Education and Training of Young People Features at CCA Melbourne Conference

The education and training challenges and opportunities of young people feature highly at Community Colleges Australia’s annual conference in Melbourne, 25 to 27 July.

“CCA has constructed a comprehensive program stream for those interested in building better opportunities and pathways for Australia’s young people,” said Dr Don Perlgut, CEO of Community Colleges Australia.

“The conference recognises the vital importance that education plays in young people’s lives. Because of our strong community links and our not-for-profit status, our sector plays an essential role in ensuring that investment in Australian skills is both meaningful and properly targeted to young Australian learners and the communities most in need,” said Dr Perlgut.

The young people program sessions include:

• an expert panel discussing the growing phenomenon of secondary schools hosted by adult and community education providers;
• the changing world of work, and what it means for Australia’s young people;
• detailed examinations of the transition from school to training, further education and work;
• how to re-engage disengaged young people in education, training and study;
• An international focus, with speakers from USA, New Zealand and Malaysia providing a wider perspective on community education; and
• the first-ever “Community Education Student of the Year” Awards, to be delivered at the Gala Dinner at the Windsor Hotel, featuring Aboriginal tennis coach Anzac Leidig, who will help present the awards.

The conference speakers talking on young people include:

• “The workforce of tomorrow demands a new mindset”, by Bronwyn Lee, Deputy CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), who will draw on FYA’s research on the New Work Order;
• “Building the Financial Capability of Indigenous Young People in the Northern Territory”, by Duncan Poulson, Northern Territory Regional Commissioner, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) – drawing on ASIC’s MoneySmart financial literacy expertise;
• “Education and Regional Development: A view from American Community Colleges”, by Dr Roberta Teahen, Associate Provost, Ferris State University, Michigan USA, & Dr Laurie Chesley, Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs & Provost, Grand Rapids Community College. Michigan;
• “The Brotherhood of St Laurence Study on Young People in the Private VET Sector”, by Kira Clarke, Lecturer in Education Policy, Centre for Vocational & Education Policy, Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne;
• “Powering up the work of Flexible Learning Providers through strategic partnerships and networks”, by Louisa Ellum, Chair, Youth Affairs Council of Victoria & Chief Executive, International Specialised Skills Institute (ISS Institute);
• “Empowering Positive Post-School Transitions”, by Nicholas Johns, Johns Consulting & ISS Institute Fellow;
• “Learning with Passion for Purpose and Direction”, by Mana Forbes, Maori Elder, Hamilton, New Zealand, Tai Wanaga High School;
• “Disengaged youth and community colleges - the perfect fit”, by Wendy Ratcliffe, WEA Foundation Manager and co-founder of WEA Hunter’s Alesco Senior College;
• “Australian Apprenticeships: one pathway to a better future”, by Peta Skujins, Research and Content Officer, Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service (formerly with NCVER); and
• “Youth and Alternative Pathways – the Advance Story”, a report from Steve Wright, CEO, Advance Community College (Rosebud VIC).

The full program is now available here.

All speaker biographies are available here.

You can register for the conference here.