by webinar.

Remember some places are on Daylight Saving

Agenda

1. Confirm the minutes of the previous AGM held on October 19, 2016 by webinar 2016 AGM Minutes
2. Receive and adopt an annual report from the Executive
3. Receive and adopt the audited accounts of ACAL ACAL 2017 Annual Review
4. Elect new officers and Executive Committee for 2017-18

Nomination forms must be received by ACAL at info@acal.edu.au by 12 noon on October 18, 2017

Position descriptions are available on the ACAL website here

Voting and nomination is available to financial ACAL members.

Nomination forms are available on the ACAL website here (Word) and here (PDF).

Constitution

The meeting is to elect the following

• President
• Vice President (to be based in a state or territory different from that of the President)
• Honorary Secretary
• Honorary Treasurer

5. Announce state and territory representatives
6. Appoint the auditor, Penny Carroll, Outer Eastern Bookkeeping
7. Close meeting

As this is an online meeting, if a vote is required it will be initially conducted by voice. In the event of a count it may be conducted online or people will be asked to provide their name and how they vote.

Webinar – ‘Evidence as a tool for contesting the incontestable assumptions of adult learning policy’

In a political environment where the so called pragmatics of economic policy are used to dismiss any suggestion of alternative purposes for adult learning outside of skills for economic participation, is there any room for an alternative discourse? And if so, on what basis can we argue against the overwhelming imperatives of knowledge for the sake of economic growth?

In this short webinar, John Guenther will draw on research conducted in remote parts of Australia over the last 15 years to suggest ways in which research evidence can and should be used to challenge the often untested assumptions of policy and its strategic priorities. He will argue: 1) that we don’t need more data – or even better quality data; 2) that evidence of system failures –or the lack of evidence for success—demands a system response; and 3) that the logic of service delivery frameworks need to be tested and, where they are found to be deficient, challenged. John will draw on his research findings and its utilisation to demonstrate how this can be done, in the context of education, training and adult learning.

Dr John Guenther is the Research Leader Education and Training, with Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. Over the last 14 years John has conducted research and evaluation projects which have focused on remote contexts, particularly in the Northern Territory of Australia. A recurring theme in all his work is the importance of learning for adults, young people and children. His interests include education systems and their impact on learning and understanding the interface between cultures in the ‘red dirt’ context of schooling in remote communities. John uses mixed methods approaches where the powerful combination of qualitative and quantitative data can be used for transformative purposes.