eVALBEC August 2010
This is the electronic newsletter of VALBEC, the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council, and is sent to about 850 practitioners on the first of each month (other than January). It is also available in the ‘News’ section of our web site http://www.valbec.org.au
Disclaimer: The activities, goods and services mentioned in eVALBEC are not endorsed by VALBEC in any way. People should make their own judgment about the suitability of each item.
How to submit items: http://www.valbec.org.au/05/news.htm
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In this Issue
1. VALBEC Participatory Action Research
2. Twilight Forum: Exploring teaching philosophies and practices in adult education
3. Twilight Forum: Adult Learners Week Fine Print Student Writing Edition Launch
4. National Literacy and Numeracy Week
5. ACAL Annual Conference
6. Adult Learning Australia's 50th National Conference
7. Songs for Stories Benefit Concert: Indigenous Literacy Project
8. Have you seen TED?
9. ESL Program Coordinator sought
10. Competency Framework Development for Community Services Workers & Volunteers Working with LLN Needs
11. NCVER email alert service
12. Register now for the NCVER webinar series
13. 2010-11 Victorian Women’s Leadership Grants
14. Fine Print Student writing edition
15. Parliament of Victoria free adult education resources (language, literacy and numeracy)
17. Subscribe to eVALBEC?
18. Unsubscribe?
19. Contact VALBEC
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1. VALBEC Participatory Action Research
VALBEC is delighted to announce that it has received funding from ACFE to conduct a participatory action research project. This project will look at ways to strengthen relationships with stakeholders as well as increasing the effectiveness and sustainability of VALBEC as an organisation.
The project will provide a valuable opportunity to explore the effectiveness and reach of VALBEC services as well as investigating innovative ways we can connect with and support LLN practitioners across Melbourne and regional and rural Victoria.
We plan to analyse feedback on our provision of services and support through an online survey and face to face consultations.
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2. Twilight Forum: Exploring teaching philosophies and practices in adult education
Catherine Jenkins (CAE)
More information http://www.valbec.org.au
Tuesday 3 August, 5.30 – 7.30pm North Fitzroy Star Hotel, 32-36 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North (near the corner of Newry Street)
Cost: Free but booking is essential; RSVP info@valbec.org.au by Aug 1
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3. Twilight Forum: Adult Learners Week Fine Print Student Writing Edition Launch
Guest speaker : TBA
Tuesday 7 September,5.30 – 7.30pm, North Fitzroy Star Hotel,
32-36 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North (near the corner of Newry Street)
Cost: Free but booking is essential; RSVP info@valbec.org.au  by 3 September
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4. National Literacy and Numeracy Week
August 31 to September 6
Find out more
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Programs/NationalLiteracyandNumeracyWeek/
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5. ACAL Annual Conference
Hands Up .. Hands On ...
Friday 10 and Saturday 11 September
Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT
Full program details at  http://www.acal.edu.au/2010conf/call.htm
Keynote speakers - HE. Kirsty Sword Gusmão, Chairwoman of the Alola Foundation and Goodwill Ambassador for Education, Timor- Leste; Professor Joe Lo Bianco, Chair of Language and Literacy Education, The University of Melbourne
Bill Atweh, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at the Science and Mathematics Education Centre, Curtin University of Technology
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6. Adult Learning Australia's 50th National Conference
11 - 13 November 2010
Adelaide South Australia, the place of the first National Conference of the Association. The theme of the Conference will be Looking Back –Moving Forward celebrating the association’s achievements from the past, with a focus on present practice across the adult learning sector and a view to the role and challenges in the future for the adult learning and community education sectors.
More information http://www.ala.asn.au/
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7. Songs for Stories Benefit Concert: Indigenous Literacy Project
In partnership with Melbourne Writers Festival, the Songs for Stories benefit concert for the Indigenous Literacy Project will be on Sunday 22 August 2010 at the Melbourne Town Hall. Lead acts include Dan Sultan and his band, Ursula Yovich, Maggie Noonan and others, with Andy Griffiths as host, this is a night not to be missed.
Tickets available http://www.mwf.com.au
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8. Have you seen TED?
