Learning Communities Catalyst

­Sunday 26 October 2008
5:00pm    Conference Registrations open
6:30pm – 8:30pm    Welcome Reception - Blake’s Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Hotel

Monday 27 October 2008
Conference Opening – Day 1

8:15am    Registrations Open

9:00am    Conference Opening
    Hon Paul Caica, Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education

Key Note Address 1
Monday 27 October 2008
9:50am, Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Peter Kearns, OAM,
Director, Global Learning Services
Towards a 21st Century Approach to Promoting Dynamic Learning Communities - A vision to 20/20

Peter Kearns is the Principal of Peter Kearns & Associates, a Canberra-based consultancy firm and is also the founding Director of Global Learning Services, which is being developed as an international network of consultants.

Peter has substantial international experience and has a special interest in lifelong learning.  He has undertaken numerous studies on policies and strategies to advance learning throughout the life cycle.  His work on lifelong learning has included equity aspects and combating disadvantage, key learning skills and learning in many contexts including the concept of learning organisations.  He has advised communities across Australia on development as learning communities.

Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his service to education.

Key Note Address 2
Monday 27 October 2008
1:30pm, Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Angus McFarland
President, National Union of Students
Students as Active Citizens

Angus McFarland is the National President of the National Union of Students. The National Union of Students represents over 600,000 university students across Australia. Angus is studying a double degree of Arts / Law at the University of Sydney. Angus was the President of the University of Sydney Students' Representative Council in 2007 and is currently the undergraduate student representative on the University of Sydney Senate (Board of Directors).

Key Note Address 3
Tuesday 28 October 2008
Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Klynton Wanganeen
Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement

Klynton Wanganeen was recently appointed the Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement and has taken leave from his position as Director of the Aboriginal Education Employment Policy Co-ordination Directorate of the South Australian Department of Further Education Employment Science and Technology (DFEEST).  Klynton also acts as a consultant to DFEEST’s, Aboriginal Policy Co-ordination and is currently the Chair of the Narungga Nations Aboriginal Corporation, Chair SA Congress of Native Title Committees and member National VET Indigenous Taskforce.

Mr Klynton Wanganeen is a descendant of the Narungga and Ngarrindjeri nations and many of you will know him as the former South Australian Zone Commissioner for ATSIC, responsible for Land, Water and Development, Economic and Social participation.

Klynton Wanganeen has a bachelor of Teaching (Adult Education), Graduate Certificate in Management; Advanced Diploma in Community Services Management and a Trade Certificate in Welding.

He has an intimate knowledge of the Aboriginal community of South Australia, and knowledge of state and national Aboriginal issues, especially through his involvement and participation on regional, state and national bodies.

Key Note Address 4
Tuesday 28 October 2008
Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Tim Zak
Executive Director
Carnegie Mellon University

Conference Presentations and Workshops

Monday 27 October 2008

Morning Sessions

Presentation 1
10:30am – 11:15am,  Banksia Room 1

Dr Kaye Bowman
Consultant

Community e-learning: Critical success factors for sustainability  

Twenty creative community partnerships located across the nation in various outer-metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas and in whole state networks have built e-learning into their development projects and achieved many kinds of lasting benefits. They have proven communities can do it [e-learning]. Partnering is the key.

Presentation 2
10:30am – 11:15am,  Grevillea Room 1

Allison Deegenaars
Tocal College, NSW Department of Primary Industries

NSW Department of Primary Industries staff at Tocal College connecting wine industry organisations in learning about spaces – environmental sustainability, water use efficiency and quality wine grape production

Allison will give a presentation on Tocal College and the NSW Department of Primary Industries are developing new ways of training in the wine grape industry.  The capacity of grape growers to obtain knowledge and skills to improve productivity, increase awareness of innovative production strategies, environmental sustainability and develop skills and competencies that will be nationally recognised is being strengthened.

Presentation 3
11:00am – 11:45am,  Banksia Room 2

Suellen Priest
Research Officer, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)

Exploring social capital: what does ‘social capital’ really mean and how can vocational education and training help develop it?

Suellen will give a presentation on the recent research in the vocational education and training (VET) sector shows that students gain a range of benefits from their studies, beyond expected course outcomes.  These benefits also flow on to communities and regions.

