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.
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 Forum
Adapt-learning from the learners and colleagues to improve teaching – one educator’s story
In this online seminar, Lindee will talk about the joy of discussing great teaching ideas with colleagues – and how their ideas make her classes better. She’ll also talk about learning from the adult learners in class.
Three examples will be offered:
- Digital- when the class went so, so wrong
- Literacy – learning from a colleague’s purposeful ideas
- Numeracy – How Lindee watched and learnt, fast.
Lindee Conway has been involved in adult learning and teaching– lucky for her!
She never gets tired of talking to educators. Her sessions for teachers are inclusive and realistic.
Who: Lindee Conway
When: Wednesday, 24th June 2026 From 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm
Where: Zoom
Cost: VALBEC Members Free; non-Members $10.00
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.
VALBEC Numeracy PD Day
Put into your diaries, VALBEC professional development day focusing on numeracy on Friday 23rd October at William Angliss.
CGEA Champions Meeting
A meeting of the CGEA Champions is planned for Tuesday 16th June 12-2pm. If you are interested in joining please contact Chris Tully at christinetully@melbournepolytechnic.edu.au
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