“FAREWELL SHARON STARR – AND THAT SHE IS!

"As the friendly face of the AACC on the telephone, at conferences and in various other capacities Sharon’s enthusiastic and creative customer service, encouraged much of our steady membership growth and reorganisation of many of our procedures.
Over the years through mutual support and respect, joy and pride in work and in getting a good job done together, many members past and present found that their relationship with Sharon blossomed and grew into not just a professional one but a cherished personal friendship.
Once again Sharon is embarking on another major transition in her life. She is choosing to nurture her exceptional creativity in a totally different sphere – that of horticulture and landscape design. Enjoy the journey, Sharon, continue to follow your dreams, take time to smell your own roses and we hope you reach your unreachable star".

Read the full transcript of Maggie's Bolton tribute to Sharon in the Members Centre of the website. (Log on using your e-mail address and member no. as the password. You will then be directed to your Divisional page. Scroll down to find the tribute in the latest National news section).

INTRODUCING CDAA NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER - GRAHRAM PRATT

Whilst Sharon's departure brings to an end a 13 year era for AACC, it also heralds a new and exciting time for our Association. Not only have we recently changed our name but we also now have the wonderful opportunity of appointing a full time Executive Officer. The NEC is very pleased to introduce members to Graham Pratt.

Graham has broad experience in working with member based associations. He has gained this experience through both voluntary and employed roles across a variety of areas from consumer advocacy to primary production.
Graham comes to the CDAA after being an Executive Officer at the South Australian Farmers Federation, where he worked closely with primary producers in advancing their interests.
He is excited by the bold steps that the CDAA has taken over the past year in moving the association in a professional and sustainable direction. He is keen to use his skills and experience in helping the CDAA to expand its horizons and in working to build a career development culture in Australia.

ANOTHER FAREWELL - FROM YOUR EDITOR, LOUISE MILLAR-HOFFMANN

This will be the final edition of e-bulletin that I will edit, as my role as the Association's National Communications Officer will be rolled into the responsibilities of the Executive Officer from the end of this month.
I am very proud to have been part of such a dynamic Communications team over the past two years. And of the considerable effort that has gone into professionalising the visual face of the Association - the ACP magazine, the website and the introduction of this e-bulletin. Many thanks to Carole Brown for her wonderful leadership and support as Chair of the Communications sub-committee and my best wishes to Graham as he takes over the mantle.

Applications for the 2009 DEEWR Scholarships for Career Advisers open 1 May and close 11 July 2008. The Industry Placement Scholarships provide $10,000 to enable a short-term industry placement to further successful applicants' skills or knowledge of workplaces, industry sectors and/or occupations. The Study Scholarships provide $5,000 for successful applicants to undertake post graduate study in the career education field in 2009.

Both types of scholarships are available to career advisers/practitioners at Australian schools, TAFEs and universities. For more information including eligibility visit this website.
or email careerscholarships@curriculum.edu.au

The Australian Blueprint for Career Development provides a national framework of competencies which can be used to create comprehensive, effective and measurable career development programs to help Australians to better manage their lives, learning and work. It:

•  identifies eleven competencies that people need to manage their career building process across the lifespan;
•  provides a systematic process for developing, implementing, evaluating and marketing career development programs; and
•  provides a common language for career development initiatives.

The Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) agreed to trial the Australian prototype, which was based on the Canadian Blueprint for Life/Work Designs.  The trial was conducted by Miles Morgan Australia in four communities of practice and twenty-two individual organisations across Australia in a variety of settings and environments in 2006–2007.

On 14 March, the Australian Education Senior Officials Committee, agreed that MCEETYA would fund the refinement and roll-out of the Blueprint, based on the recommendations identified in the trial.

The same meeting agreed that this work would be taken forward by the Blueprint Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, as the Career Development and Employment Advisory Group would be discontinued.  

The Blueprint prototype and information on the trial sites can be found at http://www.dest.gov.au/blueprint

For further information contact Carol Locke on 02 6240 7378 or carol.locke@deewr.gov.au

The National ACS Career Adviser Seminars are on again. This year it will be bigger and better than ever with new presenters and fantastic opportunities for career advisers to develop their industry knowledge and share ideas.

These seminars are specifically designed for career advisers and other professionals providing career counseling with a specific focus on Vocational Education pathways for students.

These FREE seminars are a fantastic way to network with other career advisers in your area as well as with national and local industry representatives that have various career pathway advice for you to pass onto your students.

The day will consist of:

• a fully catered for event with post events drinks
• networking sessions
• great prize draws
• direct information and contact details from all of the industry representatives
• a professional development certificate

To register for these FREE events click here and download a registration form, and fax to 03 9649 7899. Alternatively, click here to register on line.

Dates for the 2008 ACS Career Adviser Seminars

• l	Hobart	Tuesday 5th August
  l	Melbourne 1	Thursday 7th August
  l	Melbourne 2	Friday 8th August
  l	Brisbane	Monday 11th August
  l	Gold Coast	Tuesday 12th August
  l	Sydney 1	Wednesday 13th August
  l	Sydney 2	Thursday 14th August
  l	Canberra	Friday 15th August
  l	Adelaide	Monday 18th August
  l	Perth	Tuesday 19th August

For further information and enquiries please contact 1800 682 133 or email: acs@hobsons.com.au

Your First Job, a program of free online modules educating young workers about their employment rights and obligations, is now available on the Labour Relations DOCEP website.  Developed in consultation with teachers and students, the modules provide a comprehensive introduction to the employment relationship, from seeking work to submitting a letter of resignation.  The program has links to the WA Curriculum framework and provides resources for teachers as well as students. Click here to access this website. For more information, email yourfirstjob@docep.wa.gov.au.

Touching the Future: Building skills for life and work

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland, 10-12 August 2008

Download Entire Conference Brochure or Conference Program for more information...

Work Integrated Learning (WIL):  Transforming Futures
30 September - 3 October 2008 
Manly Pacific Hotel, Sydney Australia

2008 WACE Asia Pacific Conference hosted by the Australian Collaborative
Education Network (ACEN) in Manly, Sydney, Australia. The conference will focus
on excellence in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) through:

      - creating high quality work integrated learning experiences

      - enhancing teaching and learning outcomes, and

      - developing employability skills in the context of the global skills shortage.

A cutting edge conference for Higher and Vocational Education (academics & WIL practitioners), Industry (HR professionals & professional associations), Government and Students.

More information: http://www.acen.edu.au/

Click here to read the latest about this year's National Career Development Week.

Better still, click here to subscribe for regular updates about NCDW.

And even better still, click here to register an event.

- - Vista M Kelly