Entries by Darryl Butler

Best Practice in Regional Study Hub Symposium

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Regional Study Hubs are a vital resource in supporting regional students–delivering access to campus-like facilities in regional and remote areas; educational support; technology; and most importantly, a network of fellow students. In 2019, there will be more than 23 Regional Study Hub locations across Australia. We invite the RSH community and stakeholders together to discuss best practice in this field, including: supporting students for success, governance, university partnerships and best practice case studies.  

35th National Spera Conference Brisbane

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National SPERA Conference Brisbane 2-4 October 2019
Queensland University of Technology
Kelvin Grove Campus Brisbane Australia

The 35th National SPERA Conference was proudly hosted by the Faculty of Education, Queensland University of Technology.

SPERA Conference Full Program Improving Rural Education: Connectedness, Communities & Collaboration

Subthemes 

  • Building digital connections for rural communities
  • Ensuring rural communities’ well-being
  • Sharing innovations in ‘rural’ collaboration
  • Connecting the global and the rural
  • Community learning and sharing
  • Resourcing an interconnected approach

Guest Speakers

2019 AREAs Announced

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2019 Australian Rural Education Awards

Congratulations to all our 2019 Area winners, presented at the 2019 SPERA conference in Brisbane on 3 October 2019!

Country University Centres

The Country Universities Centre is a community owned network of regional study hubs, designed to increase access and success in higher education for regional students. The CUC centres offer campus-like facilities free of charge to any student studying at any Australian university.

Annette Morphett: Mathematics teaching and learning in middle primary schools in Yorke Peninsular

Anne’s PhD research focus centres around the mathematics teaching and learning in middle primary classrooms on […]

Australian and International Journal of Rural Education – November edition

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The Australian and International Journal of Rural Education (AIJRE) [Online ISSN 1839-7387; Print ISSN 1036-0026] is an international medium for educators with an interest in the provision of education in rural contexts. The Journal is interdisciplinary and publishes  integrative reviews, scholarly accounts of educational research relevant to rural education, research reports, book reviews and feature articles likely to be of interest to the readership. The focus of the Journal is on addressing issues, challenges, developments and opportunities in rural education globally.

Australian Rural Education Awards 2019

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Call for Nominations

Since 1994, the Australian Rural Education Award (AREA) has been awarded annually to an institution, organisation or industry to recognise excellence in rural education in Australia.

Category 1
Existing projects that demonstrate a proven link between a rural, regional and/or remote school or learning context and the local community, and benefiting a defined group.

Category 2
Future projects that support new and creative thinking in professional practice aimed at improving student outcomes in a rural, regional and/or remote setting.

Category 3
Pre-service teachers or institutions recognising demonstrated excellence in professional learning practice in rural, […]

Australian Rural Education Awards 2019

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Call for Nominations

Since 1994, the Australian Rural Education Award (AREA) has been awarded annually to an institution, organisation or industry to recognise excellence in rural education in Australia.

Category 1
Existing projects that demonstrate a proven link between a rural, regional and/or remote school or learning context and the local community, and benefiting a defined group.

Category 2
Future projects that support new and creative thinking in professional practice aimed at improving student outcomes in a rural, regional and/or remote setting.

Category 3
Pre-service teachers or institutions recognising demonstrated excellence in professional learning practice in rural, […]

Attracting Teachers to Schools in Rural and Remote Areas in Australia

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Image of the word Australia written in red dirt and rocks

Region-related disparities are among the main factors that explain differences in access and equity in education (Lee, 2001). Schools in remote and rural areas often have difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff with certain qualifications and experience, and preparing them to address the educational complexity in these areas, such as multi-grade settings and specific student groups (OECD, 2018). The challenge of attracting teachers with experience is particularly severe in […]

Attracting Teachers to Schools in Rural and Remote Areas in Australia

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Image of the word Australia written in red dirt and rocks

 

Region-related disparities are among the main factors that explain differences in access and equity in education (Lee, 2002). Schools in remote and rural areas often have difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff with certain qualifications and experience, and preparing them to address the educational complexity in these areas, such as multi-grade settings and specific student groups (OECD, 2018). The challenge of attracting teachers with experience is particularly severe […]

‘Shaping the Future: Learning from Indigenous Higher Education Research in the Northern Territory’

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Image of a child's hand holding an adult's hand

 

A presentation on research projects related to ‘Better understanding and responding to the needs of regional and remote Indigenous Higher education students in the NT’

These research projects were recently awarded a 2018 Australian Rural Education Award by the Society for the Provision of Rural Education in Australia (SPERA) for five intersecting Indigenous higher education related research projects emanating out of the Office of Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership CDU, over […]

AIJRE Special Issue Proposals Invited

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We are calling for a Special Issue topic and special editor.  If you are interested please, identify the theme of the proposal and highlight the significance for the advancement of rural education research Include the following:

  • Name of Special Issue Editor/Editors
    An outline of the proposal highlighting the theme and discussion why it is important for the advancement of rural education research.
    A list of authors et topics and abstracts. OR   A list of proposed authors and possible topics.
    Proposed date of Submission: August 2019; March 2020; August 2020; March 2021; August 2021; March 2022 or […]