Open Learning Centre
11:00am – 1:15pm, Blake’s Restaurant

All presenters, including key note speakers, will be available after their sessions to discuss and share ideas and concepts of community learning.

Workshop 1
11:15am – 12:30pm, Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Sung-Hwa Jung
ForBliss Inc, Korea

Sunghwa is the CEO of ForBliss Inc in Seoul, South Korea.  Sunghwa will give a presentation on Korea’s lifelong learning policies and initiatives.

Workshop 2
11:15am – 12:30pm, Grevillea Room 2

Tony Ryan
Radio Announcer, PBA FM

Learning Works – linking community radio and community learning

Why; in the 21st century is there an interest in an educational radio initiative such as Learning Works?  And how this medium can be used alongside other technologies, as a learning resource?

This workshop will include material from the Learning Works website as well as encouraging discussion on this use of media in the context of community learning

Workshop 3
11:15am – 12:30pm, Acacia Boardroom

Mary Hannan
ACE E-learning Coordinator, Adult Learning Australia

Georgina Nou
E-learning Practitioner, Northern Territory

E-learning as a tool for Learning Communities

Join Mary and Georgina and explore how your learning community can embed e-learning into your community.  Georgina will share her e-learning journey and explain the model of delivery she used in 2006 as a successful Community Engagement project and how this journey has progressed into 2008.  Mary will explore with you some of the key focus areas within the Framework and how learning communities should explore opportunities for 2009 funding.

There are limited spaces available for this interactive workshop

Presentation 4
11:45am – 12:30pm, Banksia Room 1

Marie Smith
Community & Neighbourhood Houses & Centres Association

Workforce Development: Making connections

Marie will give a presentation on how the Neighbourhood House and Community Centre sector works in local communities building their capacity for inclusion and empowerment, community interaction, wellbeing, resilience and social cohesion

Marie Smith has worked in community development and adult education and training at local, state, regional levels for 30 years. She has held senior leadership positions in not for profit organizations committed to social change and innovative practice. She was the CEO of an employment and training organization for sixteen and half years. Marie currently works with the peak body Community and Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association in South Australia on workforce development of the sector. She is member of the Training and Skills Commission’s Adult Community Education Reference Group and an external auditor with the Department of Further Education Employment Science and Technology.

 Presentation 5
11:45am – 12:30pm. Grevillea Room 1

Steven Honeywood
Education Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries

A fair assessment: Engaging indigenous communities through Skills Recognition

Steve will give a presentation on skills recognition; a skills based form of recognition of prior learning (RPL) is providing people in remote and regional indigenous communities the opportunity to attain formal qualifications in conservation and land management through a registered training organisation, Tocal College.

Afternoon Sessions

Open Learning Centre
2:15pm – 4:15pm, Blake’s Restaurant
All presenters, including key note speakers, will be available after their sessions to discuss and share ideas and concepts of community learning.

Presentation 6
2:30pm – 3:15pm, Banksia Room 2

Peter Peterson
CEO, Adult Learning Australia

The role of Learning Communities in Building a strong national scene in Adult Learning (and vice versa)

Will community-based adult learning and learning communities experience a Rip Van Winkle awakening with the advent of Social Inclusion under the new Labour government?  Not unless we sell a united national policy and agenda to the Government.  After all, to date we are not included in Rudd ‘Education Revolution’ and we need to be there.

Learning communities and adult learning build pathways to productive participation in the Australian community.  This includes a major contribution to the national skills agenda which is not adequately recognised.  The benefits extend far beyond this and most particularly into enhancing the health and longevity of both communities and individuals.

Presentation 7
2:30pm – 3:15pm, Grevillea Room 2

George Osborne
Manager, Learning Community Department, Hume City Council

Dr Leone Wheeler
RMIT University, Member of the Hume Global Learning Village

Partnerships in Hume City – Learning Together 2

This presentation will continue the story of the partnership between Hume City Council and the Hume Global Learning Village in the shared endeavours to create a learning community in Hume through the implementation of the Learning Together 2 Strategy

Workshop 4
2:30pm – 4:00pm, Banksia Room 1

Dr Stan Salagaras
Manager, Education Services (SA), Delfin Lend Lease

Annie Payne
Development Coordinator, The Mawson Centre

Development of Mawson Lakes as a Learning Community

This interactive workshop will provide an overview of the development of Mawson Lakes as a learning community, from concept to practice.  Attendees will be taken through a ten year journey – from the development of the initial vision for Mawson Lakes, through the various stages of implementation, the key collaborations and partnerships, to the on-the-ground achievements which exist in the community today.  The strategies and processes adopted, and the challenges and issues encountered along the way, will be discussed and explored interactively with participants to highlight the key learning’s, innovations and outcomes from the project.  Materials used during the various stages of the project will be shared with participant with a view to presenting a tool-kit of resources which participants can apply in their own communities.

