Thanks to all who attended the VALBEC conference - we had over 120 registered participants, 9 organisation tables displaying their products, a raffle with 11 prizes, opening by John Maddock AM, Welcome to Country with Uncle , keynote address by Jo Medlin, singing with Chris Falk, and 16 discreet presentations! Thanks to all involved in the organisation and to VALBEC project manager, Debbie Soccio.
The AGM was also held and a new committee was formed. Farewell and thanks to Zoe Repse and welcome to Jayesh Chauhan. The executive is yet to be finalised. However, Deborah Mullan has taken on the role as (acting) president for now.
Did it slip your mind? There's still time to renew!
You can join or renew online. It's still not too late to join for 2026. Click here to join or renew your 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.
Dear Reader,
You may have seen an article about literacy teacher Kate Nonesuch in Fine Print over the years.
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Kate Nonesuch. (2015). Neither kind nor patient. Fine Print (Melbourne, Vic.), 38(1), 7–8.
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Kate Nonesuch. (2016). The joy of the difficult. Fine Print (Melbourne, Vic.), 39(3), 34–35.
Or perhaps like me, you follow her blog. Sadly, for us the blog is closing:
https://katenonesuch.com/blog/
So if you’d like to have a rummage around and glean as you go, now’s the time. Kate has retired and to see what she is up to in her retirement, check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/@katenonesuch
VALBEC Professional Learning Forum
Cyber Security Awareness and Digital Literacy to Adult Learners
A VALBEC (Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council) Professional Learning session presented by Jason Spear.
Join Jason Spear, as he shares practical, jargon-free strategies to help older Australians build confidence with technology.
Discover how to manage passwords, spot scams, understand digital terminology, and develop the skills and confidence to navigate today's digital world, including the growing impact of AI.
Jason Spear is an ACFE trainer at Yarraville Community Centre who specialises in digital literacy for older Australians.
He is passionate about helping learners build the confidence and skills to navigate technology, stay cyber safe, and embrace the opportunities of AI.
We look forward to seeing you there.
VALBEC PL Forums Team
Who: Jason Spear
When: Thursday 23rd July 2026 6 pm – 7 pm AEST
Where: Zoom
Cost: VALBEC Members Free. Non-Members $10
Registration: https://valbec.org.au/event-6750066
Conference Opportunities
The 2026 VDC (VET Development Centre) National Teaching & Learning Conference is a premier two-day event for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, running from August 13 to August 14, 2026.
Click on the link to learn more about the trauma aware education conference.
As we have still not finalised the executive committee for this year, we thought it would be great to introduce our newest member to the committee.
Jayesh Chauhan has over twenty years of experience teaching Physics and Mathematics across secondary, senior secondary, and higher‑education levels in India and Australia. As a Physics Unit Convener, he contributed to curriculum design and academic coordination while teaching Electromagnetism, Fibre Optics, Electronics, and Higher‑Education Mathematics. He holds a Master’s degree in Physics with a dissertation in Quantum Mechanics and a Bachelor of Education in Physics and Mathematics. He received three Vice‑Chancellor commendations at Swinburne University for student ratings of 9/10 and has reviewed all VCE Mathematics (Years 8–12) and VCE Physics Units 1–4 answers for Wiley (Jacaranda).
Currently working at Chisholm Institute, Jayesh's current interests and work-life include delivering practical numeracy methods in the plumbing trades area. He is using a range of techniques (which also apply to building and carpentry) and is exploring different ways to teach volumes, measurements, and calculations through visual tools, drawings, and simple problem‑solving steps for these apprentices. He is keenly focussed on seeing how these approaches boost engagement, deepen understanding, and build learner confidence while offering the teacher fresh, adaptable ideas for teaching numeracy in trade settings.
Welcome! We look forward to working with you.
