VTA State Conference 16 – 17 August 2018

RACV City Club 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne

vta.vic.edu.au

dynamic connected invigorated

With thanks to our sponsors

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Conference Overview 2018TAFE and the broader VET sector are critical instruments in the preparation of citizens, businesses and communities for the challenges of the new world of work. In recent years, policy reforms have stabilised the VET system in Victoria and across the country after scandals and wanton abuse by rogue providers. The value of TAFE as the trusted and respected provider of choice has re-emerged as a consequence of significant effort by policy-makers and TAFEs to re-establish the status of VET.

Victoria’s TAFEs operate increasingly as a dynamic, connected and invigorated network, growing in strength and vitality. But while there is much to be proud of, there is more work to be done. The reform piece is not yet complete, and in an election year, it is timely to take stock of progress made and to look forward and plan for ‘what’s next?’

The VTA 2018 Annual State Conference promises a range of dynamic, connected and invigorated international, national and local speakers who will stimulate, challenge and extend our thinking about TAFE and VET into the future.

dynamic connected invigorated

Conference ProgramThursday 16 August

Meetings

10.00am – 1.00pm Collaboration between Regional TAFEs – it’s a natural fit (Open to Managers in Victoria’s regional TAFE institutes)

10.30am – 12.30pm Victorian TAFE Board Chairs’ meeting (Open to Victorian TAFE Board Chairs)

1.00pm – 2.00pm Association Council meeting (Open to Victorian CEO Council members and Board Chairs)

2.30pm – 4.00pm Roundtable discussion with Carrie Yau, Executive Director, Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong (Open to Victorian CEO Council members and Board Chairs)

Symposiums

2.00pm – 5.00pm TAFE Working with Industry

• Futuretech industry collaboration Ross Digby, Dean – Faculty of Building, Construction and Engineering, Holmesglen Institute

• RMIT and Apple: digital skills for the 21st Century Jack Hyland, General Manager, Strategy & Product, RMIT University

• Defence Medics Partnership Fiona Maher, Director – Community Services & Health (Department), and Melinda Mooney, Senior Educator – Quality Learning & Teaching, Wodonga TAFE

• Harvesting Productive Relationships Robin Kuhne, General Manager – Education (Mildura), SuniTAFE

• Industry 4.0 Higher Apprenticeship Partnership Project David Coltman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pathways & Vocational Education, and Sharon Rice, Executive Director Major Projects, Swinburne University of Technology

2.00pm – 5.00pm International Education Forum

The Forum will address key developments in international education affecting Victorian TAFEs and provide access to government and international education sector representatives. The program will feature speakers including:

• The Hon. Philip Dalidakis MP, Minister for Trade and Investment (responsible for International Education)

• Jane Connellan, Manager Regulatory Operations, ASQA

• Karen Sandercock, Group Manager International Group, Australian Government DET

• Rebecca Hall, Senior Industry Specialist (International Education), Austrade

Conference Program Thursday 16 August

Dinner

6.30pm Pre-dinner drinks

7.00pm State Conference Dinner The Power of TAFE: Student Alumni Panel• Indi Clarke, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year (Australian

Training Awards 2016) - SuniTAFE• Grace Jamieson, People’s Choice Award (Victorian Training Awards 2017) – Kangan

Institute• Samuel Shedrack Chukwuweonu, International Student of the Year – VET (Victorian

International Education Awards 2017) – Chisholm Institute

Friday 17 August

State Conference

8.15am Registrations open

8.45am Conference Opening – MC – Lindy Burns (ABC Radio presenter)

8.55am Minister’s AddressHon. Gayle Tierney MP, Minister for Training and Skills, and Minister for Corrections

9.15am Opening Address: Enhancing the standing and status of vocational education and the occupations it servesProfessor Stephen Billett, Senior Lecturer, School of Vocational, Technical & Arts, Griffith University

10.00am Morning tea

10.30am Keynote address: Skilling for Professionalism – Hong Kong’s Vision for a Smart CityCarrie Yau, GBS, JP, Executive Director, Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong

11.30am Education systems and VET participation Professor Stephen Lamb, Director, Centre for International Research on Education Systems, Research Chair in Education, Victoria University

12.15pm Lunch

1.05pm Panel: Industry and TAFE – a pipeline to innovation and prosperity• Melinda Cilento, Chief Executive Officer, CEDA• Megan Lilly, Head of Workforce Development, Ai Group• Blye Decker, Manager Policy, Business Council of AustraliaFacilitator: Lindy Burns, MC

2.10pm Afternoon tea

2.25pm Shadow Minister’s AddressSteph Ryan MP, Shadow Minister for Training, Skills & Apprenticeships

2.45pm Enhancing the role of TAFE in a re-designed tertiary system fit for the futureProfessor Stephen Parker AO, National Sector Leader – Education, KPMG Australia

3.30pm Summary – MC – Lindy Burns

3.40pm Close

Meet our speakers

Hon Gayle Tierney MPMinister for Training and Skills and Minister for Corrections

Gayle has a strong connection with rural and regional communities. Apart from being an advocate for regional infrastructure and employment, Gayle is also a strong supporter of environmental sustainability, gender representation, social inclusion and community development. She was the first woman to become a State Secretary of the Vehicle Division of the traditionally male-dominated Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, serving in this role from 1993 to 2006, and also as the Federal President from 2000 to 2006. Gayle also served on the Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) from 2000 to 2006. In 2006, Gayle was elected to represent Western Victoria in the Legislative Council. Gayle was appointed as Minister for Training and Skills, and Minister for Corrections in November 2016.

