Nominations Open for Teaching Awards

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education, 3 March 2009

Minister for Education Julia Gillard today called for nominations of outstanding teachers, principals and schools for the Australian Awards for Teaching Excellence to be held in October in association with World Teachers Day.

The prestigious awards celebrate the work of our best and brightest teachers and recognise the crucial role they play in improving educational outcomes.

Parents, students and the community are encouraged to nominate excellent teachers, principals, staff and schools with more than $1 million in prize money available for 64 awards across the teaching profession.

These awards pay tribute to the exceptional contribution teachers and principals make to young people's lives and support the Council of Australian Government's reform agenda to promote quality teaching and effective school leadership so that every Australian child receives a world class education.

The Rudd Government will invest $550 million on quality teaching and school leadership over the next four years through a new National Partnership with the States and Territories.

Having quality teachers in our classrooms is essential to improving performance in literacy and numeracy, increasing student engagement, achievement and well-being, providing better support for students in low SES status communities, and improving the outcomes for Indigenous students.

Teaching Australia, the independent body funded by the Government to strengthen and advance the teaching profession, will manage the awards program.  

Read more at http://www.teachingaustralia.edu.au/ta/go/home/op/edit/pid/594

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RESEARCH

More support needed for new teachers to avoid exodus

Australian Education Union, 26 February 2009

A survey has revealed one in five new teachers feel under-prepared for the reality of teaching when they enter the profession.

The 2008 New Educators Survey of 1545 new teachers showed 21% rated their pre-service education as 'poor or very poor' and only a third rated it 'satisfactory'.

"Not only are new teachers under-prepared when they enter the classroom, close to half have never received mentoring or ongoing induction and nearly a third have been asked to teach outside their area of expertise," AEU Federal President, Angelo Gavrielatos said.

"These findings illustrate how ill-conceived the Federal Government’s plans are with respect to fast-tracking graduates into teaching by providing only six weeks of training."

Read more at http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Media/MediaReleases/2009/2602.pdf

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Schools do matter, say ACER education experts

ACER E-news, 25 February 2009

Education systems must overcome 'biological social determinism' to focus on student learning, Professor Steve Dinham of the Australian Council for Educational Research told education leaders in a series of seminars in late February.

"Many people today, including practicing teachers, still subscribe, consciously or subconsciously, to various forms of biological social determinism, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary," said Professor Dinham, Research Director of ACER's Teaching, Learning and Leadership research program.

"What students can achieve in their education is not predetermined by heredity, where they live, their socio-economic background or family circumstances. All students can benefit from quality education," he said. ""Similarly, there is no such thing as a 'born teacher', and all teachers are capable of learning to be more effective."

"But it takes time for teachers to develop from novice to competent to expert, and the expectation that first-year teachers will immediately be capable is unrealistic."

Read entire release: http://www.acer.edu.au/enews/0902_DinhamCaldwell.html

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New National Research Project: The Role of Schools in Alcohol Education

The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University has been commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to undertake a project to examine the role of schools in alcohol education. 

This national project is part of the Government's Youth Binge Drinking Initiative.

The project aims to:

• Investigate existing research on alcohol education programs aimed at deterring and reducing alcohol use in secondary school students
• Consult with experts and key stakeholders (e.g. school staff and students, parents of school students) about their experience with school-based alcohol education programs
• Provide practical recommendations to DEEWR.

Read more at http://www.nceta.flinders.edu.au

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HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Generation Next - National Seminar Program 2009

Exploring the health & well-being issues affecting young people

• Sydney (May 23 and 24),
• Melbourne (June 13 and 14),
• Brisbane (September 5 and 6),
• Adelaide (June 27) and
• Perth (November 28.)

Generation Next is a national seminar series exploring the unique pressures, needs and healthcare and sociological challenges facing Australian teenagers, adolescents, parents and anyone working with young people.

Generation Next is being conducted in partnership with beyondblue, the national, independent not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression anxiety disorders and substance abuse in Australia.

