Rural Insights: Vocational Education & Rural Industry Partnerships

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In November 2023 host Samantha Avitaia from Bega NSW spoke with Julie Evans, CEO of Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care and delved into how the organisation forged local partnerships with three tiers of education: secondary, vocational and tertiary – in a simple but effective program to address a rural staffing crisis, and provide positive outcomes for their community. This community-grown model is now being replicated in other rural areas and expanded into further industries.

Watch the recording here:



Rural Insights – Teaching in very remote schools

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This month October 2023 our host Viveka Simpson (Teach for Australia) welcomed guests Rex Meredith and Jonelle Heacock to take a closer look at teaching in very remote Australian schools. Catchup via our webinar recording here:

Rural Insights – Facilitating Student Success

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Our September 2023 webinar featured Dr Marcia Devlin, CEO of the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership with Kimberley Tempest, Principal of Cobram Secondary College. They unpacked factors impacting the success of students at rural and regional institutions, at both secondary and higher education levels. Watch the webinar recording here:

Rural Insights – Facilitating Student Success at Rural and Regional Institutions

Rural Insights – Indigenous initiatives

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Indigenous initiative Wuyagiba Study Hub, is changing the landscape within the education sector.
We enjoyed a wonderful webinar on Monday 31st July 2023. Watch the recording here:

Rural Insights – Jul 2023

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Early Childhood Education

SPERA is delighted to be launching our ‘Rural Insights’ webinar series from July 2023. At just 30 mins, these are short, sharp and fast webinars that couple research and best-practice practical approaches to rural education issues.

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
SPERA is thrilled to announce that Tony Cook, Director General of Queensland’s Department of Education has confirmed as a guest speaker of the conference.

Before joining the Queensland Department of Education in April 2018, Tony worked for the Australian public service as the Associate Secretary for Schools and Youth within the Department of Education and Training. Tony previously held several senior executive positions in the Victorian public service, including Deputy Secretary, Government and Corporate with the Department of Premier and Cabinet; Deputy Secretary, Office for Children and Portfolio Coordination; and Deputy Secretary, Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. He began his career with Education Queensland.

Tony is a registered primary school teacher with a major in early childhood education. He has been a deputy principal and has taught in schools and preschools in Queensland and the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the Queensland University of Technology.

In October 2013 Tony was made an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Council for Education Leaders, and in January 2014, he was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service, especially in driving schools policy and funding reform in Australia.

Program:

2 October:     Emerging Rural Scholars Summit (optional 1st day) 9am to 5pm

Join us in a gathering of international rural education scholars to network, present your work, and receive valuable feedback and advice from experts in the field.  This exciting event will be held on the campus of QUT the day prior to the 2019 SPERA conference and is targeted at postgraduate research students, early career researchers, and scholars new to the field.

Emerging Rural Scholars Summit 2019 FINAL

Application Form – Emerging Rural Scholars Summit

3-4 October:  2019 Spera Conference (2 days)
Thursday 3 October: 8am registration. Program 9am to 5pm followed by cocktail reception
Friday 4 October: Program 9am to 5pm
Conference program to be released 29 August 2019

 

Image of a vineyard in the Granite Belt Wine Region in Queensland Australia

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, regional and/or remote settings.

Category 4
Projects based in, or benefiting, rural, regional and/or remote international settings. Nominees may be based in Australia or overseas.

Category winners will receive complementary 2019 conference registration for one delegate and a trophy. Runners up will receive a citation recognising their achievement.

But hurry! Nominations Now close Friday 30th August 2019

How to Nominate

To nominate, please email admin@spera.asn.au with the subject line 2019 AREA Nomination, Category (Insert Number), and provide the following information:

  • Name of school / organisation / learning context / pre-service teacher
  • Postal address
  • Principal / Chief Administrator
  • Institution name / Details of sponsoring school
  • Name, telephone number and email address for the person who would accept the award
  • Category you are entering, ie. Category 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • 300 words describing the nature of the project / learning practice being recognised
  • Any additional materials to support your nomination, ie. graphics, photos, videos, details of previous awards, etc.

AREA-AWARDS-2019

Image of a vineyard in the Granite Belt Wine Region in Queensland Australia

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, regional and/or remote settings.

Category 4
Projects based in, or benefiting, rural, regional and/or remote international settings. Nominees may be based in Australia or overseas.

Category winners will receive complementary 2019 conference registration for one delegate and a trophy. Runners up will receive a citation recognising their achievement.

But hurry! Nominations Now close Friday 30th August 2019

How to Nominate

To nominate, please email admin@spera.asn.au with the subject line 2019 AREA Nomination, Category (Insert Number), and provide the following information:

  • Name of school / organisation / learning context / pre-service teacher
  • Postal address
  • Principal / Chief Administrator
  • Institution name / Details of sponsoring school
  • Name, telephone number and email address for the person who would accept the award
  • Category you are entering, ie. Category 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • 300 words describing the nature of the project / learning practice being recognised
  • Any additional materials to support your nomination, ie. graphics, photos, videos, details of previous awards, etc.

AREA-AWARDS-2019

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

‘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 the past three years.

The award is for 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.

