ACE and ACEL to Explore Merge

The Boards of the Australian College of Educators (ACE) and the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) have agreed to work together to examine the prospect of merging. Members from both organisations have often raised informally the potential benefits of such move, and the Boards believe the result of joining would be a strengthened organisation able to represent the interests of the profession of educators more fully.

The Boards have agreed to establish a joint task force to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of a merger. Terms of Reference, membership and the process to be followed by the task force are available on the web sites of both organisations. Click here to download the ACE and ACEL Task Force PDF

Some of the matters the task force will consider include:

• the needs and aspirations of members;
• the possibility that the merger would result in a more coordinated national approach to educational matters now being considered by the Council of Australian Governments;
• the implications for the role and relevance of professional associations in response to the emergence of national approaches to teacher registration, accreditation and recognition;
• formal commitments by governments to national regulation of VET and Higher Education;
• the prospect that advocacy would be enhanced by a combined organisation; and
• any advice obtained from independent consultants.

The task force will also seek independent advice in relation to implications of company and legal requirements if a merger were to take place.

Extensive consultation with members of both organisations will precede any decision to merge. Consultation will include a General Meeting of ACE and a General Meeting of ACEL, at which a case for merger will be presented.

If the outcomes of the work of the task force and member consultations are positive, members of each organisation will be asked in late 2009 or early in 2010 to vote on a proposal for change.