This initiative is being run by Healthed Pty Ltd, a Sydney company working in event management and health-related educational meetings since 2002. A proportion of profits will be directed to adolescent health research and the series is being rolled out with a view to it being self-sustaining and ongoing.

Read more at http://www.gennextseminars.com/

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Revenue from alcopop tax should be used for education: manufacturers

Christian Kerr, The Australian, February 25, 2009

ALCOPOP manufacturers have called on the Government to use the funds already raised by the 70 per cent tax hike on ready to drink alcoholic beverages to put towards for education programs if the measure is voted down.

The tax increase, bought in ahead of the Budget last year, looks set to be defeated in the Senate.

The industry estimates that the government has already collected almost $200 million from the tax.

If the measure is voted down the industry would be entitled to the money, but the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia wants to see the money spend on alcohol education.

Read more at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25104349-2702,00.html

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INDIGENOUS EDUCATION

Noel Pearson slams Kevin Rudd over indigenous schools

Mike Steketee and Patricia Karvelas, The Australian, February 26, 2009

INDIGENOUS leader Noel Pearson yesterday launched a scathing attack on the Rudd Government for refusing to take up the challenge of low school attendance and its "miserable" targets for reducing indigenous disadvantage.

Mr. Pearson told The Australian that ensuring children went to school could open the way to tackling many more difficult issues in indigenous affairs.

But despite a strong public response to the proposal, which he backed, from fellow indigenous leader and Australian of the Year Mick Dodson that every indigenous child be enrolled in school by January 26 next year, there had been "not a word" from the Government, he said.

Coincidentally, Mr. Pearson's stinging criticisms come on the eve of Kevin Rudd's delivery of his first annual report on progress towards closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

In indigenous education, the Rudd Government has set goals of giving all four-year-olds in remote communities' access to early childhood education within five years, halving the gap with non-indigenous children in literacy and numeracy in 10 years and doing the same for Year 12 or an equivalent attainment by 2020.

Mr. Pearson said: "The challenge I have for (Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny) Macklin and (Education Minister Julia) Gillard is: 'Mate, what is it about your commitment here?'

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25107827-13881,00.html

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Position created to drive effort to close indigenous gap

Nicola Berkovic, The Australian, February 26, 2009

KEVIN Rudd has pledged almost $60 million to eradicate chronic eye and ear diseases from indigenous communities, while declaring the nation at a point of great challenge and hope in indigenous affairs.

And a new position of coordinator-general for remote indigenous services will be created to drive the Government's efforts to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

In the Prime Minister's first annual statement to parliament outlining what has been done to close the gap, he acknowledged many challenges lay ahead to achieve the Government's goals, including eliminating the 17-year gap in life expectancy.

But he outlined steps the Government had taken to improve housing, health, education and policing in indigenous communities.

"Change is coming to Indigenous Australia," Mr. Rudd said.

"The task ahead is difficult, let us be clear about that.

"The transformation of communities and of lives will take many years and there will be many bumps and setbacks along the road. But the alternative is to do nothing. We are determined to have a go."

The address came a day after indigenous leader Noel Pearson launched a scathing attack on the Rudd Government for refusing to take up the challenge of low school attendance and its "miserable" targets for reducing indigenous disadvantage.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25110529-2702,00.html

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ENGLISH EDUCATION

Teachers bid to downgrade literature in national curriculum

Justine Ferrari, The Australian, February 28, 2009

ENGLISH teachers are seeking to downgrade the importance of literature in the national curriculum to allow the study of an expanded range of texts covering visual and multimodal forms "as essential works in their own right".

The professional association purporting to represent the view of the nation's English teachers also calls for the national curriculum to recognise a whole-language method for teaching reading rather than exclusively emphasising phonics and the letter-sound relationships as the initial step.

In its submission to the National Curriculum Board's framing paper on the English curriculum, the Australian Association for the Teaching of English declares studying literature is "inherently a political action" in creating the type of people society values.

The submission disputes the National Curriculum Board's definition of school English as the three elements of language, literature and literacy.

