News release: Biennial Bassett Oration 2011 by The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP

NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release

Friday 14 October 2011

The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, will present the Australian College of Educators (Queensland Branch) 2011 Biennial Bassett Oration at Loreto College, Coorparoo this evening.

The Bassett Oration was established in 1999 to commemorate the life and work of Professor GW Bassett, a former Chair of Education at the University of Queensland and great supporter of the development and scholarship achieved through the College as a professional association. 

Mr Rudd’s oration follows a long tradition of esteemed speakers who have delivered orations on matters of significant educational policy, challenges, dilemmas and vision.  The Oration provides participants with a rich interplay of perspectives from thought leaders.

Queensland State President of ACE, Associate Professor Glenn Finger said the former Prime Minister holds many deep insights related to previous and current educational policy and initiatives through his significant leadership and policy roles relating to the Education Revolution, Building the Education Revolution, Digital Education Revolution, My School website, Closing the Gap, National Partnership Projects, and the Australian Curriculum. 

“Matters such as Australia’s performance on international measures of creativity, competitiveness, human development, literacy, PISA, and lifelong learning have impacts on national government leadership, policy and programs,” Associate Professor Finger said.

Mr Rudd is a strong advocate of the importance of education in the global fight against poverty and the work Australia is doing to improve education standards worldwide.  Since 2000 there has been remarkable progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal for universal primary education and Australia has played a key role in the effort.  Australia has also helped educate generations of leaders in the developing world through scholarships and our University system.

Also at the event, four leading Queensland educators - Mr Craig Bassingthwaighte, Mr Peter Hauser, Miss Leesa Jeffcoat, and Mrs Karen Spiller – will be conferred the awards of Fellow of the Australian College of Educators (FACE).

The 2011 Biennial Bassett Oration takes place on Friday 14 October at Loreto College, 415 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo.  The event begins with welcome refreshments at 5.30pm.