Archived News for Education Sector Professionals - July, 2011
Federal funding of $7.5 million has been provided for a new project, the More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers project, that will investigate the best ways to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in Australian schools.
The research will be conducted by the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education, at the University of South Australia, led by Professor Peter Buckskin. Scholarships will also be offered under the scheme.
The project is one of three worth a total of $9.5 million and announced as part of NAIDOC Week.
New national skills training regulator begins operation
The new financial year marked the commencement of the national vocational education and training regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), which will regulate registered training organisations (RTOs) and course owners in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, and some RTOs in Victoria and Western Australia.
Tasmania backs down on school closures
The Tasmanian Government has backed down on its decision to close 20 schools.
Adelaide University pushes for clean hydrogen energy
Adelaide University has announced advanced research into the use of metal nanoparticles in the generation of hydrogen energy.
UnionsWA calls for review of Independent Public Schools policy
Western Australia’s peak union body, UnionsWA, has used results of a Curtin University study to reinforce its criticism of the WA Government’s Independent Public Schools (IPS) initiative.
Enrolments in public vocational education and training surge
Enrolments in public vocational education and training course in 2010 rose by 5.4% from 2009, to a total of 1.8 million students, according to a report released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
Graduate employment slides for second year
A new report from Graduate Careers Australia (GCA), Graduate Destinations 2010, shows that, in 2010, employment prospects for new higher education graduates fell for the second year running.
$20 million fund to support Victorian regional partnerships between TAFE and Universities
The Victorian Government has announced a new $20 million Regional Partnerships Facilitation Fund that will support alliances between universities and Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers in regional Victoria.
Early Childhood Education and Care Census released
The first national census of Australia’s preschools, kindergartens and childcare services reveals an increase in the number of workers with relevant qualifications and finds that overall job satisfaction is high across the sector.