ICVET Update: July 2007
From Maret Staron, Manager, TAFE NSW ICVET
It’s mid year and I’m feeling it! Perhaps I am just feeling the pressure as we head towards TAFE NSW’s annual teaching and learning conference – the Learning Powerhouse on 10th August. It will be an exciting event this year and we are expecting over 550 teachers and managers to attend. One of the features will be the video streaming of the events in the main theatre. It’s a great opportunity for our leader, Marie Persson who is the Deputy Director-General of TAFE NSW, to talk about our challenges and opportunities and what she sees as critical for the future – and to have that streamed throughout the organization. I only jest about the pressure that I feel with the conference drawing near. With Cliff Trood and Sue Moore managing the event, there is little for me to be concerned about.
Even though it poured with rain in one of the heaviest deluges we have experienced for a long time in Sydney, most people braved the weather to attend the TAFE NSW RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) Colloquium. We had over 100 participants who engaged in critical conversations and examined issues and ways of moving forward. We have made the pod casts available to you, as well as articles in this eZine.
The LearnScope Management team, Robyn Jay and Alex Hayes are visiting LearnScope teams around NSW, providing valuable advice and support. Lynne Stallard is working closely with Donna Hensley, national LearnScope coordinator and Simon Paine, NSW representative on the FLAG (Australian Flexible Learning Advisory Group). Janet Hewson, as well as having organised the Colloquium, is a team member of the TAFE NSW RPL Professional Development project, which is funded by COAG (Council of Australian Governments). Shane Dowd continues his strong support for customisation and use of Training Package Toolboxes and Jeff Saul constantly moves about the state, promoting the use of Australian Flexible Learning Framework products.
I have been inundated with requests for papers and analysis, which I must admit I enjoy doing. It certainly has given me great insights into areas such as workforce development and the future directions and trends in VET that will directly impact on TAFE NSW.
Greg Madden has been working with me on much of this analysis, as well as helping me finalise our new business plan for the next 3 years. We have completed an extensive analysis of feedback on our services for the past 3 years and that report will be out shortly.
The most exciting thing for me personally has been the work we are currently doing on further developing the life based learning model. I look forward to writing about it in a future eZine article. In the original research on life based learning, we identified talent management as one of the new strength based strategies for the future. I’ve noticed that it’s currently a ‘hot’ topic around the traps. I hope you enjoy the articles in this eZine and the pod cast with Melanie O’Connor.
Hope life is treating you kindly and please encourage everyone you know to come into this website and enjoy the connections with what’s going on in VET.