The date has been set – it’s happening again…

6th May 2010

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

ACEVic’s 35th Annual Conference

“EmbrAC(E)ing the Challenge”

Early Bird Discount Registration Now Available. Registration Form 2010

Featured Speakers:

		Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Prime Minister on Social Inclusion

		Catherine Deveny is a speaker, author, columnist and stand-up comedian.Best known for her controversial writing for The Age. She has performed extensively in most Australian premier comedy venues and on radio. She is a regular host on ABC 774.Catherine’s views on education and communities are well known to readers of her columns.  She has recently sparked discussion about dyslexia, after writing about her own experiences of struggling with the disorder.

 Workshops:

• Strategic Planning
• Creating New Partnerships
• Building your Profile
• Getting and Keeping Good People

Venue:

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne is one of the grand hotels still remaining in Australia. Built in 1913 as the Commercial Travellers Club, this 4.5 star heritage listed hotel has been meticulously restored to retain the feel and style of the classical 1900’s era, whilst at the same time providing guests with leading 21st century technology and facilities.

Sponsorship:

ACEVic has held a conference for the past 34 years with average attendances of between 100 and 150 people – in fact last year we were at full capacity!  The people who attend the ACEVic conference are CEO’s, Managers and Coordinators from a broad range of ACE providers.  In short: the people who make decisions about purchases in their centre.  If you would like to be involved in this year’s conference as either a sponsor or exhibitor please contact this office on (03) 9315 2610.  You can download a sponsorhip pack at: Sponsorship Information.

Facilitated by Mary Brennan, Dr Mark Brophy and Sally Thompson

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday 30th October, 2009

Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre

30 Ford St, Beechworth

The goals of this one day workshop are:

• To provide a basic understanding of community wide ‘dialogue to change’ programs,
• To experience deliberative dialogue through taking part in a sample study circle ,
• To hear about Australian and International examples of deliberative dialogue in practice,
• To explore uses of the methodology in the North East

Cost: $95 for first participant, plus one service user, volunteer of community member attends free.

For further information phone Jacqui Ralley on (03) 93152610 , office@acevic.org.au

Download the registration form: Orientation Workshop Beechworth

The taskforce developed a Ministerial Declaration on Adult Community Education, which was endorsed by State, Territory and Commonwealth ministers at the 13th MCEETYA meeting in July 2002. 

ACE builds the skills, knowledge and abilities of Victorian communities by providing 

• Informal learning opportunities alongside formal learning pathways,
• Welcoming and accepting environments,
• Pedagogy that is flexible and learner-focussed,
• Programs driven by local needs,
• A diverse range of organisations which each reflect, nurture and are involved with their local communities,
• Interpersonal connections to build better and stronger communities,
• Awareness of diversity, and promotion of harmony and connectedness,
• Entry level computer education to those who would otherwise be left behind in the digital revolution,
• Personalised attention so that learners feel valued and are not lost in the system.

ACE is build on a set of values and practices that encompass:

• Reinvesting skills, knowledge and money in local communities,
• Being in it for the long haul: an ongoing presence in specific localities reflecting a commitment to ensure all members have the opportunity to reach their potential,
• Connection to a broad range of social and community services and supports,
• Holistic application of adult learning practices,
• Commitment to all members of a community particularly the most disadvantaged and marginalised,
• Strong return on investment of resources.

The unique features of ACE that need to be maintained in the new funding and policy environment are:

• Registration as an ACE provider with the ACFE Board should be confined to those organisations which have a commitment to place based and driven community development,
• Registration as an ACE provider with the ACFE Board should be confined to those organisations who are community owned, managed and operated,
• Government policy should support collaboration, complementarity and partnership to meet local needs,
• Providers should be supported to maintain our flexibility and responsiveness alongside high quality standards,
• Government statements and policy should reflect ACE as a relevant, recognised and respected partner in the training system,
• The special significance of ACE in remote & rural communities should be protected because there will be devastating effects on those communities if local ACE providers are lost.