"Meaning-making in, and through, language, across a range of forms, media and expressions, should be the core organiser of the curriculum," it says.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25117220-13881,00.html

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Time to value English:

The Rudd Government must hold fast to education reform

Editorial, The Australian, February 28, 2009

HOW wrong can you be? Like most Australians, we thought the point of English classes at school was to teach children to read and write properly and to understand literature.

Alas, we stand corrected.

As Justine Ferrari reports today, the organisation representing Australia's English teachers' association, in responding to the national English curriculum, recommends that "meaning making in and through language, across a range of forms, media and expressions, should be the core organiser of the curriculum."

Quite. Read it again - it gets muddier every time.

In our view, and undoubtedly that of most parents and students, the national curriculum did a good job defining literature clearly as "plays, novels and poems ... cinema, television and multimedia ... poetry, picture books, multimodal texts, short stories and drama, and a variety of nonfiction forms such as biography."

The English Teachers Association of NSW, alas, sneered at the definitions as "nebulous". Instead, they suggested "the term culturally valued texts as a definition of literature."

Culturally valued by whom? Teenagers at the lower end of the class who prefer Big Brother to Oscar Wilde? Or, more likely, progressive teachers who find it easier to play films than take students through the themes and characters of Pride and Prejudice?

Read more at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25116062-16382,00.html

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Building a highly-skilled workforce for early childhood education

Hon Maxine McKew MP, Parlt Sec for Early Childhood Education & Care, 2 March 2009

Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, today welcomed commencing early childhood teaching students and re-affirmed the Rudd Government's commitment to create additional university places for early childhood teachers.

Speaking at the Mia-Mia Child and Family Study Centre at Macquarie University in Sydney, Ms McKew said the Rudd Government has created 500 new places in 2009 and this will rise to 1500 places by 2011.

"Early reports from universities across Australia indicate strong take up of the additional 500 university places for early childhood teachers this year. Enrolling students recognise the priority Rudd Government places on quality early childhood education and care" Ms McKew said.

The first semester enrolments at the Macquarie University Institute of Early Childhood are up this year, with the additional 20 places funded by the Australian Government now filled.

Read entire release at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/McKew/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_090302_150143.aspx

For more information about the Australian Government's early childhood reform agenda visit http://www.mychild.gov.au

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TERTIARY EDUCATION

Unis slow to open doors to the poor

Luke Slattery, The Australian, March 02, 2009

THE Group of Eight research universities are tough institutions for disadvantaged students to get into, but they are not, according to a surprising new study, the toughest of the lot: that dubious honour goes to the University of Canberra.

A report on student equity in higher education, by Griffith University researcher Leesa Wheelahan, found only 3.8 per cent of Canberra's students were of low socio-economic status.

The report, for the University of South Australia's new National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, found the Australian National University, an elite research institution, did marginally better, with 4 per cent of its students from the lowest socio-economic group.

After Canberra and the ANU, the worst commitment to equity was registered by Sydney's Macquarie University, with only 6.1per cent of students from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25124606-12332,00.html

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First-year attrition too high

Andrew Trounson and Guy Healy, The Australian, February 26, 2009

AS thousands of first-year students flood campuses for orientation week, government data suggests that more than 30,000 of them won't still be at the university come the second year.

Not all of these would have dropped out, with substantial numbers likely to have switched to a different university or be taking a gap year.

But an average attrition rate of more than 18 per cent nationally points to an ongoing challenge to retain first-year students struggling to adapt to university life.

In 2006, 18.55 per cent of the 174,000 students starting bachelor degrees had left the university the following year.

Completion rates at Australian universities are comparatively robust at 72 per cent, slightly above the OECD average of 69 per cent. But the sector will have to improve that if it is to widen participation as recommended by the Bradley Review of Higher Education.

Read more at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25107822-12332,00.html

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Sector pursues unity on Bradley review

Andrew Trounson, The Australian, February 25, 2009

UNIVERSITIES are trying to set aside their differences over the Bradley review amid fears that squabbling could detract from their joint efforts to secure increased long-term funding from the Government.

