Foundation Skills Workforce Development Project

Foundation Skills Workforce Development Project

Foundation Skills Champions’ Network

Expression of Interest

The Foundation Skills Champions’ Network is an initiative to support the implementation of priority actions from the National Foundation Skills Strategy for Adults. The aim of the Champions’ Network is to raise the profile of foundation skills practitioners and their value within the wider VET workforce by providing an opportunity for foundation skills practitioners to lead national conversations and share knowledge and advice.

Expected roles of Champions

• Support project team for the development of the FSWD e-Newsletter
• Facilitate the development of creative approaches in LLN integrated theory and practice
• Collaborate across States/Territories to build sustainable ‘community of practice’
• Advocate promote, disseminate information and raise awareness of the causes and activities of the Project, in particular, connect industry, individuals and community
• Work with jurisdictions, through the Project Steering Committee, to provide advice on foundation skills activities, in particular activities to support the national priority areas in the Strategy.

Expected time commitment

Participation in the Foundation Skills Champions’ Network will involve one face to face workshop, ongoing communication and sharing of good practices within the Network and with relevant stakeholders. Timing of participation in Network activities will be flexible to accommodate members’ other commitments.

Criteria

Expressions of interest are sought from foundation skills practitioners who meet the following criteria:

• actively involved in the delivery and assessment of foundation skills, or the design of foundation skills learning and assessment programs (foundation skills programs may be stand-alone or integrated into other vocational or community training and education)
• recommended by a key stakeholder organisation as having the connections and capacity to advocate, promote and disseminate information in support of the National Foundation Skills Strategy for Adults to specific audiences
• willing to be identified as a source of information and advice on aspects of foundation skills workforce development
• capable of leading online discussion and knowledge sharing around a specific aspect of foundation skills in relation to building the capability of the education and training workforce
• able to participate in an initial face-to-face workshop to be held in Adelaide on Monday 26th August and Tuesday 27th August 2013. Reasonable travel and accommodation costs will be met by the project.

Expressions of interest will be considered by a selection panel comprising members of the Foundation Skills Workforce Development Project Steering Committee. The selection panel will select approximately 12 - 15 Champions to form the Foundation Skills Champions’ Network. Champions will be selected with a view to establishing a networkthat includes participation from:

• every State and Territory
• regional and metropolitan environments
• a diversity of providers – public/private/enterprise RTOs, large/small, VET/ACE, LLNP/WELL/integrated programs.

An aim of the Champions’ Network will be to both recognise the expertise of experienced foundation skills practitioners and develop the skills and knowledge of relatively new foundation skills practitioners. For this reason, expressions of interest are encouraged from both new and experienced practitioners who are keen to network nationally and to share their knowledge with the broader education and training field.

Submission:

Expressions of interest should be submitted by email to Jane Newton () by COB Monday 22ndJuly.

Enquiries:

Wing-Yin Chan-Lee, Project Manager, m 0434 078 675, e

Expression of Interest: Foundation Skills Champions’ Network

Foundation skills practitioner details

Your expression of interest should be no more than 300 words in total and address each of the following four points.

Please note that there is no right answer, we are looking for a diversity of network participants including those with extensive experience and those relatively new to the foundation skills field.

1. Provide two reasons why you would benefit professionally from being involved in the network.

1. Describe your current involvement in networks (formal or informal) or initiatives that are relevant to the work of the Foundation Skills Champions’ Network.

1. Outline your commitment to building awareness and understanding of foundation skills among the broader education and training workforce.

1. Indicate whether you have had any experience leading, or participating in, online communication forums.

Recommendation by key stakeholder

The expression of interest must be endorsed and submitted by one of the following stakeholder organisations.

FSWD Project Foundation Skills Champions’ Network EOI 0907131

• State or Territory Training Authority
• Australian Council for Adult Literacy
• Australian WELL Practitioners’ Network
• Adult Learning Australia
• TAFE Access Education Leaders’ Network
• Australia TESOL Teachers Association (ACTA)
• Industry Skills Council
• Ai Group
• Australian Council for Private Education and Training
• Enterprise RTO Association

FSWD Project Foundation Skills Champions’ Network EOI 0907131

Please ensure that the table below is completed by a representative from the stakeholder organisation.

Terms of Reference for the Foundation Skills Champions’ Network

Background

The Foundation Skills Champions’ Network is a component of the Foundation Skills Workforce Development (FSWD) project. The FSWD project has been established and funded under the auspices of the National Senior Official Committee (NSOC) to support the implementation of priority actions from the National Foundation Skills Strategy for Adults (the Strategy) during 2013. The FSWD project reports to NSOC and the Standing Council on Tertiary Education Skills and Employment (SCOTESE).

Through a collaborative approach the FSWD project will support jurisdictions in working towards the Strategy target that, by 2022, two thirds of working age Australians will have literacy and numeracy skills at Level 3 or above. The Foundation Skills Champions’ Network is one of a number of integrated actions that the FSWD project will scope, design and implement to address Priority Area Four in the Strategy: to build the capacity of the education and training workforce to deliver foundation skills.

Project Overview

The Foundation Skills Champions’ Network will raise the profile of foundation skills practitioners and their value within the wider education and training workforce. The Champions’ Network will:

• provide professional development for network members
• inform and guide FSWD project activities
• enable national sharing of good practice
• advocate, promote and disseminate information that supports the objectives of the Foundation Skills Workforce Development (FSWD) project and the National Foundation Skills Strategy for Adults (the Strategy).

Project Governance

The FSWD Project Steering Committee will oversee the establishment and operation of the Foundation Skills Champions’ Network. The Steering Committee is responsible for:

• approving the Network project plan, EOI process and terms of reference
• selecting Network participants.

The FSWD project team, managed by TAFE SA, will support and facilitate the establishment and operation of the Foundation Skills Champions’ Network. The project team is responsible for:

• liaising with endorsing organisations and potential Network members throughout the EOI process
• organising and facilitating all aspects of the initial workshop and other Network events
• supporting Network communication processes
• facilitating Network member participation in professional development workshops
• assisting with the establishment and operation of a Champions’ e-Newsletter promoting the Network and the Champions via FSWD project communications
• reporting on Network operation and outcomes to the Steering Committee.

Foundation Skills Champions’ Network

Membership

The Network will comprise approximately 12 - 15 foundation skills practitioners, who can be described throughout the FSWD project as ‘Foundation Skills Champions’. The Network will include participation from:

• every State and Territory
• regional and metropolitan environments
• a diversity of providers – public/private/enterprise RTOs, large/small, VET/ACE, LLNP/WELL/integrated programs.

Foundation Skills Champions will be selected to participate in the Network by a selection panel comprising members of the FSWD Project Steering Committee. All Foundation Skills Champions will be endorsed by an identified FSWD project stakeholder organisation. These organisations are:

• State or Territory Training Authority
• Australian Council for Adult Literacy
• Australian WELL Practitioners’ Network
• Adult Learning Australia
• TAFE Access Education Leaders’ Network
• Industry Skills Council
• Ai Group
• Australian Council for Private Education and Training
• Enterprise RTO Association
• Australia TESOL Teachers Association (ACTA)

Roles

The Foundation Skills Champions’ Network will provide a professional development opportunity for Network members. The Network, and individual Network members, will:

• advocate, promote and disseminate information that supports the objectives of the FSWD project and the Strategy
• provide input into FSWD project planning and activities, including participation in professional development workshops
• lead online discussion and knowledge sharing around various aspects of foundation skills in relation to building the capacity of the education and training workforce.

Communication Processes

The Foundation Skills Champions’ Network will use an initial face-to-face workshop in August 2013 to establish ongoing communication processes. These will include:

•communication between Network members – both individually and as a group – using phone, email, teleconferencing, file sharing and online forums

•regular communication with the FSWD Project Team

•development and sharing of good practices within the Network and other relevant stakeholders.

FSWD Project Foundation Skills Champions’ Network EOI 0907131