Workshop 5
2:30pm – 4:00pm, Grevillea Room 1

Karyn Bradford, Shirley Smith, Stuart Jones
Milang Old School House Community Centre

Is there a recipe for developing a learning community?  Reflections from the Australian Learning Community of the Year

The Milang Old School House Community Centre (MOSHCC) has been described as the heart of the community, opening the doors of opportunity for 950 local residents. Run by a volunteer management committee it is all about making lives better through listening to the community, responding and making things happen. The Centre builds linkages, supports families and encourages people to take an active role in the community. People have been empowered to make a positive difference in their own lives and the lives of others. The Centre has programs for all ages and sharing of skills and knowledge across generations is encouraged and a highlight of the programming. Over the past 12 months the Centre has won 3 awards, 2 for adult learning and 1 for innovative use of ICT.

Presentation 8
3:30pm – 4:15pm, Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Catherine Arden
Centre for Research in Transformative Pedagogies, University of Southern Queensland

Kathryn McLachlan
Community Development Officer, Community Development Services Inc, Stanthorpe, QLD

Building Capacity for Sustainable Engagement:  Lessons from GraniteNet Phoenix Phase I

This presentation reports on the evaluation of the processes and outcomes of GraniteNet Phoenix Phase I, a participatory action research project undertaken as a partnership between the University of Southern Queensland and the Stanthorpe community during 2007-2008.  The purpose of this community engagement project was to work with the Granite Belt Learners Group, Stanthorpe Shire Council and members of the Stanthorpe community to develop a model for the operation and governance of a self-sustaining virtual community portal that would support Stanthorpe’s development as a Learning Community.

Conference Presentations and Workshops

Tuesday 28 October 2008

Presentation 1
10:30am – 11:15am, Banksia Room 1

Alison Kershaw
Project Officer, Information Economy Directorate, Digital Bridge Unit
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology

Currently a Project Officer in Information Economy Directorate, Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.

Alison fondly remembers when her Dad brought home their family’s first Commodore 64 and has had love/hate relationship with computers ever since.  In her professional career she has set up and run an accessible internet café at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, delivered ICT training and advocated for websites to be designed inline with disability access standards.

Alison works in the Digital Bridge Unit, examining the ways in which people are marginalised by not being able to access and confidently use technology.  The Unit runs programs aimed at helping ‘bridge’ the digital divide created by lack of access and understanding of ICT.

Alison has been researching Cyber Safety many years, looking particularly at new users of the internet and the issues we all need to consider when using the internet.

One of Alison’s latest projects is examining the real and perceived risks of using Web 2.0 tools such as social networking to better in engage young people with Government and Government programs and services.

Cyberland – a beginner’s guide

What better way to connect faces, places and spaces than online.  The ease with which people can connect with others around the world or around the corner has transformed the lives of many.  The sharing of information and experiences has become much easier thanks to email, the World Wide Web and most recently social networks and Web 2.0. 

This presentation will explore the possibilities available for educating and learning online and what needs to be considered as an educator and learner to stay safe and ensure as much as possible is gained from the experience.

Presentation 2
10:30am – 11:15am, Grevillea Room 1

Professor Roger Harris
Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies (Centre for research in Education, Equity and Work)
University of South Australia

Faces in tertiary places and spaces: experiences in learning in both higher education and VET

There is considerable national and international interest in the respective roles of higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET) in building human capital. This theme is particularly significant in today’s society where development of knowledge workers for tomorrow is of increasing importance. The relationship between the sectors, for example, was the subject of the 25th Agora in 2007 of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), and has formed a key theme in several recent journal editions.