AIJRE Vol 29 No 1 (2019): Rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

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Why the need for a special edition on First Nations ruraleducation? Surprisingly,there is almost no literature within Australia that discusses the significance of ruralityin First Nations education.Many research articles describe the significance of remotenessin First Nations education. Much of the extant research is built on a premise that remoteness goes hand in hand with disadvantage and outcomes often described as ‘poor’ and ‘failing’. The lack of literature on First Nations ‘rural’ education coupled with the deficit language discourse surrounding First Nations ‘remote’ education triggered a global investigation into the topic

2018 SPERA Annual General Meeting

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SPERA Annual General Meeting 2018 was held at Curtin University Perth on 30th November 2018

The following were nominated and accepted for Executive.

President: Brian O’Neill

Vice President: Sue Ledger

Treasurer: Chris Reading

International Liaison: Jayne Downey

Meeting/Minutes: Bronwyn Relf

Membership and Social Media: Sonal Singh

Website: Samantha Avitaia and Jaimey Facchin

AAAE representative: Melyssa Fuqua

Journal:  Sue and Jayne

Newsletter Editor: Nina Fotinatos

SPERA-Executive-Team-Meeting-Minutes-Nov-30-2018-002.docx

2018 AREA Winners

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Congratulations 2018 Australian Rural Education Award Winners!
At the 2018 SPERA Conference, three fantastic AREAs were presented.

34th National SPERA Conference, Perth

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29 – 30 November 2018
Access for All: Equity Matters

SPERA, in partnership with the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education based at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia held the 34th National SPERA Conference.

Subthemes based on Halsey’s 2018 Independent Review on Rural, Regional and Remote Education:

  • Global Directives [OECD & UN SDG4]
  • Asset driven place based innovations [international, national, local]
  • More than IT solutions [Creative alternatives]
  • ESL, Language and Learning [Cultural & Linguistic Competency; Aboriginal Curriculum Framework]
  • Poverty and Power [General Capabilities; Enablers; Disrupting Discourse]
  • System level equity [Showcasing WA RRR -DET, […]

Developing a Rural Compass: Recalibrating for Success An overview of rural education policy in Australia

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Dr Susan Ledger’s recent article featured in spanish magazine ‘Guix – Aula d innovacion educativia’.

Although home to over 32% of the nation, regional Australia is often overlooked in terms of research, planning and investment. This is a call to recalibrate the rural compass for policy decisions in Australia. It is timely as the OECD launches Learning Compass 2030, its new ‘Global Competence Framework’ and ‘global competence’ PISA measure. It is also timely given the soon to be released Australian Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education (424)

Continue Reading: Rural Article – Guix – […]

Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education

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In 2017, the Australian Government commissioned an Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education (IRRRRE). The Review was part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improve the education of country students so they can reach their full potential and participate in Australia’s economy.

Emeritus Professor John Halsey from Flinders University conducted the review to examine the challenges faced by these students and find innovative solutions to help them succeed at school and beyond. Read the IRRRRE’s Terms of Reference and Discussion Paper. The Discussion Paper was supported by a Literature Review.

Continue Reading …

 

[…]

Media Release: Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education

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13th April 2018

The report on an extensive review to guide efforts to overcome the educational divide between capital cities and regional and rural areas is now available to the public.
The Coalition Government today released the final report of the Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education, led by Emeritus Professor Dr John Halsey.
Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of The Nationals Michael McCormack said the Coalition understood the need to bridge the divide between education outcomes in the bush and in the city.

Continue Reading….180413 – McCormack Birmingham McKenzie McVeigh Joint Release- Independent Review […]

2017 Annual General Meeting

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The 2017 Annual General Meeting took place on Thursday 28th September 2017 at the University of Canberra.

The following members were admitted to the Executive:

Brian O’Neill
Sue Ledger
Don Boyd
Philip Roberts
Sue Trinidad
Dot Donovan
Chris Reading
Natalie Downes
Melyssa Fuqua

SPERA AGM Minutes 2017

33rd National SPERA Conference

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(includes Rural Educators Day) 27- 29 September 2017 Rethinking Rurality: Writing the Rural into Policy and Practice CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SPERA, in partnership with the Faculty of Education, Science, Technology & Mathematics at the University of Canberra, invites you to join us for the 33rd National SPERA Conference.

Hosted by University of Canberra, the 2017 conference will bring together a range of education professionals, school administrators, teacher educators, academics, pre-service teachers, community members and parents who are passionate about rural education.

Keynote Speakers include:
Professor Tom Lowrie – University of Canberra.
Professor John Fischetti – University […]

SPERA wants to hear from you.

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SPERA is conducting a survey of members and supporters.  The survey is aimed at helping SPERA revise its mission and aims, help shape its future work, and draft a submission to the Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education.

The questions are a mix of open text response, multiple choice and ranking exercises and should take approximately 10 minutes.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could complete this survey and share with your colleagues and networks.

Please find the link to the SPERA survey here.