It was great to see so much interest in Fine Print at the VALBEC conference. Please subscribe to VALBEC to make sure you receive your copy (paper or e-version) which was published at the end of last month. This issue features an article by Jo Medlin about the project she did with Reading Writing Hotline about engaging literacy learners.
There will be all the regular sections as well for you to enjoy.
Digital Literacy
Brush up on Microsoft Excel! This is a simple resource to help with excel spreadsheet skills. The video is broken into relevant chapters for efficient navigation. The video is broken up into chapters including:
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adjusting and inserting cells, columns and rows
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adjusting zoom
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formatting cells
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conditional formatting
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using formulas
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hide and unhide rows and columns
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autofit contents
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functions
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charts and tables.
Click on the title of the program to get started: Excel Tutorial for Beginners (16:16)
Engaging adult literacy learners: A literature review: Reading Writing Hotline
Medlin, J. (2025). Engaging adult literacy learners: A literature review. Reading Writing Hotline.
Through a review of current Australian and international literature, the Hotline seeks to understand good practice in outreach engagement that links adults experiencing unmet literacy needs to appropriate educational services. The aim of the review was to explore good practice in engaging adults in literacy education.
Across Australia there are adults currently experiencing literacy challenges who may wish to engage in literacy education but face multiple systematic barriers that prevent access. The conclusion that emergers from the literature is that literacy outreach programs can overcome multiple barriers and successfully link potential learners to appropriate education services.
Have we piked your interest? Here is the literature review.
8. Learn Local News
ACEVic/Learn Local Conference - Save The Date
ACEVic (Adult & Community Education Victoria) is partnering with the ACFE Board to deliver the 2026 ACEVic/Learn Local Conference.
The conference will be a collaborative two-day event for people across Victoria’s adult and community education sector and will provide opportunities to connect, share ideas, hear from inspiring speakers and explore practical strategies to support organisations and learners.
The event will be on Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22 at Pullman Albert Park, 65 Queens Road, Melbourne. More information will be shared over coming months.
VDC announces VSA Grant Opportunity
The Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) funds the VDC to provide opportunit ies to the Victorian workforce at Skills First providers and Learn Local providers.
Semester 2 grants are open to Victorian Private RTOs with a Skills First contract & ACFE Learn Local providers.
The projects applicants will be encouraged to focus on areas of organisational workforce capability. Projects may range from general teaching and learning practice, staff induction and ongoing support, and development of emerging coordinators and leaders, and appropriate onboarding mechanisms.
Applications must be received by 5:00pm Friday 17 July 2026.
Information is available here: https://vdc.edu.au/workforce-development-grants/
Numeracy Professional Development
Put into your diaries: a VALBEC professional development day focusing on numeracy in the second half of the year at William Angliss. More infomation coming soon!
Look out for the NTEU branch executive elections. We ask all members to consider putting their hands up this year. It’s not a huge commitment and it’s a satisfying and enriching role. And you will be helping build a strong branch and a healthy sector.
Until then, your NTEU ACE Branch Executive contact is Bill Daly (Secretary) Email: bdaly@nteu.org.au or phone 0431 075 534.
Foundation Scholarship Opportunity
Do you work in Learn Local or would like to, but need some more professional development or qualifications?
The Commonwealth and Victorian governments are investing $4.5 million into professional development for the ACE sector in recognition of the high need for more qualified teachers.
The Adult Community Education (ACE) scholarships are provided by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions to people pursing a rewarding career as an adult literacy and numeracy educator delivering pre-accredited training with Learn Local providers in Victoria. The aim is to build the capacity and capabilities of pre-accredited teachers to undertake qualifications, specialist training and upskilling in language, literacy and numeracy.This scholarship is only available to Victorian students. Applications are now open and close at 11:59pm 31 December 2026.
Scholarships are available to commencing students only and are valued at up to $20,000 to be used whilst undertaking studies.
Interested: follow the link to The Victorian Adult Community Education (ACE) Scholarship to learn more.
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