This paper is designed to provoke questions relevant to the theme of this conference: what kinds of learning places and spaces are Australia’s HE and VET institutions? How does the individual make sense of the learning and teaching in these sectors? The paper focuses on the experiences of learners who have studied in both sectors – faces who are therefore in a unique position to analyse them as learning places and spaces.

Presentation 3
11:00am – 11:45am, Banksia Room 2

Margaret Anderson
M.B.A., Dip Soc Sci., B Ed (Art) &

Dr Yoni Luxford
PhD, Grad Dip PHC, B.S.W., R.N., R.M.

Connecting people to places and reducing work spaces: a policy framework for best practice for the community transport industry in rural Australia

Access to transport by all members of Australian society is often identified as a key goal of social policy. Transport is necessary for connecting people to places where they can shop, socialise, work or play. Transport is crucial in the health and wellbeing of both individuals and neighbourhoods as a whole. Lack of access to the community inhibits not only an individual’s personal development, but also their capacity to contribute to society.

Workshop 1
11:00am – 12:30pm, Grevillea Room 2

Margaret Hunter
Coordinator, PSP Partnership Development
NSW Department of Education & Training

Philip Hart
PSP Consultant, Sydney Region
NSW Department of Education & Training

Building learning communities through Service Learning

Service Learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting that combines academic school work with meaningful community service in real situations.  Students learn by applying their skills and knowledge in projects that have significance in the real world.

This workshop will include an activity-based introduction to the key-aspects of the service learning approach, including quality teaching, reflective thinking, student voice and community partnerships.

Open Learning Centre
11:00am – 12:15pm, Blake’s Restaurant
All presenters, including key note speakers, will be available after their sessions to discuss and share ideas and concepts of community learning.

Workshop 2
11:15am – 12:45pm, Hyatt Regency Ballroom

Proteus Leadership Centre

Leading a Positive Culture

This fast paced interactive workshop will help individuals create their own plan of action to create and lead a positive culture back in the workplace.
During this workshop participants will:
·    Learn to use John Kotters ‘8 Step Change Model’
·    Understand how to establish team ‘non-negotiables’
·    Fight Clean in the workplace

On completion of the workshop participants will have an 8 step action plan to more effectively create and lead a positive workplace culture.

Presentation 4
11:45am – 12:30pm, Banksia Room 1

Cassandra Gibson-Pope
Learning Community Coordinator, City of Marion

Ms Bridget Ransome
Economic Development Officer, City of Marion

The Building blocks of Learning – A local Government perspective.  City of Marion:  A Learning Community

Lifelong Learning for all is actively promoted by The City of Marion and is seen as a tool to enhance social cohesion, regeneration and economic development. Marion Council, in partnership with community groups, service providers and industry, aims to increase the community’s participation in a wide range of learning opportunities and supports learning as an essential building block for a sustainable community.

Learning, whether formal or informal empowers people and communities and builds regional capacity by creating an environment where potential is enhanced and skills and knowledge are acquired, which in turn strengthens the ability of the region to cope and embrace change, whether on a regional, national or global scale.

Presentation 5
11:45am – 12:30pm, Grevillea Room 1

Fiona Hodges
General Manager, Community Wellbeing, Cardinia Shire Council

Paul Di Masi
Chief Executive Officer, Southeast Learning and Employment Network

Collaborative planning for learning: A local story

Cardinia Shire is a rapidly growing metropolitan fringe municipality in Melbourne’s south east. The region is large and diverse, with numerous distinct townships divided between a fast developing urban corridor, rural farmland and a hills community. Local residents experience isolation due to the geographic size of the region and the limited public transport available. There is a distinct lack of post-compulsory and tertiary education or vocational training provision in the region, leading to significant access issues for residents seeking learning opportunities. Whilst informal learning in Cardinia has traditionally been well served by the vast number of local volunteer groups, such as community house committees, more formal provision has been lacking.

