Your VALBEC committee are all volunteers - in fact did you know that 3.3 million Vicotrians volunteer in their community? This represents almost 60% of Victorians aged over 15. I was surprised to learn that the highest rate of volunteering is the 15-24 age bracket, 69% of whom volunteer. The adult LLN +DE sector has traditionally relied on volunteers to help our workforce - retired teachers helping in the classroom, volzunteer literacy or language tutors, or keen gardeners supporting our community centres - there are a lot of them. We have just passed National Volunteer Week, so if you missed out on acknowledging a volunteer who helps make your job easier, please take the time to thank them.
Speaking of saying thank you… the VALBEC committee held its annual general meeting in May. Guest speaker Sally Thompson spoke of the different ways informal literacy support is found in our communities through people who do not necessarily set out to become literacy mediators, but who do so through necessity. One story comes to mind of a suburban solicitor who devised a range of supportive strategies to make sure her clients could access the information on the written page. Sally’s research found that many people with literacy gaps never opened their mail so this solicitor found a way to make sure her mail was read. She designed a friendly and easily recognisable logo so her clients knew when the mail was from her - they would then be able to take it in for her to go through with them. I just love these people!
So, thank you Sally for a wonderful presentation.
Thanks also goes to Deb Mullan and Liam Frost Cammileri, outgoing 2024-5 presidents. Deb stepped into the role in January after Liam needed to resign from the role to focus on the demands of work, and caring for a young family. I am very pleased to be VALBEC president for 2025-6, along with VP; Deborah Mullan, secretary Suzanne Derham and treasurer John Radalj. General committee members include Manjit Bhamral, Janet Claringbold, Tanya Enright, Pam Mahlis, Shruti Malavde, Zoe Repse, Claire Shearman and Chris Tully.
Best wishes - Linno Rhodes, VALBEC President
Reference: https://www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au/sovr2025-vic-launch/
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 two issues per 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.
VALBEC is happy to be supporting the ACAL conference this year.
Registrations now open. Early bird closes July 15.
Keynotes include Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, Dr Lorraine Gaunt, and others with the annual Arch Nelson oration given by Lyn Wilson.
ADCET UDL Symposium 2025 - Registrations now open The University of Sydney and ADCET are pleased to announce that registrations are now open for the upcoming one and a half day Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2025, focusing on "Navigating Authentic Assessment and Learning in a Digital World".
The Symposium is designed for tertiary education (HE & VET) professionals, including educators, learning designers, accessibility staff, assistive tech officers, students, and institutional leaders focused on inclusive learning.
Date: Wed 25 June (registration desk opens 12:30 pm); and Thu 26 June 2025 (full day)
Fine Print will be in your letterbox OR inbox this month - keep your eyes peeled. Any problems please contact info@valbec.com.au
The CGEA courses have been reaccredited.
Accreditation period: July 1 2025 to June 30 2030
22688VIC–22692VIC Certificates in General Education for AdultsThe CGEA Implementation Guide for the reaccredited CGEA is now available on the Victorian Government accredited courses website here (Click on Service Industries).
Please also note the following minor amendment has been made to the course document:
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VU23753 Develop strategies for learning
Element 3: Implement personal learning strategies: correction to numbering of PCs. 3.1, 3.2,3.3
The CIALN courses have been reaccredited.
Accreditation period : July 1 2025 to June 30 2030
22693VIC Course in Initial Adult Literacy and Numeracy
22694VIC Certificate I in Initial Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Both the CGEA and CIALN courses can also be found on the Victorian Government accredited courses website.
- 15 June Elder Abuse Awareness Day
- 16 June Refugee Week (until 22 June)
- 20 June World Refugee Day
EAL teacher Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre
If you are passionate about working in the community sector and empowering disadvantaged learners please submit your application: Position Description.
EAL teacher Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services: www.djerriwarrh.org.au
NHACE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE FAIR WORK COMMISSIONER
After much delay, the application for a new NHACE Multi-Enterprise Agreement has granted approval by the Fair Work Commission. The Commissioner’s report is available here and makes for very interesting reading. The report notes quite a number of concerns with the process and documentation underlying the application. The Commission has finally granted the application on the basis of undertakings by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria to address a number of issues identified.
Despite our serious concerns about the bargaining process and the scope provided by NHVic for the NTEU to progress its log of claims, the NTEU did not oppose the final determination. The MEA is significantly overdue for renewal and, in the interested of members and the broader field, the NTEU does not want this delayed any further.
The NTEU will continue to work to push for the improvements in wages and conditions that we aimed to have included in the new MEA. If you have any matters you’d like to raise with the branch. Don’t hesitate to contact the Vice President Jack Boddeke on jjboddeke@pm.me or Secretary Bill Daly at bill.daly@lcec.vic.edu.au
Linno Rhodes
I have vivid memories of writing my name with chalk when I was about four. And so it began. I have loved reading and writing since then - and like many others in this sector, want to support other people who may struggle with aspects of literacy.
I took myself off to Rusden State College in 1981 to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher, but my fate took me in other directions and I didn’t finish that degree. About 15 years later, with a B.A under my arm, I found myself at LaTrobe University doing a postgrad in Adult Literacy and Basic Ed. The world of adult literacy opened up to me and I have loved this sector since. I have worked in community adult ed, in neighbourhood learning centres and TAFEs.
I am currently working at a uni - still doing adult literacy work; teaching academic literacy to students who are undertaking a teaching degree. I also volunteer on the Fine Print journal and the VALBEC comm. This sector has given me a sense of purpose, a wealth of knowledge and experience and some lovely friends
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