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Welcome to the December 2009 newsletter
This is the last edition of the newsletter for 2009. The VISTA President, committee and secretariat wish all members and newsletter readers a safe, healthy and happy time over the festive season.
The VISTA executive office bearers were elected at the last committee meeting. Re elected to office were: Rosalie Staggard (President); Anna Henderson (Vice President); and Clint Smith (Secretary). Newly elected Treasurer is Larry Foster. The committee thanked outgoing Treasurer, Paul Stalio for his terrific work as Treasurer in 2009.
This year ended with three valuable events in December. The career development seminar conducted with the Slade Partners saw participants gain valuable insights into preparing for career development within the VET sector. Many gained helpful tips into identifying opportunities, preparing for application and interviews and using social network sites and coaches and mentors to further their professional presence in the career arena. VISTA is looking forward to running some more of these events in 2010
The second VISTA breakfast event for December was held at the MCG when Kim Bannikoff provided a most enlightening insight into the AQF strategies and projects emerging from the Bradley Review. Kim shared some frank and candid thoughts on the challenges facing the nation and the states in implementing qualification and study pathways within the emerging tertiary education sector.
The final December event helped to reflection on the Skills Reform achievements in 2009 and the key challenges arising in 2010. VISTA was delighted to have Lee Watts, (Executive Director, Skills Funding and Innovation, Skills Victoria) present at this event. Lee provided very frank advice on the Skills reform achievements this year and outlined the challenges facing public and private RTOs, particularly with the Youth Guarantee component of the Skills reform package commencing in early 2010. VISTA is looking to have some more Skills Reform forums early in the new year.
2010 will see the continuation of the very popular Fireside chat events with the CEOs of each of the Skills Councils. However, 2010 will see a variation with inclusion of a range of industry professional associations at each event. This will broaden the reach and capacity for VET professional networking. Alongside the annual VISTA conference (23 – 25th May) and the annual VISTA VALA post compulsory conference (August), VISTA will launch a new conference concept. VISTA is working with Materials Australia to bring the emerging national and international research on properties of materials (i.e. metals, ceramics, polymers, composites etc) as well the technologies using and used with these materials together with VET providers and SMEs which use these materials in the manufacturing, engineering and fabrications industries. This conference will create a space to allow VET practitioners and SMEs to explore the potential and apparent application of this research and explore ways in which VET providers can actively support and facilitate the learning required to embed this research into practice in the workplace.
This year saw VISTA's membership base grow by over 110 new members. With membership costs remaining the same for 2010, members and those thinking of being members will be able to access over 20 events in 2010. The price differential for members will mean that members will be saving the cost of membership by attending one of the conferences and one other event throughout the year. Good investment in supporting your career as a VET professional!
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