Presentation 6
12:15am – 1:00pm, Banksia Room 2

Dr Alan Campbell
Senior Lecturer
Portfolio Leader, Teaching and Learning, School of Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia

Facilitating Student Engagement in an Intensive Course: Integrating Cognitive, Affective and Social Learning

This presentation will consider student engagement in a specific intensive course that combines theory with practice at a postgraduate level. After providing a description of the course and its student body, the presentation/paper will critically analyse the teaching arrangements that have been applied over the past four years. It will explore areas of dissatisfaction for the students and the teacher alike, suggesting possible reasons for this dissatisfaction. It will then consider an alternative framework for engaging students, by taking a student-centred perspective through applying the three dimensions of learning (cognitive, affective and social) as discussed by Illeris (2004). The paper will conclude by arguing that an intentionally integrated application of these dimensions – where faces, places and spaces interconnect - will lead to significantly more positive outcomes for students in this course.

Open Learning Centre
2:15pm – 4:15pm, Blake’s Restaurant
Presenters, including key note speakers, will be available after their sessions to discuss and share ideas and concepts of community learning.

Presentation 7
2:30pm – 3:15pm, Banksia Room 2

Professor Andrew Vann
James Cook University

Kayci Delaney
Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE

Forming, Storming, Norming….. Almost Performing: Experiences of the Learning NQ Inc Community Leadership Group

Learning NQ Inc (formerly “Learning Thuringowa”) was established under the sponsorship of Thuringowa City Council in late 2006. The aim of this group was to establish Thuringowa as a learning community, and this was influenced by the experiences of regions such as Hume Council in Victoria.  The group brought together senior people from education, industry and community organisations as well as officers of the Council.  The group was intended to be an independent body so the initiative could be owned by the community.

As well as a philosophical commitment to the value of learning, Thuringowa Council had acknowledged the demographic make up of their constituents.  This includes significant semi-rural populations, low socio-economic status groups and a large indigenous population, all representative of groups constantly faced with challenges such as equity and access to educational opportunities.  Therefore, the aim was twofold: to promote economic growth and build resilience within the community. Skills shortage was seen as a particularly acute issue.

Workshop 3
2:30pm – 4:00pm, Hyatt Regency Ballroom

International – UK learning Communities Representative
TBA

Workshop 4
2:30pm – 4:00pm, Banksia Room 1

Gail Robinson & Bettina Nissen
Independent facilitators, Library Language Outreach Project (LLOP), Caboolture District Library Service

Roly Poly

Bettina Nissen and Gail Robinson have been working together on the Library Language Outreach Project in Deception Bay, Qld for 3 years. In this workshop they explore the creative ways they have extended the project.

This workshop, with complementary paper providing theoretical background, is based on the stories of four case studies as platforms to explore how a Community Early Literacy program builds human, social and organisational capacity.

Workshop 5
2:30pm – 4:00pm, Grevillea Room 1

Jan Simmons
Morrison House

Economic Development – Interaction with Lifelong Learning

Proponents of Lifelong Learning believe that learning fosters change and improvement on a large scale and that to foster conditions that allow citizens to participate in Lifelong Learning will achieve sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions.

Workshop 6
2:30pm – 4:00pm, Grevillea Room 2

Dr Ruth Schubert
General Manager, TAFE SA Regional

Building sustainable communities: the connection between learning, leadership and social capital

Additional Activities

Welcome Reception
Sunday 26 October 2008
Blake’s Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Hotel
6:30pm – 8:30pm


Australian Learning Communities Network Annual General Meeting
Monday 27 October 2008
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Acacia Boardroom, Hyatt Regency Hotel


Australian Learning Communities Network Conference Dinner
Monday 27 October 2008

Pre-dinner drinks
6:30pm, Hyatt Ballroom Foyer

Conference Dinner
7:00pm – 11:00pm

Guest speaker:
TBA

Entertainment provided by: 
Souzi & the Cool Mints

Souzi and the Cool Mints will take the night to the dizzying heights of raging rhythm and blues heaven, with a taste of smoky ballads, cool jazz, rampant rhythm and blues and funky grooves from some of Adelaide’s hottest musicians.

Heading the band with style, soul and a warmth beckoning you to join the fun is vocalist Souzi Wilson, supported by “Slinky” Steve Wilson on guitar (so named for his super smooth style), charming Gabs Chammah on tantalizing tenor saxophone, Enzo Russo throbbin’ out a pulse like no other on bass and driving this chariot with the barely restrained force of Ben Hur, is Larry Todd on drums (if you don’t know that the name Todd equals drums in this town!).
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