Values Education Events and Activities

2009

Model UN Convention – Refugees: Rights & Risks

Model United Nations Conventions for senior secondary students (years 9–12) will be held at Werribee Secondary College on 28 July, 2009. The Convention will be run according to United Nations protocols and procedures. Students will represent different countries as they debate a resolution related to refugees from political, environmental, economic and social perspectives.

Email shaw.gary.r@edumail.vic.gov.au for further information.

Model UN Convention for teachers

A Model UN Convention for teachers will be held at Parliament House, Melbourne on Thursday 23 July.

The topic is - "Rewrite the Future: The Right of Every Child to Universal Education. 
CRT available, teams of three with up to one student. 

This event is open to primary and secondary teachers from government and non-government schools.

For further information see: Rewrite the Future: The right of every child to a universal education (PDF - 219Kb)

Values Education Teacher professional learning program

A teacher professional learning program in values-based education is being undertaken in six locations in 2009. Grants were made available to schools and networks to participate in the program designed to support the application of values education in the classroom. This includes the use of new resources, online materials and the latest research findings. Dates and venues for each regional program are as follows:

Geelong	Wed	1 April	Geelong Convention Centre
	Tues	22 July
Traralgon	Tues	12 May	Latrobe Convention Centre
	Fri	31 July
Mildura	Tues	1 Sept	Mildura Hotel
Melbourne	Wed	27 May	Wantirna
	Fri	7 Aug
Benalla	Tues	2 June	Rafferty’s Restaurant, Benalla
	Tues	8 Sept
Warrnambool	Mon	26 Oct

Please note that while the first day of this program is open to grant schools, day 2 is open to all teachers. This second day will be presented by teachers involved in the program.

Schools’ Constitutional Convention Program 2009

The School's Constitutional Convention Program involves the participation of senior secondary students in regional, state and national conventions. The Schools’ Constitutional Convention Program has been run for 12 years and culminates in a national convention held in Canberra each year. The Victorian State Convention will be held in Parliament House on 19 October 2009.  In Victoria around 10 conventions have been hosted by schools annually, drawing up to 100 participants each from neighbouring schools. Conventions are open to students from government and non-government schools.

Conventions offer the opportunity for students to discuss and debate contemporary social and political issues. These may relate to constitutional matters such as state and federal rights, refugee policy or anti-terrorism laws. Broader topics such as global warming, renewable energy or the rights of children have also been debated. Materials and support are available to schools that wish to host or participate in the program.

Please see below for the Regional Conventions Program 2009 locations, dates and topics.

School/Network	Proposed convention topic & date		Contact Person
Mater Christi College Belgrave	Human rights - what can young people do? 24 June 2009		Kate Jay jay_k@materchristi.edu.au
Genazzano FCJ Kew	Is the Australian Constitution relevant for the 21st century as a protector of democratic and human rights. During week 24 - 28 August		Robert Tassoni robert.tassoni@genazzano.vic.edu.au
Baimbridge College Hamilton	The politics of water. 23 July 2009		Rosemary Morgan morgan.rosemary.l@edumail.vic.gov.au
Mazenod College Mulgrave	The West Vs Bin Laden (A hunt for the truth). 11 August 2009		Huon Bertino hbertino@mazenod.vic.edu.au
St Columba's College Essendon	Youth leadership and local issues. 20 August 2009		Leo Twomey twomeyl@columba.vic.edu.au
Taylor Lakes Secondary School Taylor Lakes	It's time. Australia should become a republic. 20 July 2009		John Vithoulkas vithoulkas.john.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
Geelong Grammar School Corio	Youth leadership and local issues. Term 3		Geoff Gainey geoffg@ggs.vic.edu.au
Canterbury Girls' Secondary School Canterbury	A preamble to the constitution 24 July 2009		Helene Hiotis hiotis.helene.e@edumail.vic.gov.au
Caulfield Grammar Elwood	Australia in a globalised world: Where to in a global crisis? 18 May 2009		Michael Adcock michaeladcock@caulfieldgs.vic.edu.au
Elwood SC Southern	To be advised		Manny Kingsley kingsley.manny.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

For further information regarding participating in the Convention Program please email shaw.gary.r@edumail.vic.gov.au

Grants to schools for developing evidence-based practice in Civics and Citizenship Education

The Australian Government has funded a national project in each state and territory to foster and document evidence-based practice models in teaching Civics and Citizenship Education (CCE).

Grants have now closed for schools to participate in this program.

Schools will be reporting on the application of CCE during terms 2 and 3. These reports will be made available on-line at the completion of the project.

Values Education Mentoring Program

During Term 3 a small network of experienced educators / mentors will be able to provide advice and direction in using values education in your school. Drawing on the experience from the Values Education Good Practice Schools Project Stages 1 and 2 the Mentoring Program offers an avenue of practical support to schools. The mentors and their areas of expertise are:

Roger Holdsworth
email: rogermh@unimelb.edu.au – youth voice and participation, Student Action Teams, democratic classrooms

Bronwyn van Amerongen
email: spin.bron@gmail.com – student wellbeing and personal development, school change

Murtoa College
Jacq Moore, Karl Schier, email: schier.Karl.a@edumail.vic.gov.au and Anne Edgerton, email: edgerton.anne.I@edumail.vic.gov.au -Values Education Good Practice School Cluster Stage 2 – school change, teacher professional learning, student engagement

Melbourne Eastern Region Cluster
Sue Cahill, email: scahill@scbtemplestowe.catholic.edu.au
Judy Harris, email: jharris@sppdcstr.melb.catholic.edu.au - Values Education Good Practice School
Cluster Stage 1 & 2, Values in Action Schools Project 2009 – school change, teacher professional learning, Student Action Teams

St. Monica’s College
Catherine Devine, email: CATDEV@stmonicas-epping.com - Values Education Good Practice School Cluster Stage 2, Melbourne Intercultural and Interfaith Cluster, Socractic Circles

Ivanhoe Grammar School
Tim Bush, Director of World Studies, Ivanhoe Grammar School, email: timothy.bush@igs.vic.edu.au –international and global perspectives

 

For more information

Contact: Gary Shaw | ph: +61 3 9637 2031 | fax: +61 3 9637 2040 | shaw.gary.r@edumail.vic.gov.au