Strident criticism of the review last week by elements of the Group of Eight has inflamed a policy debate over how to widen participation. While the Go8 is calling for mission-based universities and US-style community colleges, the sector is backing Bradley's mix of goals and competitive incentives to drive institutions to decide their own missions. But differences over vouchers and fee deregulation cut across the sector groupings.

In its submission to Education Minister Julia Gillard, the six-member Innovative Research Universities was split on fees.

Some members backed the retention of price caps while others supported the Go8 position that if student enrolment flows were deregulated, this should be accompanied by matching price deregulation.

In an interview with the HES, Go8 chairman and University of Western Australia vice-chancellor Alan Robson stressed that the sandstone universities largely backed the position of peak body Universities Australia.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25101987-12149,00.html

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Timely boost for creativity with extra $23m of federal funding

Guy Healy, The Australian, February 25, 2009

THE creative arts industries won a $23 million federal government funding boost last week to improve the skills and rigour of the country's 155,000 mainly small creative outfits.

Fulfilling an ALP election promise, $17 million will go to an innovation centre at the University of Technology, Sydney and $6 million to the Queensland University of Technology's Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation.

The creative industries are better known for staging seminars on impenetrable topics in cultural studies.

But there is a government and university push to follow the British and Dutch governments' lead in successfully exploiting creative industries as part of their export strategies.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25101600-12332,00.html

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EXPORTING EDUCATION

Record Growth in International Students in 2008

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education, 26 February 2009

The number of enrolments by international students in Australian institutions increased by a record 20.7 per cent to 543,898 in 2008 &mdash; the largest increase since 2002.

This is the first time international enrolments have exceeded 500,000 in a calendar year.

The increase in student enrolments from Asia, up by 21.5 per cent, is recognition of Australia's ongoing relationship with our Asian neighbours and the strong awareness of Australia as a quality education destination around the world.

In 2008, the largest numbers of enrolments were from China (127,276). The majority of all 2008 international student enrolments were in the higher education sector, which grew 4.7 per cent over the previous year.

Read more at http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_090226_151822.aspx

International student enrolment statistics are available at http://www.aei.dest.gov.au

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And now for the goodish news.....

But can the education boom last?

Editorial, Sydney Morning Herald, March 2, 2009

WE ALREADY know the bad news. It's written all over our balance sheets in red ink.

For the Education Minister, Julia Gillard, the opportunity, then, to deliver some good economic news must have been a welcome relief.

New figures show Australia's third-largest export sector - education - not only held its own, but grew substantially last year.

The world might be dumping iron ore and coal orders, but for now its students are still beating a path to Australia's door. The value of international students to the economy was $14.2 billion last financial year and enrolments grew by 120 per cent, passing the half-million mark for the first time.

All this in a year of extraordinary market uncertainty, as the Australian dollar spiked to an uncompetitive US90c average in February last year before slipping back in the morass of the global financial crisis.

Can the education boom last?

Read more at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/and-now-for-the-goodish-news-20090301-8ldq.html?page=-1

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OPINION

League Tables Increase Social Segregation and Inequity

Trevor Cobbold

Australia's school system has a high degree of social segregation between schools and large inequities in outcomes between students from rich and poor families.

These will probably increase following the agreement of Australian Governments, led by the Rudd Government, to introduce national reporting of individual school results.

Under the agreement, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) will publish nationally comparable information on each school's results, teaching staff, financial resources and enrolment profile.

It will probably include average test scores in literacy and numeracy, the proportion of students achieving national benchmarks, gains between year levels, retention rates and attainment to Year 12.

The information will be used to compare schools with similar student profiles (like-schools) across Australia and schools within regions. 

In effect, governments have agreed to league tables of school performance even though the Prime Minister and Minister Gillard have previously dismissed them as "simplistic", "silly" and "dumb".

