Thanks to everyone who attended the VALBEC conference. We had more than 120 registered participants, nine organisation tables displaying products, a raffle with 11 donated prizes, an opening by John Maddock AM, a Welcome to Country, a keynote address by Jo Medlin, singing with Chris Falk, and 16 presentations.
Thank you to everyone involved in organising the conference, and to VALBEC project manager Debbie Soccio. The AGM was also held, and a new committee was formed. Farewell and thank you to Zoe Repse, and welcome to Jayesh Chauhan. The executive committee is yet to be finalised; however, Deborah Mullan has taken on the role of 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.
ACAL is 50!
Join past and present members of ACAL on Tuesday 8 September 2026 to celebrate 50 years of ACAL with a special symposium from 9:30am to 2:30pm at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, followed by a commemorative tree planting and afternoon tea at 3:15pm at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Bruce Campus, Block H. Designed for everyone working in education spaces, the symposium will provide the currency needed for 2026 and beyond, with updates on the National Strategy, new research, current data and future trends, alongside plentiful networking opportunities to meet passionate and informed people who can expand your LLN world.
Retired members and long-time supporters are warmly invited to join us to reflect on 50 years of ACAL advocacy, celebrate the highs and lows, share memories, honour the volunteers who have supported adult literacy and numeracy learners and educators under the ACAL banner, and add their voice to the collective knowledge as we look to the next 50 years.
Registrations are now open. Follow this link to the ACAL website to find out more and to register for this event.
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You may have seen articles by literacy teacher Kate Nonesuch in Fine Print over the years, including:
- Kate Nonesuch. (2015). Neither kind nor patient. Fine Print, 38(1), 7–8.
- Kate Nonesuch. (2016). The joy of the difficult. Fine Print, 39(3), 34–35.
Kate's blog is closing, so if you would like to browse through the archive and gather ideas, now is the time. Kate has retired, and readers may also be interested in following her current work online.
Visit Kate Nonesuch’s blog archive to browse past posts and gather ideas.
You can also follow Kate Nonesuch on YouTube to see what she is working on in retirement.
VALBEC Professional Learning Forums
Cyber Security Awareness and Digital Literacy for Adult Learners
A VALBEC 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. The session will explore 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.
Who: Jason Spear
When: Thursday 23 July 2026, 6 pm–7 pm AEST
Where: Zoom
Cost: VALBEC members free; non-members $10;
Register here.
Conference Opportunities
The 2026 VDC National Teaching and Learning Conference is a two-day event for the Vocational Education and Training sector, running from 13 to 14 August 2026.
There is also information available about the Trauma Aware Education Conference
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, either in print or electronic format.
The latest issue features an article by Jo Medlin about the project she completed with the Reading Writing Hotline on engaging literacy learners. All regular sections are also included.
Digital Literacy
Brush up on Microsoft Excel with a simple resource designed to support spreadsheet skills. The video is organised into chapters for easy navigation, including:
- Adjusting and inserting cells, columns and rows
- Adjusting zoom
- Formatting cells
- Conditional formatting
- Using formulas
- Hiding and unhiding rows and columns
- Autofitting contents
- Functions
- Charts and tables
Here is the link to Excel Tutorial for Beginners.
Engaging Adult Literacy Learners
Medlin, J. (2025). Engaging adult literacy learners: A literature review. Reading Writing Hotline.
This literature review explores good practice in outreach engagement that connects adults with unmet literacy needs to appropriate educational services. The review finds that literacy outreach programs can help overcome barriers and successfully link potential learners to education services.
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 opportunities 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.
More information is available here.
Numeracy Professional Development
Put this in your diaries: a VALBEC professional development day focusing on numeracy will be held in the second half of the year at William Angliss. More information is 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