TED is a small nonprofit organisation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading that offers among its services best talks and performances from TED and partners available to the world, for free. All of the talks feature closed captions in English, and many feature subtitles in various languages. http://www.ted.com/talks
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9. ESL Program Coordinator sought
Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education (PRACE) is seeking an ESL Program Coordinator for a part-time position.  PRACE runs programs with Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE), Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and Language Literacy and Numeracy Program (LLNP) funding.  This position oversees teaching staff and volunteers and works within a program that has well established processes and procedures in place and high levels of administration and other coordination support. Full details and position description can be found on the link http://www.prace.vic.edu.au
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10. Competency Framework Development for Community Services Workers & Volunteers Working with LLN Needs
CS&H ISC has carried out national consultations during July (attended by VALBEC committee member) and has made available an online survey to obtain industry feedback on draft additions and changes to the Community Services Training Package to incorporate LLN competency. The competency framework is intended for:

The online questionnaire can be downloaded by clicking on the link https://www.cshisc.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=468&Itemid=162&limit=1&limitstart=4
All feedback must be competed and returned to the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council by Friday 13 August 2010.
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11. NCVER email alert service
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has introduced an email alert service as part of its new registration initiative on the NCVER and Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) websites.
To receive email alerts, people must first register http://www.ncver.edu.au/subscribe.html for the NCVER or LSAY website (one registration covers both websites). Registration to the websites is free and downloading all information remains free of charge.
By registering, users of the website will be able to download the full text of reports, support documents, technical documents, questionnaires, data and some products listed within the Resources section on the NCVER website.
Website users can provide feedback on these new services to register@ncver.edu.au   
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12. Register now for the NCVER webinar series
TAA... the friendly way? Friday, 13 August 2010.
For more information and to register for these free public webinars visit
http://www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/events.html
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13. 2010-11 Victorian Women’s Leadership Grants
Applications close on 3 August 2010
Grants of up to $20,000 will be available to local councils, non- profit community and women’s groups in Victoria for projects and activities that: increase the capacity of women to participate in decision making, increase opportunities for women’s leadership, increase diversity among Victoria’s female leaders; in particular women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and Indigenous communities, rural and regional areas.
visit: http://www.women.vic.gov.au or call the Grants information line on 1300 366 356
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14. Fine Print Student writing edition
In your letter box soon
Contents include
Preserving Time - A collection of stories that bring food and memory together in the one delicious dish.
Handed Down on a Plate - Stories that demonstrate how culture is passed from one generation to the next, around a table.
Comfort Food - Writing that lives up to the maxim - food is life.
The Kitchen and the Origins of Equal Opportunity - Is the gender melting pot located smack-bang in the middle of the kitchen?
And For Dessert - The Proof is in the Pudding - Social Enterprise in Australia that profiles two examples, the Saffron Kitchen and the Sorghum Sisters.
Some Bite-Sized Ideas - a great list of food-related websites to explore with your students.
Developing English and Hospitality Skills - Dual Certification - A Great Way to Learn -a pilot course, designed to introduce ESL students to the hospitality industry and prepare them for entry to work in an Australian food outlet.
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15. Parliament of Victoria free adult education resources (language, literacy and numeracy)
The Education and Community Engagement Unit of the Parliament of Victoria has distributed a range of teaching resources to every Community House and ‘access’ unit within TAFE Institutes throughout Victoria during the last couple of years.  
The resources range from assignment activities in two 200-page teaching manuals (many of these activities have already been aligned to accredited curricula) to a user-friendly DVD complete with teaching notes, as well as three large wall posters which can form the basis of many classroom assignments. In July this year, a new website extended the easy availability of these resources with colorful new material; the website also includes details on how to arrange a tour of Parliament House (real or virtual).  A range of (free) professional development opportunities is available, too.  
Check http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au  or email Suzie.Luddon@parliament.vic.gov.au if you want further information (or cannot locate materials already sent to your workplace!)
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16. OzRead and Spell
These short cartoon literacy videos now on YouTube were first designed for failing learners who were not helped by conventional  methods. These learners suffered no further hurt to their egos if they  did not like them - but in fact evaluations showed that everybody learned  something they did not know from them. It shows how the written language is linked with the spoken  language. It demonstrates HOW TO learn, to help you understand spelling and  a quick way to learn to read.  http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ozread&aq=f  
A full account  of the rationale and research basis is in the article Take Home Video for  Adult Literacy, UN International Review of Education, 42.1-3,1, 87-203,  1996, and at http://home.vicnet.net.au/~ozideas/v01litselfhelp.htm
See also http://home.vicnet.net.au/~ozideas/literacy.htm
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17. Subscribe to eVALBEC?
Click this link <mailto:info@valbec.org.au?subject=eVALBEC_Subscribe> and we’ll put you on the list to receive this monthly enewsletter.
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19. Contact VALBEC
eVALBEC is the monthly electronic newsletter of (VALBEC) the Victorian Adult Literacy  and Basic Education Council.
E-mail: info@valbec.org.au
Web: http://www.valbec.org.au
Postal: Box 861 Springvale South VIC 3172
Ph: 03 9546 6892
Fax: 03 9546 0421