These projects have included partnerships with BIITE, CQU and SUT and various funding bodies.

read more: https://www.cdu.edu.au/indigenous-leadership 

Hay bales in paddock

2018 AREA Winners

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Congratulations 2018 AREA winners

Since 1994, the Australian Rural Education Award (AREA) has been awarded annually to an institution, organisation or industry to ecognise excellence in rural education in Australia. At the 2018 SPERA Conference three AREAs were presented to:

Back Track Youth Works

Indigenous Leadership Research and Evaluation Network – Charles Darwin University

Lighthouse Virtual Reality Outreach – Macquarie University

Image of Parliament House in Canberra Australian Capital Territory

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, regional and/or remote settings.

Category 4
Projects based in, or benefiting, rural, regional and/or remote international settings. Nominees may be based in Australia or overseas.

Category winners will receive complementary 2017 conference registration for one delegate and a trophy. Runners up will receive a citation recognising their achievement.

But hurry! Nominations Now close Friday 7th July 2017

How to Nominate

To nominate, please email admin@spera.asn.au with the subject line 2017 AREA Nomination, Category (Insert Number), and provide the following information:

  • Name of school / organisation / learning context / pre-service teacher
  • Postal address
  • Principal / Chief Administrator
  • Institution name / Details of sponsoring school
  • Name, telephone number and email address for the person who would accept the award
  • Category you are entering, ie. Category 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • 300 words describing the nature of the project / learning practice being recognised
  • Any additional materials to support your nomination, ie. graphics, photos, videos, details of previous awards, etc.

AREA-AWARDS-2017 (344 KB)

32nd National SPERA Conference and 4th International Symposium for Innovation in Rural Education

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Early Bird Registrations are now open!

SPERA, with the SiMERR National Research Centre at the University of New England, invites you to join us for the 32nd National SPERA Conference and 4th International Symposium for Innovation in Rural Education.

Hosted by CQUniversity Australia’s Ooralea Campus and supported by the University of Tasmania, the 2016 conference will bring together a range of national and international teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, academics, pre-service teachers, community members and parents who are passionate about rural education.

Rural Education: Place, Pedagogies, Partnerships and Possibilities

Where: CQUniversity Australia: Ooralea Campus (Mackay)

When: 28-30 September 2016

Download the full flyer here: 2016 SPERA-ISFIRE Conference Flyer (2Mb)

Confirmed speakers and guests include:

  • Dr Miguel Angel Diaz Delgado – Interleader Network
  • Professor Unn-Doris Baeck – University of Tromso, Norway
  • Dr Hernan Cuervo – University of Melbourne
  • Professor John Pegg – SiMERR National Research Centre at the University of New England
  • Professor Helen Huntly – CQUniveristy
  • Dr Erica Southgate – National Centre for Student Equity Higher Education

Please Note

Presenter/s must be paid registrants of the conference in order to present a paper. Registrations must be paid no later than Friday 10 June 2016. No refunds will be issued for any reason after Friday 19 August 2016.

Presenter Registration & Acceptance: Extended to 10 June 2016

Earlybird Registration Ends: 10 June 2016

2016 Conference Date: 28 – 30 September 2016

For those attending and wanting more information,  Mackay region  is a good place to visit, for information on travel, accommodation and dining in and around the area.

During the conference there will also be special presentations made to awardees of the following:

Australian Rural Education Awards 2016                                  

Brian O'Neill presents 2015 AREA Award to Jennifer McMahon Karratha Senior HIgh

 

 

 

    Pre-service Teacher Sponsorship 2016

 AREA 2012 Kingston Primary School

 

 

If you or someone you know might be interested in nominating a person or project, just follow the links above.

SPERA would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the CQUniversity Ooralea Campus is situated and pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Phil Roberts standing in Front of Whiteboard

“The spatial distribution of curriculum in (rural) schools: broadening access” ACSA Webinar

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Phil Roberts is part of the SPERA Executive and a lecturer at the University of Canberra.

On Thursday 2 June 2016, 7-8pm AEST Phil will be presenting an Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA) Webinar to discuss:

“The spatial distribution of curriculum in (rural) NSW schools”

            This webinar explores access to the senior secondary curriculum and approaches to broadening access, particularly in rural areas.

REGISTER HERE

This webinar examines the existence of a curriculum hierarchy in the (NSW) senior secondary curriculum and examines its socio-spatial distribution.  The presentation then explores approaches to broadening access in rural areas, particularly enacting the curriculum with references to rural places.  While the initial data draws upon NSW the issues and examples are nationally relevant.

Building on previous work in Victoria by Teese and colleagues this paper extends the idea of the curriculum hierarchy to the NSW senior secondary curriculum and then moves to explicitly examine the hierarchy in non-metropolitan areas. In doing so the ideas of powerful knowledge encoded in the school curriculum and the selection of this knowledge is examined in relation to the diversity of communities and the inclusion of rural knowledges.

It extends previous work in this area by introducing spatial thinking from the social sciences to look at how this knowledge is spatially distributed, its relationship to communities and place, and the spatial influences on its selection and enactment in schools.