Read more at http://soscanberra.com/national-issues/league-tables-increase-social-segregation-and-inequity

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The central importance of science in education

Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister of Britain, Romanes Lecture, 27 February 2009 

We are in a new world not just of global financial flows but the global sourcing of goods, the global mobility of people and through email, text and the web, instantaneous global communications. Suddenly the new frontier is that there is no frontier.

And this technology, this ability to communicate with each other and this new mobility that people enjoy is also creating for the first time in human history the potential for a truly global society.

Whatever is likely to happen, the world economy will almost certainly double in size in the next 20 years - as the people of China, India and Asia become consumers for the first time. That's twice as much business as today; twice as many opportunities.

And among the winners in globalisation will be the industrialised countries that can create the high value added products and services and train the people with the highest possible skills to make and create them.

And so the economic role of science will be of even more importance than before.

And when it comes to all the challenges of creating a truly global society - which require us to eliminate poverty, tackle climate change and mitigate the impact of disease around the world, it is science alone that can give us hope - of a global and sustainable response to the challenges of food and water shortages; of preserving our environment for future generations; of reducing death and suffering from infectious, malignant and degenerative disease.

These are the challenges that only science can answer.

Read more at http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page18472

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AROUND THE STATES & TERRITORIES

NSW:  Greens fear school funds will disappear into NSW budget

ABC News, Feb 25, 2009

The New South Wales Government will charge up to $50 million in administration fees to manage construction projects for the Commonwealth's school infrastructure package.

Greens MP, John Kaye, has accused the Rees government of ripping off the Prime Minister's $14.7 billion stimulus package to improve school facilities.

He says public schools could lose almost $24,000 each in administration fees, and that is unreasonable.

"It's money that belongs in public education, not in the coffers of the Rees government," he said.

But the Premier's office says there is no guarantee it will receive all of the money.

Read more at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/25/2500672.htm

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NT:  School children brave croc infested waters

ABC News, Feb 26, 2009

The Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says he'll look into reports children in a remote community are braving a billabong inhabited by crocodiles to get to school.

The Territory and Commonwealth Governments are phasing in welfare quarantining for the parents of truant children in four Territory communities, in an attempt to address very low school attendance by indigenous children.

One listener told ABC Local Radio children at Palumpa near Port Keats have to contend with saltwater crocodiles in a flooded billabong on the way to school every wet season because a ferry service is no longer operating.

Paul Henderson also holds the Education portfolio but says he's unaware of the problem.

Read more at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/26/2501870.htm

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QLD: Independent schools seek funds boost

Sean Parnell, The Australian, March 02, 2009

THE non-government school sector has sought to inject some independence into the education debate, reminding Queensland political leaders not to overlook it during the campaign.

With Labor and the LNP yet to announce any major education policies, and the Queensland Teachers Union using the campaign as a precursor to enterprise-bargaining talks, Independent Schools Queensland yesterday put forward its six-point wish-list.

The sector wants a $10 million increase in recurrent funding, more flexible rules that would allow non-state schools to use existing capital funding to build kindergartens on school sites and further integration; more funding for disabled and difficult students to match funding provided in the state sector; fast-tracked approval for infrastructure projects funded under the Rudd Government's stimulus package; a curriculum review and extra funding for teacher training to deliver new curriculum and assessment initiatives.

ISQ acting executive director David Robertson said yesterday he was disappointed by the lack of attention on education. "While we recognise the immediate priorities rest with the economy and safeguarding the jobs and livelihoods of Queensland families ... education remains a very real priority and issue for many Queensland parents," Mr. Robertson said.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25124426-5006786,00.html

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QLD: Survey shows school tuck-shop menus still not up to scratch

Robyn Ironside, Courier Mail, 24 February 2009

ONLY one in six school tuck-shop menus meets new health standards two years after the State Government started a program to rid schools of junk food.

A Queensland Association of School Tuck-shops' survey found 83 per cent of tuck-shop convenors believed their menus to be healthy but only 13 per cent met the requirements of the traffic light system.

Under the system, tuck-shops are meant to provide mostly green or "have plenty" foods, and a smaller proportion of amber or "select carefully" foods. Red or "occasional" foods such as soft drinks, lollies and chocolates can be offered only twice a term.