Carrie Yau, GBS, JPExecutive Director Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong

Carrie Yau is the Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council (VTC), the leading vocational and professional education and training (VPET) statutory body in Hong Kong which offers a quarter of million learners every year the opportunity to upgrade themselves with the acquisition of valuable vocational credentials. Under her leadership, the VTC has taken forward new initiatives including the VPET International Conference, WorldSkills Competition cum Carnival 2017, VTC Earn & Learn Scheme to meet manpower demands in major industries, and some major capital projects including the construction of a new International Culinary Institute and a new campus for the degree awarding Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi). Prior to joining VTC, Carrie was the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting (2000-2002), and the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food as well as Home Affairs from 2002 to 2010. Carrie has a wealth of experience working in major policy areas including Vietnamese Boat People, SARS, avian flu; and coordination of international events like 2000 ITU Telecom Asia, 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events and 2009 East Asian Games.

Steph Ryan MPShadow Minister for Training, Skills & Apprenticeships

Steph Ryan was born in Murchison where her parents ran a dairy farm. After completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at RMIT, she returned to Echuca to work as a journalist with The Riverine Herald. During her time as a journalist, she witnessed rural communities struggling with the difficulties of drought. The decision by the government of the day to build the north–south pipeline was a critical turning point for Steph. She began work with the member for Rodney before starting seven years working in a coalition team including roles as senior adviser to Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan, Deputy Leader Peter Walsh and Ted Bailleu during his time as Premier. In 2013, Steph made the decision to stand as The National Party candidate for Euroa. Shortly after being elected on 29 November 2014, she was chosen as Deputy Leader of The Nationals and given the shadow portfolios of Training, Skills and Apprenticeships and Youth Affairs. She has recently also picked up the portfolio responsibility of Water.

Meet our speakers

Stephen BillettProfessor of Adult and Vocational Education School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University

Stephen Billett is Professor of Adult and Vocational Education, School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University, Brisbane and an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. Stephen has authored a number of books in the vocational education area, including Integrating practice-based learning experiences into higher education programs (2015). He is the founding and Editor-in-Chief of Vocations and learning: Studies in vocational and professional education, an international forum on vocational learning. Stephen has received numerous accolades for his work, including a Fulbright scholarship, a national teaching fellowship, an honorary doctorate from Jyvaskala University in Finland, and election as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia.

Professor Stephen LambDirector, Centre for International Research on Education Systems, Research Chair in Education Victoria University

Professor Stephen Lamb holds the Research Chair in Education at Victoria University (VU) and is Director of the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES). He has a distinguished record of contribution to educational research and policy over the last 30 years achieved through an extensive research program and a strong publication record. His research is concerned with how well education systems work, for whom and why. Stephen has undertaken a range of high-impact policy research and has extensive experience in projects on funding, performance, systems, influences on student achievement and outcomes and quality of programs. Stephen is the lead researcher for the International Study of City Youth (ISCY), an international longitudinal study of 10th grade students in a number of cities of the world. It aims to find out more about student journeys through school into further study, work and life more broadly beyond school. ISCY is designed to compare how well school systems in Europe, Canada, North America, Asia and Australia are preparing young people for further study and work.

Melinda CilentoChief Executive Officer CEDA

Melinda is the CEO of CEDA. She is also a non-executive director of Woodside Petroleum and Australian Unit, and Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia. Melinda is also a member of the Parliamentary Budget Office panel of expert advisors. She was previously a Commissioner with the Productivity Commission and Deputy CEO and Chief Economist with the Business Council Australia. Melinda has also held senior roles with the Federal Department of Treasury, Invesco and the International Monetary Fund. Melinda’s executive and director experience covers the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors and she has a strong track record of working collaboratively across all sectors.

Megan LillyHead of Workforce Development Australian Industry Group

Megan Lilly is the Head of Workforce Development for The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Director of the Australian Industry Group Training Services (AiGTS) and the Ai Group Graduate Employment Services. In this role Megan is responsible for the development of all education and training policy as well as member service delivery across the breadth of workforce development. Prior to this she was the Chief Executive Officer of Business Services Training Australia, the national industry advisory board for the business services and related industry sectors. Before joining the national board, she held several senior management positions in various Victorian TAFE institutes.

Meet our speakers

Blye DeckerManager Policy, Business Council of Australia

Blye joined the Business Council of Australia in 2015. During this time, she has worked on a range of human capital policy issues, including tertiary reform, skills and workforce relations. Previously, Blye worked on workforce development and skills policy issues in the Commonwealth skills advisory body the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency. She has also worked on VET reform and tertiary education policy at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Professor Stephen Parker AONational Sector Leader – Education KPMG Australia

Professor Stephen Parker joined KPMG Australia in February 2017 after serving nine years as the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra. His previous roles include Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Monash University, Dean of Law at Monash University, Professor of Law at Griffith University and Reader in Law at the Australian National University. He began his career as a practising solicitor, whilst also lecturing at University College Cardiff. Stephen has published books, monographs and articles on the court system, legal ethics, family law and children’s rights. Stephen was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) as part of the Australia Day Honours in January 2014 for his distinguished service to tertiary education through administrative, academic and representational roles, and as a leader in the growth and development of the University of Canberra.

MC Lindy BurnsABC Radio presenter

Lindy Burns is one of Australia’s senior radio broadcasters. During the past 27 years, she has produced and presented a range of programs for the ABC including sports reporting for Triple J, presenting the state-wide Sunday program in NSW, eight years hosting the Drive and Afternoon programs in Newcastle, before being coaxed to Melbourne twelve years ago. Lindy has been twice nominated for Broadcaster of the Year award for ABC radio.

VTA State Conference 201816-17 August l RACV City Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne