Professional Development 2010-2012

Agricultural and Environmental Science Teachers Professional Development Conference*NEW*

National Agricultural Educators Association 2012 Conference

School Certificate or Higher School Certificate assessor for examinations

Proposed Agricultural Workshops to be organised by the Primary Industries Education Foundation

Useful Curriculum Links

Agricultural and Environmental Science Teachers Professional Development Conference

Where? University of New England Armidale

When? Thursday 1 March to Sunday 4 March 2012

Closing date? Monday 20 February 2012

...read more

School of Environmental and Rural Science

“Feeding the Future” National Conference

ATASA is organising the National Agricultural Educators Association Conference to be held in South Oz.

Where? Australian Science and Maths School (Flinders University), Adelaide, South Australia

When? Sunday 8th to Thursday 12th January 2012

What? "Feeding the Future" is our theme, we have a great mix of speakers, workshops and tours

Who? Keynote speaker is Professor Julian Cribb, Author of The Coming Famine (His published work includes more than 7,000 print articles, 1000 broadcasts, 500 media releases and 300 speeches as well as "The Forgotten Country", six editions of "Australian Agriculture", and "The White Death", for more details see www.sciencealert.com.au/jca.html

Cost? bargain at $650 ($600 early bird) full conference including accommodation at Flinders Uni, $390 ($330 early bird) full conference without Accommodation, $130 per day if you wish to attend a particular day(s) only, Early Bird rate closes 30th September

“Feeding the Future” National Conference Registration Form download here (pdf) *Update*

Mat Evans
Industry Skills Manager
DECS Yorke & Mid North Region
13 Taylor Street Kadina SA 5554
Ph: 08 88280 514 Fx: 08 8821 2103
Mb: 0427 311 561 Cr: R 29/4
mathew.evans@sa.gov.au

Kind Regards

Carl Chirgwin

Griffith High School Agriculture Teacher/Farm Coordinator
Griffith High School Transition Coordinator (School Based Traineeships/Apprenticeships)
NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers Publicity Coordinator
National Association of Agricultural Educators Publicity Coordinator
NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Young Farmer Representative
NSW Farmers Membership Taskforce Teacher Repreresentative
0427 455 389

Dear Graeme,

Can you suggest schools, may-be yours Farrer or one closer to Sydney, that are well down the track of utilising ICT in the teaching of Agriculture?

We finish at the end of this week and I would like to have a look at how schools might be using this, but specifically in the teaching of Agriculture and Primary Industries. I don’t mind making a trip to your place, or another one, next week if it would be worthwhile-to see ICT in action in the classroom.

There are only two of us here but yes the science staff is into it, however I wish to see it in Ag. And PI.

Kind regards,

Rob Forsberg,
Head Teacher ,
Ag. And PI,
St Josephs college,
Sydney.

Dear PTC NSW Member Associations,
 
PTC NSW would appreciate your assistance by forwarding this information to all association members:
 
Current Perspectives: The Australian Curriculum and the NSW BOS
 
PTC NSW has invited the President, Mr Tom Alegounarias and the General Manager, Ms Carol Taylor from the NSWBOS to address PTC NSW member associations at a forum to be held on Tuesday 24 May 2011.
 
Mr Alegounarias and Ms Taylor will provide current advice and information from the NSWBOS perspective about the Australian Curriculum. Key areas include:
 
Progress update from the NSWBOS

Implementation strategy and important dates / timelines
Assessment
Support for implementation in NSW
Development of support materials by the NSW BOS
 
A short question and answer session will follow the opening presentation.
 
PTC NSW requests that all specific questions from member associations for the evening be submitted to the PTC Executive Officer by Thursday12 May. All questions for the President of the NSWBOS should be emailed to the PTC NSW Executive Officer kim.tsolakis@ptc.nsw.edu.au
 
Event summary: Current Perspectives: The Australian Curriculum and the NSW BOS
 
Day and Date:      Tuesday 24 May 2010
Time:                      5.00 - 6.30pm
Venue:                   PTC NSW Conference Centre, 101-105 Norton Street, Leichhardt 2040
 
This is a video-conference event. Those member associations wanting to participate via PTC NSW video-conferencing facilities are asked to contact PTC NSW administration no later than 5pm Friday 20 May on (02) 9564 3322 to register and receive the PTC NSW contact code to access this event.
 
All other participants are required to confirm their attendance(s) via email to PTC Administration: admin@ptc.nsw.edu.au
no later than 5pm Friday 20 May.
 
Please note that there is no restriction on the number of participants from each association who would like to attend this important event.
 
Light refreshments will be available from 4.45pm.
 
Regards,
 
Kim Tsolakis
Executive Officer:
Professional Teachers' Council NSW (PTC NSW)
Primary Teachers' Network (PTN)
Global Education NSW
- promoting teacher professionalism -
PO Box 577 Leichhardt NSW 2040
Ph: +61 2 9564 3322  Mobile: 0408 205 905
Fax: +61 2 9564 2342
Email: kim.tsolakis@ptc.nsw.edu.au
Visit the PTC NSW website: www.ptc.nsw.edu.au
Visit the APTA website: www.apta.edu.au

Symposium Topic:   Resilience...   can our environment keep bouncing back?

Dear Phil,

You may have heard of the environment ‘bouncing back’ quickly from a disaster. But how much can our environment take?
Will understanding economic and environmental resilience better prepare us for an uncertain future?

The ability of a system to return to its normal state is termed ‘resilience’. Systems can be resilient to both positive and negative forces and recover either rapidly or gradually. Questions surrounding the ability of natural, economic and social systems to function within their current state despite climate change, political shifts and environmental degradation, will be the focus of discussion at this year's Research Symposium on Friday 8th July 2011 at the University of Sydney.   The event will bring together international guest speakers and Australia’s key thinkers, who will join the Faculty’s interdisciplinary community to discuss this fascinating topic.  

I thought this may be of interest to your community and ask that it is considered for submission to the NSW Ag Teachers newsletter/website.  More information about the topic is below, plus a photo attached which you are free to use of a resilient landscape.

Please let me know if you’d like to speak to some of the Faculty's speakers or require any further information.

Kind regards
Lucy

Resilience: Can our environment keep bouncing back?

You may have heard of the environment ‘bouncing back’ quickly from a disaster. But how much can our environment take?
 
The Victorian Bushfires in summer 2009 provide a stunning example of the ability of natural ecosystems to recover following disturbance. Dr Margaret Barbour and her team from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, at the University of Sydney, visited the aptly named Mt Disappointment in Victoria’s bushfire ravaged mountain region. What they found was incredible.
 
“Australian forests are well known to be highly fire-adapted,” Dr Barbour commented. “Eucalyptus regnans regenerates only from seed after fire. The Black Saturday bushfires burnt large areas of E.regnans forests in Victoria… and a mass germination occurred beneath the blackened stems. We found seedlings up to three meters tall, with up to one million stems per hectare.”
 
The ability of a system to return to its normal state is termed ‘resilience’. Systems can be resilient to both positive and negative forces and recover either rapidly or gradually. Questions surrounding the ability of natural, economic and social systems to function within their current state despite climate change, political shifts and environmental degradation, will be examined at the ground-breaking symposium ‘Resilience: can our environment keep bouncing back?’ at the University of Sydney this year.
 
Associate Professor Michael Harris is a speaker at the Symposium and resilience researcher in economics in the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Sydney. His research is pioneering the study of ecosystem ‘tipping points’, and what this implies for accounting, management and policy.
 
“Environmental economists are well practised at evaluating the incremental impacts of incremental human actions,” Associate Professor Harris explained.
 
“What resilience thinking does for economists is focus on cases where incremental changes have minor effects on an ecosystem up to a point, but the cumulative effects of those changes can eventually have major—perhaps disastrous—impacts.”
 
Historically, we know the survival of natural systems has been intertwined with the survival of societies. In popular culture, there has been a recent surge in the number of Hollywood films which depict disastrous crashings of natural systems. Futuristic films aside, how much disturbance can real natural systems endure in the modern world? Do we need to fear a sudden global crisis?
 
Take food production as an example.
 
“Agronomy—the science and technology of producing crops—is without question one of the most important human endeavours,” said Professor Jeff Amthor, a biological scientist and Symposium speaker from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and expert in the limits of plant productivity.
 
“The vast majority of the 6.9 billion people now alive rely on agronomy daily, and whereas political, social, and economic systems can - and do - interrupt the flow of agronomic outputs to their intended recipients, agronomy has proven itself time after time,” said Professor Amthor.
 
Associate Professor Harris believes that hope in our continued ability to produce food depends on whether people make wise decisions.
 
“Our study of a productive agricultural catchment in Victoria showed changes in the risk of the whole catchment becoming unproductive as human management decisions caused the water table to rise, slowly but surely. The functioning of the system—its productivity—changed little, but what was important was that its resilience was being continuously reduced,” said Associate Professor Harris.
 
“It was drought that kept the water table out of the danger zone, not prudent human management.
 
“Our understanding of management practice and policy design needs to be informed about how to manage systems to maintain their resilience, and the costs and trade-offs of doing exactly that.”
 
Researchers believe there is good reason to study resilience in both economics and science. By understanding resilience, not only are we able to stay within a system’s limits, but in some cases we can enhance its ability to bounce back. A system’s ability to bounce back determines how durable the system remains under our increasingly affluent and populous world – and whether the system can endure at all.
 
What does a truly resilient system look like? Perhaps we should take a lesson from the recovering forests of Victoria.
 
“Two years after the fire, in late February this year, we investigated carbon cycling in the regenerating stand,” said Dr Barbour.
 
“Variation in stable carbon isotopes as environmental conditions changed allowed us to show the very rapid cycling of carbon from the canopy, transfer of synthesised carbohydrates through the seedlings, and eventual release of CO2 back to the atmosphere three days later.”
 
If a plant, forest and whole ecosystem can regrow this rapidly, surely there is hope for our modern world.
 

Research Symposium 2011 Resilience: can our environment keep bouncing back? Date: 8.30am - 6.00 pm, Friday 8th July 2011 Venue: Lecture Theatre 101, New Law Building, University of Sydney

Guest Speakers include:
Professor Mary O'Kane
NSW Chief Scientist
Professor R. Quentin Grafton
Director, Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy (CWEEP)
Convenor, Environmental and Resource Economics (GDERE & MERE) degrees, The Australian National University
Professor Karl-Göran Mäler
The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Dr Jayne Belnap
Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey, President-Elect of the Soil Ecology Society

All welcome. For more information or to register online, please visit:
sydney.edu.au/agriculture/rs2011

 
Dr Lucy Buxton | Marketing and Communications Manager
Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
C81 - Biomedical Building | Sydney | NSW | 2006
T +61 2 9351 6242 (Mon-Tues) +61 2 8627 1005  (Wed-Fri)| F +61 2 8627 1099
Email: lucy.buxton@sydney.edu.au | Website: http://www.sydney.edu.au/agriculture

If you are interested in submitting an application, to be a School Certificate or Higher School Certificate assessor for examinations, then you can download the necessary forms from the Board’s website at
www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au,

or further copies may be obtained by contacting Hayley Parker by phone on 9367 8173 or by email at TDapplications@bos.nsw.edu.au

Premier's Agriculture Scholarship 2011

As a result of the generous support of the Premier applications are invited for the Premier’s Agriculture Scholarship.

All teachers currently teaching Agriculture in schools or TAFE NSW Institutes are eligible to apply. The award is for a study in any aspect of Agricultural studies with special emphasis on Sustainable Agriculture

It is anticipated that the successful applicant would spend up to five weeks involved in a study program. Eligible teachers from NSW government schools and TAFE NSW Institutes will be entitled to leave and the school/institute will be entitled to relief. Teachers from NSW non-government schools will need to negotiate leave with their employing authority. The recipient must organise their itinerary to complete travel by 30 June 2012.

Time need not be spent in formal study, but may involve a program of visits to schools and institutions to conduct interviews, observe exemplary practices and collect resources for the preparation of teaching materials related to environmental education.

One scholarship of $15,000 will be awarded in 2011.

For further information on the scholarship and for an Application form, use this link to get the download: Premier's Agriculture Scholarship (doc)

*website link*

IMPORTANT EVENT FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CROPPING INDUSTRY

CCA Cropping Solutions Seminar 3 & 4 May 2011 in Moree

The CCA Cropping Solutions Seminar provides one location for technical, product and business information and networking.

Agronomists actively working with cotton, grains and pulse crops have guided the development of the agenda for this two day event. CCA has been fortunate to secure leading researchers to present as well as experienced agronomists and highly respected corporate representatives to address hot topics. There is also the opportunity to hear from a young, up and coming agronomist.

The inclusion of specific business related topics recognises the importance of developing well rounded agronomists and further strengthening consulting operations and small businesses working in the industry. In light of this, special presentations will address professional indemnity insurance, workplace health and safety, employment obligations and communication skills.

The seminar dinner function provides excellent networking opportunities plus the chance to relax and have some fun. It's a great value night including pre-dinner drinks, a mouth watering South Pacific buffet and entertainment by an internationally acclaimed performer.

Further information about the seminar is attached for your reference or alternatively visit www.cropconsultants.com.au/events.html.

A huge thank you goes to the event partners who are supporting Crop Consultants Australia Incorporated to deliver this significant event.

We encourage everybody to circulate information about this event to your networks.

Fiona

Fiona Anderson
Executive Officer
Crop Consultants Australia Incorporated
PO Box 380, Southtown QLD 4350
Mob: 0429 925 459
Fax: 07 3036 6357
Email: fiona@cropconsultants.com.au
www.cropconsultants.com.au
ABN 77 618 159 986
Office Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Crop Consultants Australia Incorporated is a not for profit organisation that aims to promote and enhance crop consultancy as a profession. CCA also plays an important role in facilitating the transfer of knowledge to members and acts as a means of communication between members and other industry groups.

Subject: FW: Australian curriculum: Technologies advisory panel EOI

Dear Stuart
The information below has been sent to jurisdictions and professional teacher associations and PIEF. However you may like to forward to other colleagues.

Re: Expression of Interest for Advisory Panel Members for the development of the Australian Curriculum: Information and Communication Technology and Design and Technology (Technologies)
ACARA has recently commenced initial planning for curriculum development for the Information and Communication Technology and Design and Technology (Technologies) learning area. In the Australian Curriculum the learning area may include agriculture/primary industries, built environment, computing/digital technologies, design, engineering, food technology and nutrition, graphics, materials and product design (eg metals, textiles, timber).

Engaging educators and the wider community is crucial to ensuring that we continue to collaboratively develop a world-class Australian Curriculum. ACARA is currently inviting Expressions of Interest for Advisory Panel Members for the development of the Australian Curriculum: Technologies. Further information is available on the ACARA website from 31 January 2011: http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/technologies.html.

It would be helpful if you could forward this information to individuals and organisations that you feel may contribute to the curriculum development process.

Please note that as part of the application process, all applicants will require approval in writing by their current employer prior to submission. All applicants must also ensure they are available for a two day induction in ACARA’s Sydney office in April 2011.

Expressions of Interest close Monday 21 February 2011 at 5:00pm (AEDT). For further information, please contact Julie King on 02 8098 3106 or julie.king@acara.edu.au<mailto:julie.king@acara.edu.au>.

Expressions of interest will be advertised for curriculum writers later in 2011.
Regards

Julie King
Senior Project Officer – Technologies
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Level 10 | 255 Pitt Street | SYDNEY | NSW | 2000
Ph: +612 8098 3106| Fax: +612 8098 3103
Reception: 1300 895 563
julie.king@acara.edu.au<mailto:julie.king@acara.edu.au>

2012: National Association of Agricultural Educators Conference in Adelaide during January

PIEF Professional Development Day for NSW Agriculture Teachers - Friday 26 November 2010

The Board of Studies is calling for the Association to nominate people for the 2 Examination Committees

ICT innovations in Agriculture" training for DET Teachers -18 October 2010

APTA Powerful Professional Learning Conference 2010

ICT innovations in Agriculture" training for DET Teachers 20 August 2010

Agriculture Teachers’ Study Tour of California Sat 18 Sept – Sun 3 Oct 2010

The University of Sydney Graduate Options (GO) Expo

NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships 2010 - applications close friday 7 May 2010 (pdf)

Hi Aggies

The Primary Industries Education Foundation are arranging a workshop which will help with the new electives of the amended HSC syllabus.

There is no cost to the participants other than cover back at school.

See the attachment.

Regards
Phil Hurst
President
NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers

Hi Aggies

It is that time of year again.

The Board of Studies is calling for the Association to nominate people for the 2 Examination Committees (read below)

If you are interested please let me know. The executive will then need to select someone as our nominees.

Regards

Phil Hurst
President
NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers

Dear Phil
The Board of Studies has begun the process of selecting personnel to prepare the 2011 Higher School Certificate examinations and School Certificate tests. These examinations are prepared by examination committees consisting of teachers and academics who have the necessary experience and expertise to set the examinations.
In the past, your association has provided nominees for the examination committee selection panels. I am writing to seek your assistance again in providing nomination for a suitable teacher to be a member of the examination selection panels for the following 2011 examination committees:
Agriculture and Primary Industries
Where possible, can you please obtain nominations for the selection panel? There will be one panel for each of the examination committees listed. Your nominee will be required to either come into the Office of the Board of Studies, 117 Clarence Street, Sydney or conduct their tasks over the phone. The meetings will usually last around 30 minutes. The Board will reimburse schools, if necessary, for the employment of casual teachers to replace teachers taking part in this selection panel.
Please email your nominations with contact details to Michelle Mitcherson, Senior Assessment Officer, at michelle.mitcherson@bos.nsw.edu.au<mailto:michelle.mitcherson@bos.nsw.edu.au> by Thursday 30 September 2010. The Assessment Officer will contact the nominee directly to arrange a date and time for the selection panel to meet. If you require further information, please contact Helen Bristow Manager, Test Development, on 9367 8095 or by email at helen.bristow@bos.nsw.edu.au<mailto:helen.bristow@bos.nsw.edu.au>

Thank you for your cooperation in this important process
Michelle Mitcherson
Senior Assessment Officer - Special Projects
Measurement Assessment and Research unit
Office of the Board of Studies
Michelle.Mitcherson@bos.nsw.edu.au<mailto:Michelle.Mitcherson@bos.nsw.edu.au>
pH: 9367 8269
fax: 9367 8474
Phil Hurst
President
NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers

Hi
We are offering the ICT innovations in Agriculture workshop on 18th of October term 4. In term 3 we had a smaller group and therefore we were able to manage the workshop much better. There were plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get individual help. We also distributed digital resources that were very much appreciated by the participants. I would like to invite all Aggies to join us for this workshop and meet other Aggies. So please let the colleagues know to mark the 18th October in their calander and join us at James Ruse for an ICT workshop. They can register through MyPl.

( Also I just noticed in the new publication by ACARA that the third phase of Australian curriculum development will include " remaining learning areas". I am hoping that it is a step forward.)

Regards
Sofia Hameed
James Ruse Agriculture High School
ph: 02 9871 7126
Fax: 02 98713874
Felton Road, Carlingford.

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." George santayana

Hi Philip
Its that time again. The western sydney region is offering the "ICT innovations in Agriculture" training on 20th of August, 2010. It is advertised on MyPL. However, if anyone can not locate it or have a problem then please let me know and I will make sure they get registered. It is an opportunity to get together, swap resources and discuss Ag community issues. Please let everyone know and I look forward to meeting everyone there. sofia

Sofia Hameed
James Ruse Agriculture High School
ph: 02 9871 7126
Fax: 02 98713874
Felton Road, Carlingford.

"The way we live our days, is the way we live our lives." (Annie Dillard)

Hi Aggies

I have been asked to forward this to you.

Dear PTC Member Associations,
The following information is for consideration by your executive and all members of your association.

This conference – developed and organised by the Australian Professional Teachers Association (APTA) - is an essential professional development experience:

APTA Powerful Professional Learning Conference 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 09:00 AM - 17:00 PM

The Australian Professional Teachers Association (APTA) will be conducting a one day conference on Tuesday 28 September 2010 with international and national keynote speakers including: Dr. Dennis Sparks, Prof Barry McGaw AO, Dr Ben Jensen, Patrick Lee and Susan Mann, who will present, explore and discuss the future directions of professional learning.
The conference will look at a range of elements of professional learning including; applying knowledge of ethnicity, class and culture to narrow the learning gap; look at ways to enhance teaching quality for student learning: leveraging technology as a resource for professional learning and will seek to develop policy and advocacy for professional learning.

Conference and venue details and registration form: APTA Conference 2010

PTC NSW encourages early registration for this outstanding opportunity as numbers are limited.

Regards,
Kim

Kim Tsolakis
Executive Officer:
Professional Teachers' Council NSW (PTC NSW)
Global Education NSW
Australian Professional Teachers' Association (APTA)
- promoting teacher professionalism -
PO Box 577 Leichhardt NSW 2040
Ph: +61 2 9564 3322 Mobile: 0408 205 905
Fax: +61 2 9564 2342
Email: kim.tsolakis@ptc.nsw.edu.au<mailto:kim.tsolakis@ptc.nsw.edu.au>
Visit the PTC NSW website: www.ptc.nsw.edu.au<http://www.ptc.nsw.edu.au/>
Visit the APTA website: www.apta.edu.au<http://www.apta.edu.au/>
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

Hi Aggies

I have been approached by Cameron Archer (Chair, Primary Industries Education Foundation,Director) see below.

"Dear Phil

It was good to talk to you yesterday and thanks for being able to have an input into this teacher professional development initiative.

There are a couple of issues which I think are important.

1. We are keen to support agriculture teachers across the state and we need to work out ways that can be done.

2. I am keen to get a pilot professional development exercise up at Homebush Bay and I thought agriculture teachers should be first cab off the rank. How we duplicate this content and information for teachers in other parts of the state is yet to be finalised.

3. The Primary Industries Education Foundation and the supporting organisations are keen to have professional development for teachers in many other disciplines, eg, science, geography, food technology, etc.

I would be pleased if you could identify with your colleagues the most important areas you would like to spend a days professional development on. We can then source the best trainers etc possibly they could come from within your own ranks. I would hope to have something up and running in September, October or November. As I said by phone identifying the best date is probably what we need to do now and the content can be firmed up possibly in August.
I will be guided by you and your colleagues regarding dates.

The day will be at no cost to the participants because it is a pilot but in the longer term there will obviously have be charges.

I will probably need to have a longer chat to you by phone but I hope this sets the scene a bit.

I think it is an exciting development and if we get it right there will be many benefits for years to come for both agriculture and teachers in a lot of other disciplines.

Best regards
Cameron"

If you have any thoughts for workshop ideas, please let me know.

Regards
Phil Hurst
President
NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers

Proposed Agriculture Teachers’ Study Tour of California

Dear fellow ag educators

A month ago I emailed to you details of a proposed study tour to California for
interested ag educators (and partners). I received expressions of interest from
about 15 people (although there may have been a few more as I was unclear on some partner numbers) including a late enquiry on Monday from New Zealand. Nevertheless, we obviously do not have sufficient numbers for the tour to proceed next year.

Many others have expressed interest, but the current economic conditions or other personal circumstances do not suit for 2009. As such, I have decided to postpone the tour to September 2010 (Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October 2010) when hopefully, the exchange rate and economic climate are more favourable for us. This will give us more time to promote, plan and save for the trip.

There has been overwhelming support for the current balance of agricultural
education / agricultural industry / tourism so I can't see this changing much.
However, I am interested in any suggestions or feedback you may have. Thank you to those who have already done so.

Should you still be interested in making a trip to California or indeed other states in the USA before 2010, I am happy to assist through the extensive network of contacts I maintain.

I look forward to meeting up with many of you at the NAAE Conference in Queensland in January 2010 and joining us on tour in September 2010. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday.

Regards
Tony Heading

(details below are of the 2009 tour which was cancelled, but they give some indication of possibilities for the 2010 tour).

• 15 days

• Los Angeles–Lake Havasu-Grand Canyon-Las Vegas (2 nights)-Bakersfield-Fresno-Modesto-Yosemite National Park-Napa Valley-San Francisco(2 nights)-Monterey-Santa Barbara-Los Angeles

• Fully escorted by professional Tour Director and Tony Heading - HOD (Agriculture) Stanthorpe SHS, with local hosts and guides

• Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach with extra leg room, and emergency rest room while touring

• Twin bedded rooms with private bath or shower (hotel taxes, service charges, tips for baggage handling are included)

• Superior hotels

• Welcome reception (WR), American breakfast daily (B), 1 lunch (L), 6 three-course dinners (D) including a farewell dinner at San Luis Obispo (included meals are indicated on the detailed daily itinerary shown below)

• Selection of natural wonders, school farms, agricultural industries, wineries and cultural experiences (applicable entry fees are included)

• Meet Californian agriculture teachers and see their agriculture classes and FFA agriculture programs in action

• Minimum of 30 persons required (agriculture teachers/partners). Limited spaces are available.

• Approx A$3500 (depending on final numbers and A$/US$ exchange rate) for all land arrangements only. Single room supplement approx A$1200.

• Not included: Airfares, travel insurance, optional excursions, gratuities per person for tour director/driver/local guides, additional meals and tips

• Final tour booking arrangements will be through Harvey World Travel, Stanthorpe

• Expressions of interest (non binding) close on date to be advised.

If there is sufficient interest for the study tour to proceed, final costs and details will be confirmed and a non-refundable deposit of $350 per person would be required by 20 December 2008 to secure our tour departure. Final balance would be payable by 1 June 2009.

For further details or registration of interest contact:

Tony Heading

Head of Department - Agriculture

Stanthorpe SHS - www.stanthorshs.eq.edu.au

PO Box 985 STANTHORPE QLD 4380

Phone (07) 4681 5841 (W)

(07) 4683 7067 (H)

0419 769 119 (mobile)

Fax (07) 4681 5842

Email: ahead3@eq.edu.au

Premier's Agriculture Scholarship 2009

As a result of the generous support of the Premier, applications are invited for the Premier’s Agriculture Scholarship. All teachers currently teaching Agriculture in schools or TAFE NSW Institutes are eligible to apply.

The award is for a study in any aspect of Agricultural studies with special emphasis on Sustainable Agriculture It is anticipated that the successful applicant would spend up to five weeks involved in a study program. Teachers from government and non-government schools will need to negotiate relief with their employing authority. The recipient’s itinerary must be organised for travel to be completed by 30 June 2010.

Time need not be spent in formal study, but may involve a program of visits to schools and institutions to conduct interviews, observe exemplary practices and collect resources for the preparation of teaching materials related to environmental education. One scholarship of $15,000 will be awarded in 2009.

For further information on the scholarship and for an Application form, use this link to get the download: Premier's Agriculture Scholarship (doc)

Thinking about further study?

Discover all your graduate options at the University of Sydney.

The Graduate Options (GO) Expo is designed to provide all the information prospective students need to make an informed choice about further study at the University of Sydney.

Mini lectures and market-style booths manned by faculty academics will highlight all the options available to students including Honours, Graduate Entry programs, Postgraduate Coursework, PhD and other research opportunities.

All 16 faculties will be there on the day to provide one-on-one advice to students as they plan their further education and career pathways.

In our general information sessions, students can also find out more about the federal government’s FEE-HELP Scheme which allows students to study now and pay later.

Enjoy afternoon refreshments whilst networking with other professionals. Don't forget to bring your business cards to enter our competition with the chance to win a great prize, or just to exchange with new contacts.

For more information visit: www.usyd.edu.au/graduate_options

• What: The University of Sydney’s Graduate Options (GO) Expo.
• Where: The Main Quadrangle, Camperdown Campus, The University of Sydney.
• When: 3 September 2009 4pm-7pm.

CHRIS RUSSELL AT SYDNEY UNI EXPO

Media personality Chris Russell from the ABC's popular television series, "The New Inventors'' will be discussing the diverse career options available to postgraduate students in the exciting sector of Agricultural Science.

Chris graduated from the University of Sydney as an agricultural scientist and is a regular judge on the popular ABC program.

Don't miss this session!

• Where: Quadrangle S241, Main Campus
• When: 7pm - 7.30pm

• Cover Letter for teachers from Brony Nielsen (doc)
• Flyer for the Meat Judging Workshop (pdf)

VET Curriculum Writers – Call for Expressions of Interest

NB. Closing date Friday 20 March 2009

To assist with the management of syllabus development for Vocational Education and Training in 2009, the Office of the Board of Studies is updating its register of curriculum writers. This register will be used to select writers to undertake tasks at various stages of the year.

Projects for 2009 require writers with particular expertise in the following areas:

· Construction

· Primary Industries

People with expertise in writing syllabuses, support materials, samples or units of work and/or in the conduct of educational research are invited to submit an expression of interest in being on the register.
More information and expression of interest form

VET Curriculum writers expression of interest form

Published 10 March 2009
Submission of an expression of interest

The expression of interest form should be completed and submitted, along with the required supporting statements and documentation to:

Senior Project Officer, VET
Curriculum Branch
Office of the Board of Studies
GPO Box 533
SYDNEY NSW 2001

by Friday 20 March 2009.

Queries about this call for expressions of interest can be directed to:

Catherine Tucker

Principal Project Officer VET, Board of Studies NSW

catherine.tucker@bos.nsw.edu.au

phone (02) 9367 8175

* * * * *

Information courtesy of:

Stuart Hemmings

Professional Support Officer to the Regional Director,

New England

Suite 1, 11-15 Dowe Street (PO Box 368) TAMWORTH NSW 2340

T: 02 6755 5928 F: 02 6755 5935 M: 0417 247 851

E: stuart.hemmings@det.nsw.edu.au

NSW Public Schools - Leading the Way