The survey, funded by health insurer MBF, praised tuckshops for making significant improvements but it found amber foods such as pies, sausage rolls and hot dogs continued to be the biggest sellers.

MBF Foundation steering committee chairwoman Christine Bennett said the findings suggested a need for more support and education.

"Amber foods were the most prevalent and some foods could even be classed as red because they're heavy in salt and saturated fats," Dr Bennett said.

Read entire article: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25102346-3102,00.html

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QLD: Tuck-shop red alert

Editorial, Courier Mail, February 25, 2009

PIES and sausage rolls are not the new green.

At least this would appear to be the case from the extremely disappointing figures that show only a fraction of school tuck-shop menus meet the new "traffic light" system of food ratings, whereby 50 per cent of food on offer must be green, or healthy, food.

Of equal concern is that a quarter of non-government schools have failed to even adopt what was trumpeted as a fairly significant health initiative by retiring education minister Rod Welford when he announced it two years ago.

Good ideas, and even announcements paved with good intentions, are to be welcomed, particularly when it comes to children's health. But without continuing support and attention, they risk becoming just that &mdash; good intentions.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25102230-13360,00.html

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SA: Students receive guide to a successful future

Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia, 20 February 2009

More than 20,000 South Australian Year 10 students are this week receiving an information booklet about the new South Australian Certificate of Education.

Education Minister, Jane Lomax-Smith says this year’s Year 10 students will be among the first to complete the new SACE in 2011.

"Schools have been receiving regular updates about the introduction of the new SACE, but this booklet is the first specifically for students," Minister Lomax-Smith says.

"I would encourage all Year 10 students to talk with their parents or carers about the information in this booklet to see how the new SACE enhances their opportunities for the future.

"The booklet summarises important changes to the SACE, including the new compulsory subject, the Personal Learning Plan, to be undertaken by Year 10 students this year, as well as changes to assessment and a list of subjects and courses."

Read more at http://www.ministers.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=4366

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TAS: Report released on preferred school site for Somerset

David Bartlett MP, Minister for Education and Skills, 25 February 2009

An independent report to determine the best site for an improved school at Somerset has today been released to the Somerset and West Somerset Primary School communities.

Premier and Minister for Education and Skills, David Bartlett, said the report, commissioned by the two school associations, recommended West Somerset Primary as the best site for an amalgamated school in the area.

"The report, conducted by an independent site assessment group, found that the current West Somerset Primary site offers more potential to develop better indoor and outdoor learning spaces, more flexibility and more potential for community use," Mr Bartlett said.

"The findings follow 18 months of discussions between the two school associations who have recognised the educational benefits of a single school for the area.

"I'd like to congratulate the school communities for working cooperatively on this issue.

"This is the kind of community-driven response that I believe will help us improve the long-term provision of education in Tasmania."

Read more at http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=26045

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VIC: Awards for Outstanding Parent or Education Community Service

The Victorian Outstanding Parent Awards recognise parent participation, their ideas and enthusiasm on issues relating to the education of children in Victoria.

And Education Community Service Awards will be presented to members of the community who have contributed to positive educational experiences for children attending Victorian government schools.

Signed nomination forms are invited in respect of each of these award programs &mdash; and must be Faxed or Emailed to the Service Awards Regional Coordinator by close of business on Friday 20 March 2009.

Further details and nomination forms are here (scroll down the Awards page): http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/edweek/awards.htm

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VIC: Win $1,000 for your school with Kids - Go For Your Life!

All Victorian primary schools, kindergartens, child care centres or family day care schemes that join Kids - Go For Your Life before Friday 3 April 2009 will go into a draw to win $1,000 to spend on initiatives that support healthy eating and physical activity for children.