 

Australian Rural Education Awards 2017

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Call for Nominations

Since 1994, the Australian Rural Education Award (AREA) has been awarded annually to an institution, organisation or industry to recognise excellence in rural education in Australia.

Category 1
Existing projects that demonstrate a proven link between a rural, regional and/or remote school or learning context and the local community, and benefiting a defined group.

Category 2
Future projects that support new and creative thinking in professional practice aimed at improving student outcomes in a rural, regional and/or remote setting.

Category 3
Pre-service teachers or institutions recognising demonstrated excellence in professional learning practice in rural, […]

2016 SPERA Annual General Meeting

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SPERA Annual General Meeting 2016 was held at CQUniversity Mackay, Ooralea Campus on Thursday 29th September 2016.

The following were nominated and accepted for Executive.

  • Don Boyd
  • Natalie Downes
  • Christine Reading
  • Philip Roberts
  • Dorothy Donovan
  • Melyssa Fuqua
  • Sue Ledger
  • Brian O’Neill
  • Sue Trinidad
  • Charles Bradley – Public Officer

Following the AGM the following were nominated and appointed:

  • Brian O’Neill – President
  • Sue Ledger – Vice President
  • Christine Reading – Treasurer

Minutes from the AGM are available as a PDF file: (to be attached) (179Kb)

Country school principals take leadership challenge

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An Article in Adelaide’s Independent News

Country education and regional schools around Australia are benefiting from the ‘first crop’ of rural Masters graduates, with Flinders University calling for enrollments for the second program from mid-2017.

The new Master of Education (Leadership and Management) degree offers valuable career and professional advancement to current and aspiring educational leaders from country schools as far away as outback Queensland, to rural Victoria, to South Australia’s Riverland and the South-East.

Rural education is a vast undertaking, says course coordinator Professor John Halsey.

More than 4,000 Australian schools are located in rural, regional and remote locations, and educate […]

Congratulations! 2016 Australian Rural Education Awards (AREA) & ISFIRE Award Recipients

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Since 1994 SPERA has awarded, the Australian Rural Education Awards to an institution, organisation or industry, in recognition of excellence to Australia’s Rural Education sector . It was the first national award recognising both excellence in rural education and promoting creative ways of meeting the educational needs of rural families and their communities.
At the recent 32nd Annual SPERA Conference, held in MacKay, five awards were presented to projects which clearly demonstrated an initiative that expands education opportunities for rural Australian communities.

It is with great pleasure that SPERA awarded these projects in the following categories:

Category 1 Existing projects that demonstrate a proven link […]

THE FUTURE OF WORK: SETTING KIDS UP FOR SUCCESS

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Making sense of the competing messages surrounding the future of work can be a daunting and difficult task, particularly for parents and friends wanting to ensure their children’s success.

In response, nbn and the Regional Australia Institute have partnered to build a set of practical online resources for parents and children to use today to build the skills and attributes they will need for the future.

These include a ‘Future of Work’ research report, six case studies (see below) and an online toolkit.

The Regional Australia Institute’s ‘The […]

33rd National SPERA Conference, Canberra

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27- 29 September 2017 Rethinking Rurality: Writing the Rural into Policy and Practice CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SPERA, in partnership with the Faculty of Education, Science, Technology & Mathematics at the University of Canberra, invites you to join us for the 33rd National SPERA Conference.

Hosted by University of Canberra, the 2017 conference will bring together a range of education professionals, school administrators, teacher educators, academics, pre-service teachers, community members and parents who are passionate about rural education.

Keynote Speakers include:
Professor Tom Lowrie – University of Canberra.
Professor John Fischetti – University of Newcastle.
Professor Daniela Stehlik – Griffith […]

Call for Editors: The Australian and International Journal of Rural Education

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The Australian and International Journal of Rural Education (AIJRE) is seeking enthusiastic members of the rural education community to join its editorial board. The Australian and International Journal of Rural Education is the Journal of the Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia (SPERA). It serves as an international medium for educators and researchers with an interest in the provision of education in rural contexts. The Australian and International Journal of Rural Education publishes papers which may be scholarly accounts of educational research relevant to rural education, feature articles, research reports or integrative reviews.

In this instance we […]

Improving teaching in rural schools – we need to stop borrowing approaches from overseas

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Simon White wrote in The Conversation on 6th September 2016

While statistics might show Australia has an oversupply of teachers, this masks the reality that many rural schools find it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain teachers.

This has dire consequences for the life opportunities for rural students, and contributes to the widening gap in educational results and pathways for young people born in rural communities compared to their urban counterparts.

While some policymakers might tend to look to countries such as England and the US for solutions, such models require further investigation before being adopted in to […]

May 2016 Newsletter

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From the President
Mr Brian O’Neill

Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter for the 2016. A great deal has been happening with SPERA and I am happy to highlight these activities in this edition.

Highlights featured in this Newsletter include the 31st National SPERA Conference which was held at Deakin University’s Waterfront Campus at Geelong in November 2015. A major highlight of SPERA’s activities for the year. Over recent months I have also represented SPERA at the Queensland ICPA Conference in Cloncurry and the Northern Territory Isolated Children’s Parents Association conference. Both organisation’s are important partners in the […]