News

Refocusing Vocational Training in Victoria

Wed, 23 May 2012 05:59:00 GMT

Changes, focussing on quality and industry growth, are being made to the vocational education and training (VET) system. The Victorian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system is changing. Reforms to the system will ensure that VET is high quality and that consumers will have better information and choice about their training. Through engagement with industry the system also supports the creation of skilled job-ready employees for the Victorian workforce. For further information please visit the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Victorian Senior of the Year 2012

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:06:00 GMT

Nominations are now open for the Victorian Senior of the Year 2012 which provides an ideal opportunity to recognise and celebrate the significant contributions of people aged 60 and over to their community and state.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Premier's Award for Victorian Senior of the Year
Healthy and Active Living Award
Promotion of Multiculturalism Award
Veteran Community Award

You can nominate on-line at www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au or call 1300 135 090 (local call cost) for a nomination form.

If you require further information, call 1300 135 090

Spanner In The Works

Fri, 04 May 2012 05:56:00 GMT

Spanner In The Works

Benella Health in partnership with Mansfield Community Education Centre and The Australian Men's Shed Association are holding a free mens health checkup session at The Men's Community Shed on Friday June 15 from 10am until 2pm. Has it been a long time since you had your last checkup? If so why not pop along and take advantage of this free service.

U2Uni: $3.19 million dollar partnership to increase university access to local students

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:27:00 GMT

A partnership project developed by Mansfield Adult Continuing Education (MACE) and Swinburne University will receive $2,231,256 in Victorian Government funding to increase access and boost the quality of higher education and training for students in the Hume Region.

The U2Uni project involves the development of a Facilitated Online Regional Learning Model to provide students with access to a three-tiered degree program. This program will provide multiple pathways and include tertiary transition skills and will work through Learn Local organisations throughout the Hume Region.

The aim of the project is to engage 60 learners into a higher education qualification in 2012 with a further 80 in 2013.

The funding is part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million Regional Partnership Facilitation Fund designed to increase alliances between universities and Vocational Education and Training providers in rural and regional Victoria.

Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall said the facilitation fund delivered on the government’s commitment to increase educational opportunities and quality education for rural and regional students.
“ I am pleased to announce Swinburne University and Mansfield Adult Continuing Education are working together to deliver this great new program.”
“Access to tertiary education and the opportunities it offers are important to Victoria’s ongoing social and economic development.”

MACE Chief Executive Officer Paul Sladdin welcomed the announcement saying that it is a great achievement for the organisation and would strengthen the existing relationship it has with Swinburne University.
“Earlier this year we announced the signing of an agreement which allows students completing diplomas at MACE be able to use as credit towards a degree at Swinburne.”
“The U2Uni project provides options for students to choose from a range of diploma study areas and upon completion they can pathway to an associate degree and then onto the third year of a bachelor program.”

Mr Sladdin said data showed young people in regional Victoria had fallen behind their metropolitan counterparts in a number of key areas, including attaining a higher education qualification and enrolment at university.
“In 2010 the school university participation rate for students in the Hume Region was 25% against a state average of 41%. With the facilitated online learning component of the U2Uni project students can enrol and study here in Mansfield or wherever they live in the region. We believe this will assist us in our aim of increasing the regional participation rate.”

Further details will be released in January 2012.

Learning English the easier way

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:36:00 GMT

High Country Library Corporation (HCLC) in conjunction with MACE recently launched its latest online project IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

IELTS is considered the world’s most reliable indicator of true-to-life ability to communicate in English. A group of non-English speaking students, already taking classes through MACE, were the first to try the system.

MACE Community Services Co-ordinator Elin Ree said the IELTS program has relevance for, and complements existing literacy programs at MACE, in particular the English literacy group.
“Community members are welcome to access all literacy programs and the IELTS website at the Mansfield Community Education Centre,” Ms Ree said.

Skilled migrants wishing to obtain State Government sponsored visas must demonstrate an understanding of the English language and this is assessed using IELTS.

The website, accessed through the library website www.hclc.vic.gov.au offers more than 120 hours of interactive training sessions that cover the four test areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

There are two levels of training, an academic module and a general training module, which are delivered at no cost to the user.

For more information about 'The Road to IELTS' contact the Mansfield Library on (03) 5775 2178.