Representatives from ACEVic and ANHLC met with Minister Allan on the 3rd December 2007 to brief her on the statement.

response-to-skills-for-victoria

media-release-skills-reform

acevic-response-to-the-llnp-review

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 In addition many members of ACEVic contributed individual responses. There were a number of common themes across the member submissions. These were:

• ACE providers are confident of their ability to thrive in a more open market, but only where competition is around capacity to attract learners and achieve outcomes, not where competition means a price based “race to the bottom” as has occurred in federally funded adult education.
• Many adults presenting for ACE programs don’t fit priority learner groups but are nonetheless seriously educationally disadvantaged and in need of intensive support.  Some examples cited include learners with an undiagnosed mental illness and learners with quals achieved in other countries and in other languages.
• ACE providers are struggling to attract and retain teachers under the current funding regime.

We look forward to hearing the outcomes of the review.

How to apply

The 2009 program is aimed at those ACE organisations who are facing a significant new business challenge, or who will need to change their business practices to survive in the new contestable environment. Expressions of interest are open and ongoing and will close in August or when the program is fully subscribed (whichever occurs first). There are only 10 places to be offered across the state. Email Sally Thompson at the ACEvic office to lodge your expression of interest. Please include your name, your position within the organisation and the ACFE region you are based in.  We will be consulting with Regional Offices to ensure that the places go to those organisations who need them the most. Once you have been accepted into the program, you will be able to choose your own coach from amongst the trained coaches.

How much will it cost?

The program is fully funded by the ACFE Board.  The provider is expected to cover the costs of phone communication.

The Coaches

The business coaches were nominated by their peers as people with high levels of business and communication skills.  Most have come into the program with previous experiencing in either coaching, consulting, or professional supervision. In addition, they have recently undergone a three month accredited coach training program which included peer coaching and assessment.

View these biographies to learn more about the coaches and to choose the coach who best matches your requirements.

sherryn-browne1

caylie-price

gina-dougall

derek-kosbab

wayne-hewitt

bev-lamont1

rowena-naufal

gary-rogers

penny-sara2

leonie-oneill

lisa-spiers

kay-vrieze

What is Coaching?

Coaching is individual professional development provided, in this case, over a 3 month period. A coach works with a client to develop a set of goals, and then supports him or her in their attainment of those goals. A coach is a sounding board, an accountability partner and a source of support.

Why coaching?

Coaching is an ideal methodology for the ACE sector because it:

• Builds on adult learning principles. A coach assumes that the client is autonomous and resourcesful and that he or she learns best when the training is practical and targeted.
• Operates across distances.  Most coaching occurs using phone based sessions. This eliminates the need for travel and means that you can be coached by someone outside your region with whom you are less likely to have a competitive relationship or a potential conflict of interest.
• Overcomes isolation. Many Coordinators and Managers answer to volunteer committees of management, making it hard to get the collegiate support and feedback that you need. Coaching can provide these.

How does coaching differ from mentoring or professional supervision?

Coaching is very similar to these traditions and incorporates some of the practices of each. Coaching differs from mentoring in that it is a more equal relationship. A coach assumes that the client is the expert in his or her life and has the answers to the challenges of their work, if supported to find them. Coaching is different to professional supervision, in that the focus in on the whole of the Coordinator or Managers work, not just on their interactions with clients. Coaching is also more goal oriented than either of these traditions.

Managing Conflict of Interest

Managing Conflict of Interest is one of the key governance responsibilities of a committee of management. This tip sheet provides new committee members with information about Conflict of Interest and how it can be effectively managed.

Managing the Manager

How to Conduct Staff Appraisals

Also, many people who call the ACEVic office are not familiar with the wonderful Board resources available at www.ourcommunity.com.au If you haven’t used them yet, check them out. If you have found any other sites with good Board and Committee resources, we would love to hear about it! Post your comments below.