What a great way to wrap up our run of professional learning sessions for 2024! With Dave Tout once again flying the flag of numeracy education that is meaningful and adapted to the needs of the students. I am always struck by how Dave weaves numeracy and literacy together, while most educators can hold their area (literacy/numeracy) quite close. And what of elements such as digital literacy? Or learning skills? It’s a timely reminder that these elements should not exist in isolation, but rather in tandem, with no skill being above or less important than the other. It could be worth challenging this in all our practices.
We have had some great responses to our professional learning sessions of late, perhaps due to the decrease in price, perhaps due to some networking we have been facilitating (or a mixture of both). But either way, I’m very proud of the offerings we have given this year, and the great work of the entire VALBEC Committee, especially Manjit for her organisational skills and Shruti for offering online support.
Another interesting development has been the level of correspondence from people wanting to chat about VALBEC and what we offer. So, I would encourage you all to get in touch if you’d like to chat about what we do, or offer a suggestion on how we can serve our community better.
Liam Frost-Camilleri, VALBEC President
VALBEC Membership
You can join or renew online.
https://valbec.org.au/membership/
If you join in August, September or October, deduct 50%. Renewal falls due the following February.
Members receive:
- Fine Print three times a year – a high quality journal for discussion and debate about good practice, theory and policy issues. Feedback and contributions are actively sought from members about content and issues.
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eVALBEC – our e-mail communication keeping members informed of professional development activities, general committee activities and more up to date policy changes.
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Discounts for the Annual Conference and other VALBEC statewide professional development.
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Issues-based forums.
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Focus on significant policy issues impacting on the field.
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Free numeracy resources.
Save the date!
Each year, a different state or territory hosts the national conference for adult literacy, numeracy, digital literacy and English language educators.
In 2025, VALBEC will be hosting the ACAL/VALBEC conference.
Last time we hosted was 2018, and we celebrated VALBEC’s 40th birthday. Valbec updated our logo the same year. Can you remember the old one? You can read more about the 2018 conference here: https://acal.edu.au/2018conference/
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Meanwhile, make sure you bookmark next September 4 & 5 for a Spring conference in Melbourne 2025.
ADCET Webinar: Accessibility in Office 365 - Inclusive isn't elusive
November 14, 2024 12:30 PM via zoom
ADCET is delighted to welcome back Andrew Balzer for a refresher webinar on Microsoft Office and Copilot.
Discover how to make your Office 365 more inclusive and accessible in this 1.5-hour webinar. You will learn about the simple and powerful tools that are built into the Microsoft Office suite to help you create and access content for everyone. Andrew will also introduce and demonstrate Microsoft's AI Assistant Copilot.
Event - ADCET Webinar: Accessibility in Office 365 - Inclusive isn’t elusive (Refresher)
Phonics for Adults:Teacher Offers Advice and Experience
Phonics for adults is about the different sounds letters and combinations of letters make when spoken.
https://www.phonics-literacy.com/
The final issue of Fine Print 2024 will be in your letterboxes - or inbox - this month. We say farewell to our commissioning editor, Deryn Mansell, who has been with Fine Print since 2018. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Deryn. Fine Print contributors often tell us what a wonderful experience it has been writing for FP because of the guidance and support offered by Deryn. The committee has enjoyed her professional and creative approach to all things Fine Print; she managed deadlines and those of us who pushed deadlines with good humour and flexibility, honouring the knowledge that all of our contributors are writing as volunteers and out of a passion for their work. Thank you Deryn, for all you have done for Fine Print, for VALBEC, and for the wider adult LLND sector. Cheers!
PS - Luckily for us, Deryn is staying on the editorial committee as a member!!
CMM CGEA PD 2024
Wednesday 27th November 2024
What’s changing in the Certificates in General Education for Adults in 2025?
Please note the following:
This is an ACFE Board funded activity – no cost to participants.
Priority is given to Learn Local representatives.
(Program may be subject to change)
Email: sicmm.generalstudies@vu.edu.au to register.
Careers
Are you interested in a career at Prace?
We are happy to take expressions of interest throughout the year.
Current job opportunities
https://prace.vic.edu.au/
The Hon. Gayle Tierney is the Minister for Skills and TAFE. She has held the portfolio since 2023, although she has held similar roles under different portfolio names since 2016. She has represented the Victorian Labor Government since 2006 and represents the electorate of Western Victoria.
NTEU - covers ACE and TAFE
Join your union here: https://www.nteu.au/bargaining/TAFE?hkey=44aa2ead-bd5f-498e-8a19-bb285b7f09bd
eVALBEC
eVALBEC is the monthly electronic newsletter of (VALBEC) the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council and is sent to about 1000 practitioners on the first of each month (other than January). It is also available in the ‘News’ section of our web site
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: https://www.valbec.org.au/evalbec