This webinar will be of relevance to those interested in understanding how the curriculum hierarchy favours high socioeconomic status (SES) metropolitan communities and that access to the curriculum is determined by SES and location.  Importantly approaches to place conscious pedagogies that disrupt this hierarchy, and approaches to enacting academically powerful subjects with reference to rural knowledge’s, will explored.

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed in this webinar:

1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds
2.2 Content selection and organisation
2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting

REGISTER HERE

AREA 2012 Kingston Primary School

Pre-service Teacher Sponsorship 2016

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Apply today!

Sponsorships are available for pre-service educators to attend the 32nd National SPERA Conference, 28 to 30 September 2016, Mackay, Queensland.

If you are a pre-service teacher and thinking about a career in rural, regional or remote education, you could receive:

• complimentary attendance at the upcoming SPERA conference, being held this year at CQUniversity Australia’s Ooralea Campus in Mackay, including attendance at all social events

• your travel and accommodation costs paid

• complimentary one-year SPERA membership, to enable you to benefit from the connections you will make as a result of attending the conference.

To apply, please write a brief statement (max. 2 pages) registering your interest:

• Tell us why you are interested in teaching in a rural, regional or remote community

• Tell us how you think attending the 2016 SPERA conference would assist your learning

• Include your most recent Professional Experience Report or a reference from your supervisor or principal

• Include a copy of your resume (max. 2 pages), including details of any previous experience you have had in rural, regional and/or remote schools.

Applications close Friday 17 June 2016.

Email admin@spera.asn.au

2016 SPERA Pre-Service Sponsorship Flyer (325 KB)

Brian O'Neill presents 2015 AREA Award to Jennifer McMahon Karratha Senior HIgh

Australian Rural Education Awards 2016

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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, regional and/or remote settings.

Category 4
Projects based in, or benefiting, rural, regional and/or remote international settings. Nominees may be based in Australia or overseas.

Category winners will receive a prize of AUD$500, complementary 2016 conference registration for one delegate and a trophy. Runners up will receive a citation recognising their achievement.

But hurry! Nominations Now close Friday 17th June 2016

How to Nominate

To nominate, please email admin@spera.asn.au with the subject line 2016 AREA Nomination, Category (Insert Number), and provide the following information:

  • Name of school / organisation / learning context / pre-service teacher
  • Postal address
  • Principal / Chief Administrator
  • Institution name / Details of sponsoring school
  • Name, telephone number and email address for the person who would accept the award
  • Category you are entering, ie. Category 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • 300 words describing the nature of the project / learning practice being recognised
  • Any additional materials to support your nomination, ie. graphics, photos, videos, details of previous awards, etc.

AREA-AWARDS-2016 (497 KB)

Image of map of far north Queensland Australia

32nd National SPERA Conference 2016

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Rural Education: Place, Pedagogies, Partnerships and Possibilities

Hosted by CQUniversity Australia’s Ooralea Campus and supported by the University of Tasmania, the 2016 conference will bring together a range of national and international teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, academics, pre-service teachers, community members and parents who are passionate about rural education.

Where: CQUniversity Australia: Ooralea Campus (Mackay)

When: 28-30 September 2016

Download the full flyer here: 2016 SPERA-ISFIRE Conference Flyer (2Mb)

Early Bird Registrations are now open!

Sub Themes

While this conference invites a wide range of submissions that address the general theme, we encourage submissions that speak to one or more of the following sub-themes:

  • Community and Development
  • Place and Space
  • Social Justice
  • Environment
  • Indigenous Perspectives
  • Diversity
  • Leadership
  • Curriculum and Pedagogy
  • Initial Teacher Education
  • Rural Futures

Confirmed speakers and guests include

  • Details coming soon!

Submission of Abstracts

SPERA, with the SiMERR National Research Centre at the University of New England, invites you to submit abstracts for the 32nd National SPERA Conference and 4th International Symposium for Innovation in Rural Education.

To submit an abstract, please download, complete and return the proposal template below.

2016 SPERA Conference Abstract Proposal Template (52Kb)

Submission of Abstracts

Abstracts are to be written in plain English and include clear information about the aims, nature and content of the paper and, where applicable, a brief statement of results and implications. All abstracts should be linked to the conference theme or sub-themes.

Evaluation of Abstracts

Abstracts are subject to blind-review by members of the program committee. Notification of whether the abstract has been accepted for presentation will be sent to the presenter/s on or before Thursday 19 May 2016. Successful presenters will be asked for their audio visual requirements at this time and instructed to confirm their attendance via paid registration no later than Friday 3 June 2016.

Please Note

Presenter/s must be paid registrants of the conference in order to present a paper. Registrations must be paid no later than Friday 10 June 2016. No refunds will be issued for any reason after Friday 19 August 2016.

Call for Submission Deadline: Extended to 13 May 2016

Notification of Acceptance of Abstracts: 24 May 2016

Presenter Registration & Acceptance: Extended to 17 June 2016

2016 Conference Date: 28 – 30 September 2016

For those attending, information on travel, accommodation and dining in and around the Mackay region will be available here soon.

SPERA would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the CQUniversity Ooralea Campus is situated and pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging.