eVALBEC September 2008
This is the electronic newsletter of VALBEC, the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council, and is sent to about 850 practitioners on the first of each month (other than January). It is also available in the ‘News’ section of our web site http://www.valbec.org.au
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: http://www.valbec.org.au/05/news.htm
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IN THIS ISSUE OF eVALBEC:
1. Free VALBEC Spring Forum
2. ACAL Conference 2008 • ‘Surfing outside the flags: catching waves, avoiding rips’
3. Student Writing for Fine Print
4. Victorian ACE Awards
5. Securing Jobs for Your Future - Skills for Victoria
6. Changing ACFE chair
7. Course contacts
8. NCVER Research Overviews
9. VALA Project Manager position
10. Indigenous Literacy Day, Victorian Writers’ Centre event
11. WELL on the way! – 2008
12. ESL teacher required at CAE
13. Dave Tout on the move
14. Today’s Useless Trivia
15. A magic thread will be broken later this month
16. Subscribe to eVALBEC?
17. Unsubscribe?
18. Contact VALBEC
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1. Free VALBEC Spring Forum
'Numeracy activities for all teachers'
Friday, 26 September, 2008
Details and RSVP at http://www.valbec.org.au/08SprForum/08SpForum.htm
Strategies and resources for developing language for maths learning
Noyona Chanda, adult numeracy specialist from London South Bank University.
More fun with maths - Dave Tout introduces more hands-on and fun maths and numeracy activities.
Integrating numeracy and literacy - Dianne Parslow introduces a variety of topics for integrating numeracy with reading and writing.
SWARN an adventure - Maria Santburn uses science (no lab required) as a way for teachers to enhance and energise (batteries not included) the delivery of core and numeracy units at cert Intro-2 levels. Hands on activities and numeracy tasks explored.
Free but RSVP by Sept 22
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2. ACAL Conference 2008 • ‘Surfing outside the flags: catching waves, avoiding rips’
Surfers Paradise on October 2 to 4, 2008
Register online http://www.astmanagement.com.au/qcal8/
Pre-Conference Forum – Thursday 2 October
Adult literacy, numeracy and lifelong learning: a cross-sectoral dialogue
Join Senator Ursula Stephens (Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion) and Dr Chris Duncan (ABS) in examining the implications of the ALLS survey for different sectors and work towards developing a framework for social inclusion through building literacy into a whole of government approach to policy development.
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3. Student Writing for Fine Print
Now is your chance before the term break to get  your students  writing for Fine Print.  Please read the guidelines below and join us   in celebrating the work of your classroom!  Any queries please ring  
Sarah Deasey on 93477072
Electronic submission is preferred, however if this is an obstacle,  please fax your pieces to 93471651, or mail to "Fine Print Student Writing Edition C/O, CNLC 20 Princes st North Carlton 3054
More details at http://www.valbec.org.au/studentwriting.htm
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4. Victorian ACE Awards
Congratulations to the finalists and winners, in particular, to Sue Paull (joint winner of outstanding ACE Practitioner) who is a well known adult literacy practitioner and VALBEC member who has presented at our conferences and contributed to Fine Print.
http://www.acfe.vic.gov.au/web11/ACFEMain.nsf/allDocs/RWPD61C266718A478AECA2574010016C10F?OpenDocument
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5. Securing Jobs for Your Future - Skills for Victoria
The Skills reform paper was released on August 26 and is available on the weblink below.
http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/corporate/directions/skillsreform
The VALBEC committee will continue to discuss the implications of the reforms at our meetings and welcome input from members.
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6. Changing ACFE chair
Lynne Wannan has resigned as ACFE chair to take up the role of Director of the Victorian Government’s new Office for the Community Sector. Lynne Matheson and Dianne Parslow represented VALBEC at a farewell event last week. We thanked her for the support she has given VALBEC over the past five years and wished her well for the future. We welcome the new acting ACFE Chair – Adrian Nye
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7. Course contacts
What courses and programs do you offer? One of the most frequently visited page of the VALBEC website is where we list YOU!
