Archived News for Education Sector Professionals
Learning how to run, jump, kick and catch are skills many children are struggling to accomplish, with major implications for their general health, according to a landmark study led by the University of Sydney.
"If a child has not mastered what you might call the building blocks of physical activities they will not have the skill or confidence to do them. This study shows that children lacking these skills have lower levels of overall cardio-respiratory fitness and are more likely to be overweight or obese," said Dr Louise Hardy from the School of Public Health.
"There is an overall decline in children's ability to perform these skills at the appropriate age. We talk a lot about how much exercise kids need to do and the ideal hour-a-day target but this study suggests we might need to go back to basics and teach them the skills they need for a whole range of physical activities."
MOU boosts maritime education and training
The Australian Maritime College (AMC) has joined forces with two major interstate maritime training providers to raise the profile of seafarer training and support the Federal Government’s shipping policy reform.
Vocational Student awards announced
Five hundred of the nation's most skilled students have been recognised for their efforts in vocational education and training in schools.
Fee-free science and technology courses to boost South Australian innovation
The South Australian Employment, Higher Education and Skills Minister, Tom Kenyonhas announced that 26 STEM field courses identified as priorities for the State are now fee-free for the first time under the Skills for All reform of vocational education and training.
AWPA discussion paper highlights skills needs
The Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency has released a discussion paper which examines skills and workforce development needs arising four different scenarios for Australia’s economic future.
Childcare and early ELCs discussion paper released
The Federal Government has released a discussion paper to best identify the childcare and early learning services needs for the country's most vulnerable families are met, now and in the future.
Free SA training courses to start
The South Australian Government has announced over 14,000 people living in Port Pirie, Whyalla and the Far North now have the opportunity to sign up for hundreds of fee free and funded courses under the State Government's Skills for All reforms.
$20 million for teenage training
The Federal Government has announced $20 million in additional funding for State and Territory governments to provide training for single and teenage parents to help them join the workforce.
Australian Innovation Challenge open for entries
Innovative individuals and projects across seven fields have an opportunity to secure cash prizes and national recognition as part of the Australian Innovation Challenge, an initiative of The Australian newspaper in association with Shell Australia.
WA launches Goldfields training facility
The Western Australian Government has hailed an ‘exciting new era in training’ after launching the Goldfields Institute of Technology Esperance Region campus.
Queensland makes 'tough decision' to cut skilling programs
The Queensland Government has announced cuts to several employment and skilling initiatives it says the Federal Government already funds.
Low SES funding unlocked
The Federal Government has pledged $161 million in funding to progress the goals outlined under the Smarter Schools National Partnerships. School Education Minister Peter Garrett released the annual state and territory progress reports for the Low SES School Communities, Literacy and Numeracy and Improving Teacher Quality National Partnerships.
Melbourne to host computer science curriculum workshop
The University of Melbourne has announced it will be hosted a select group of teachers from across Victoria who will be attending a workshop aimed at creating a new secondary school curriculum based on computer science.
HILDA gives insights into Australia's GFC performance
Melbourne University’s Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey has produced a detailed report, showing how Australia coped during the global financial crisis.
HPV vaccine program to boys
In a world first, the Federal Government has announced Australian schoolboys will be able to start receiving the Gardasil vaccine, which will protect them against developing a range of cancers while bolstering the effectiveness of the vaccine in women.
Government tracks low SES and Indigenous student rise
The Federal Government has released figures that show university enrolments by regional and indigenous students have ‘increased to record levels.’
Andrew Roberts named new ANU science dean
The Australian National University has announced internationally renowned scientist Professor Andrew Roberts as the new Dean of the ANY College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
Government to form Science of Learning Research Centre
The Federal Government is aiming to foster relationships between research bodies and educational institutions by establishing a new $16 million multidisciplinary Science of Learning Research Centre.
NCVER releases training statistics
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has found that 32 per cent of young Australians aged between 15-19 years participated in vocational education and training in 2011.
Queensland to phase out QCAT
The Queensland Government has announced it will phase out the Queensland comparable Assessment Tasks (QCAT) by 2013 in a bid to ‘cut waste’ in the education sector.
Eating disorder program to be available digitally
A school-based eating disorder prevention program created by researchers from Flinders University is set to become an iPhone app.