Message from the President

President: 
Annette Rome, FACE

Welcome to 2011

Dear ACE members

It is with great humility I take up the position of Victorian President for ACE. As those who have met me know, I often speak of the superb networking, collegiality and information sharing that ACE members provide each other across government, Catholic and independent educational sectors and from early learning through TAFE and university.

In my 20 or so years in education, I have never seen a time when education has been such a hot topic: whether it is school funding, school reporting transparency, national curriculum development, teacher professional standards or leadership development. Increasingly, the sector is under the influence of many people with non-education qualifications or experience. This has implications for all of us in education and we will need to speak often and coherently about what we, as experienced educators, feel is important. The Charter for the Australian teaching profession was released in 2009, an overdue development in many ways. This was a symbolic action that heralds further action from all of us to contribute to developments that concern the adults, and most importantly, the young people seeking further education.

Involvement in organizations such as ACE is one such way to contribute to the future of education in this country.

Over the next 12 months I look forward to lively discussions about the 'things that matter' in education and hearing members' thoughts. There are a number of events planned by the Victorian Branch and associated groups and I would encourage members to attend these, many of which are free.

Forthcoming events include:

  • Thursday 10 February 4.30pm : Ballarat Group: Opening of the Education Year Civic Reception and Education Awards, Ballarat Town Hall. For further details contact brad.fry@bgs.vic.edu.au
  • Monday 21 March, 7.30pm: Dr Andrew Chanen, Psychiatrist with Orygen Youth Health Research Centre & The University of Melbourne. Wesley College 577 St Kilda Rd. For further details and to RSVP contact mondayseries@wesleycollege.net
  • Now' A leadership course for nominated individuals with some of Australia's top leadership experts. For further details, including possible nominations, contact annette.rome@wesleycollege.net

Events include:

  • The ACE Annual Awards Dinner on 3 September at University House, University of Melbourne, featuring the Victorian Branch Oration, as well as the James Darling Medal, Fellowship Awards and media awards.
  • The annual Sylvia Walton Lecture, organised by the Melbourne Region in October (tbc).
  • The annual Len Falk Lecture, organised by the Gippsland Region in late October (tbc).
  • The Victorian Branch AGM on 10 November (tbc)

Through the newsletters we will bring you member and event updates.

Best wishes to all for a fruitful, rich and educational 2011

 

Annette Rome
President Victorian Branch