This is a great opportunity to kick-start some fantastic healthy habits at your school

Further information:  http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/kids

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WA:  Private school fraud charges expected

Natalie O'Brien, The Australian, February 25, 2009

THE director of a Perth Muslim high school accused of siphoning off more than $350,000 in federal funding is today expected to be charged.   Anwar Sayed, the founder of the Muslim Ladies College of Australia, will meet West Australian police this afternoon. He has been warned he will be charged with defrauding the commonwealth.

The 50-year-old, from Perth's southeastern suburb of Canning Vale, voluntarily returned from Afghanistan last week to face the allegations.  "I am totally innocent and the allegations are totally false," Mr. Sayed said yesterday.

He said he had proper records to show how the college funding had been spent.

The MLCA, started five years ago by Mr. Sayed, was closed in December 2007 after the West Australian Education Department found it focused too heavily on religion at the expense of reading and writing.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25103340-5006789,00.html

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CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Australian Guidance and Counselling Association Conference 2009

Changing Minds, Enhancing Futures

15-17 April 2009, Hobart, Tasmania

Conference presentations will be appropriate for principals and teachers, as well as school psychologists, school counsellors and other school support people.

Keynote speakers include:

• Joe Tucci (Australian Childhood Foundation) who is giving a full day presentation (16th April) - An education perspective on understanding and responding to complex trauma and attachment.
• John Geake (neuropsychologist from Oxford Brookes University and Department of Neurology, University of Oxford) will be speaking on how the brain learns and implications for teaching.

Read more at http://www.agca.com.au/

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REMINDERS

March-May - Teaching Australia Workshops and Masterclasses - locations around Australia - http://www.teachingaustralia.edu.au

2-5 March - BIG Skills Conference - Sydney Australia - http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training_skills/programmes_funding/programme_categories/Conferences/

16-18 March - IASTED International Conference on Web-based Education - Phuket, Thailand - http://www.iasted.org/conferences/home-644.html

21 March - Harmony Day - http://www.harmony.gov.au

23-26 March - International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Lisbon, Portugal - http://www.csedu.org/CFP.htm

2-3 April - ACOSS National Conference - Sydney, NSW - http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl444m/bulletinfinal.htm

3-5 April - WA Childcare and Early Childhood Education Conference - Perth, WA - http://www.waecec.com.au/

15-18 April - International Outdoor Education Research Conference - Beechworth, VIC - http://www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/research_conf_2009.htm

17-21 April - National Art Education Association National Convention - Minneapolis, USA - http://www.naea-reston.org/convention.html

1 May - Australian Museum Eureka Prizes nominations close - http://www.australianmuseum.net.au/eureka/

21 May - Education 09 - London, UK - http://www.govnet.co.uk/education/

31 May - Australian Rural Education Awards nominations close - http://www.spera.edu.au

4-7 July - Contasta Science Education Conference - Launceston, TAS - http://www.cdesign.com.au/conasta58

5-8 July - World Conference on Higher Education - Paris, France - http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=56642&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

5-10 July - Youth ANZAAS 2009 - Melbourne, Victoria - http://www.anzaas.org.au/youth.html

8-10 July - SPERA National Conference - Flinders University, SA - http://www.spera.edu.au//conferences/callforpapers.pdf

13-16 July - Conference of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers - Fremantle, WA - http://www.aamt.edu.au/2009-conference

6-7 August - Professional Development Network School Leaders' Conference - Gold Coast, QLD - http://www.griffith.edu.au/conference/professional-development-network-leadership-conference-2009

13-14 August - Isolated Children's Parents' Assoc. of Australia Federal Conference - Longreach, QLD - http://www.icpa.com.au

26-28 September - ACEL International Conference - Darwin, NT - http://www.acel.org.au/index.php?id=858

12-13 October - ACSSO National Conference - Hobart, Tasmania - http://www.acsso.org/natconf09/

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• Languages Education : http://www.languageseducation.com/news.htm (monthly)
• Ensemble - Music Education : http://www.ensemble.org.au/news.htm (monthly)
• Family School Partners : http://www.familyschool.org.au/?page_id=6 (quarterly)
• Public Education Voice : http://www.acsso.org.au/pev.htm (quarterly)

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