Check your listing at http://www.valbec.org.au/05/contacts/contacts.htm
Add or amend information at http://www.valbec.org.au/05/contacts/addnew.htm
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8. NCVER Research Overviews
NCVER recently released the latest adult literacy research overviews. The complete suite of overviews provide a comprehensive summary of each of NCVER's managed adult literacy and numeracy research projects funded in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. These projects were subsequently published in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The latest overviews include:
* Assessing and acknowledging learning through non-accredited community adult LLN programs
* Investigating the impact of intensive reading methods in adult literacy.
Another overview 'Adult literacy and numeracy development in partnership: Social capital approaches', is expected to be published by the end of the year.
If you wish to reproduce either or both of the published overviews mentioned above, please feel free to do so; we only ask that a copy is sent to NCVER for our records.
See http://www.ncver.edu.au/
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9. VALA Project Manager position
The Victorian Applied Learning Association is seeking a full-time project manager to develop and lead applied learning initiatives. This will include a new WorkSafe resources project as well as enhanced member services including professional development.
Details at http://www.vala.asn.au/
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10. Indigenous Literacy Day, Victorian Writers’ Centre event
3 September: Alexis Wright, Arnold Zable and John Marsden and other prominent writers discuss the importance of literacy to their lives and to the wider society. Held at the State Library of Victoria, Village Roadshow Theatrette, Latrobe St entrance. September 3, 6.15pm for 6.30pm start. To book, please phone the VWC on 9654 9068. Entry is by donation, tax deductible, with all money going to the Fred Hollows Foundation to support Indigenous literacy programs in the Northern Territory
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11. WELL on the way! – 2008
A National Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) Practitioners’ Conference
Bankstown District Sports Club, NSW
November 12 and 13
This second national WELL Practitioners’ Conference aims to consolidate the network established in 2007 and reflect on the diversity of WELL delivery across Australia.  
The conference will once again provide the opportunity for WELL Practitioners to enhance relationships, exchange information and practice and address professional development needs specific to WELL delivery.
For further information email Kath at MESAB – mesab@mesab.com.au
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12. ESL teacher required at CAE
CAE is seeking expressions of interest from qualified ESL teachers for 0.8 contract teaching from 6th Oct to 19th December 2008 - Monday to Thursday. Smaller fraction may be considered from suitable candidates.  Tertiary ESL qualifications and Cert IV in AWT or TAA essential; experience with ESL Framework preferred.  Position description available http://www.cae.edu.au/?cinfo=employment   Expressions of interest including a CV, or further information: diannep@cae.edu.au by COB Fri 5 Sept.
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13. Dave Tout on the move
Congratulations to Dave Tout who has recently finished at the CAE. He will take up a position at ACER working solely in the area of adult numeracy. We’re sure we’ll still see Dave around the adult literacy and numeracy ‘circuit’.
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14. Today’s Useless Trivia
Le Mystère de Valbec (The Valbec Mystery) was a French-language adventure serial in which two children follow a puzzling treasure hunt in a small French ....
More at http://www.lookingandseeing.co.uk/site/Le_Mystere_de_Valbec
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15. A magic thread will be broken later this month
eVALBEC has appeared on the first of each month for several years (Not Jan, we allow ourselves a break then). Come Oct 1 the editor/layout/producer/distributor will not be available. Sooooo...eVALBEC will appear in late September. If you want to make use of eVALBEC, have material in by September 22. Transmission returns to normal in November.
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16. Subscribe to eVALBEC?
Click this link <mailto:info@valbec.org.au?subject=eVALBEC_Subscribe> and we’ll put you on the list to receive this monthly enewsletter.
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17. Unsubscribe?
Just click this link <mailto:info@valbec.org.au?subject=eVALBEC_Unsubscribe> (no typing required!) and hit Send or, send an e-mail with the word Unsubscribe in the subject.
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18. Contact VALBEC
eVALBEC is the monthly electronic newsletter of (VALBEC) the Victorian Adult Literacy  and Basic Education Council.
E-mail:
info@valbec.org.au
Web: http://www.valbec.org.au
Postal: Box 861 Springvale South VIC 3172
Ph: 03 9546 6892
Fax: 03 9546 0421