the latest edition

Issue 4
Date May 2014
Message from Lee Prince
Convenor, 26TEN Coalition
Welcome to another newsletter – and there are
quite a few changes to report – new Coalition
members and staff and farewell to Jane Forward,
Pip Hankin and Janet Parsell who did so much to
get 26TEN off to a fine start.
We look forward to keeping in touch with Jane as
she waves the 26TEN flag in Devonport, and with
Pip and Janet who have returned to their roles in
LINC Online and the LINC central literacy team.
The Coalition is strengthened by the appointments
of Mary Bent, Allan Garcia and Royce Fairbrother
whose skills and expertise in the fields of health,
local communities, government and business are
already seeing us move in new directions. Paul
Murphy – Acting Deputy Secretary, Skills
Community International and Education Services
has also been appointed as an ex-officio member.
We welcome Robin Black to the position of
Manager 26TEN Strategy. Robin has spent the last
3 years at Bridgewater LINC establishing the
service with a strong focus on literacy provision.
We are so pleased to have the benefit of her
energy, experience and commitment as we build
26TEN networks.
It’s hard to believe that we’re already reviewing
action plans with 26TEN members who joined
more than a year ago. Siobhan and Janet have
been talking with Nyrstar and Metro, Robin with
Mission – sharing ideas and experiences and
getting some good ideas for the coming year.
We look forward to catching up with all members
soon.
Adult Literacy Service Providers continue to meet
and help with social media, communications and
particularly with the referral process for learners.
Best wishes
Lee
1300 00 2610
www.26ten.tas.gov.au
Dates to Remember
2-3 June
Skills Tas Conference
West Point Conference Centre
www.skills.tas.gov.au/skillstas/conference
6 June
Collective Impact Practitioners Forum
C3 Convention Centre, South Hobart
http://tascollectiveimpact.eventbrite.com.au
23 June
26TEN Grants Program: community
stream opens June 23 and closes July 25
In 2014 the work of 26TEN is focussing
on 3 messages:
•
•
•
Everyone knows (about adult literacy)
Everyone is supported (to improve their
skills)
Everyone communicates clearly.
New faces on the 26TEN strategy team
are:
Robin Black, Manager 6165 5513
Allison Mitchell, Services Coordinator 6165 5512
Christina Roscoe, Operations Coordinator
6165 5514
Contribution Recognised
Free Literacy Awareness and Plain
English workshops in 2014
Literacy Awareness and Plain English
workshops are now available across Tasmania.
The workshops are free and aim to raise
community awareness of adult literacy and
promote and increase the use of plain
English.
There has been an increasing demand for
workshops in government business and the
community sectors. 26TEN workshops are for
anyone who wants to be more aware of adult
literacy and who wants to communicate
information to others more clearly.
In November it was announced that Jane
Forward was the winner of the 2013 RBF
Department of Education Award for Leadership
and Cultural Change
Jane was a driving force in LINC Tasmania’s role
in implementing the Tasmanian Adult Literacy
Action Plan. In her role as Manager Literacy
Services she made a significant contribution to
cultural and business change as LINC Tasmania
evolved.
Jane established the statewide network of 23
Literacy coordinators. She coordinated the
development, highly successful launch and
growth of the 26TEN brand and strategy.
Jane promoted the cause of adult literacy and its
importance through briefings and presentations
to business, community groups and government
agencies.
Well done Jane and thank you.
1300 00 2610
www.26ten.tas.gov.au
The newly shaped workshops are now
available in 2 formats –
•
1 hour introductory session or
•
3.5 hour short course.
If you would like to book a 26TEN Literacy
Awareness or Plain English Workshop in 2014,
please contact the support team at
[email protected] or call
Christina on 6165 5514
Literacy lowdown in the West
A 26TEN Project!
Seven volunteers at the West Coast Hub in
Queenstown are studying units from Certificate 4
in Community Services with TasTafe, which
equips them with the skills to be adult literacy
tutors. This will mean that the Hub will be able to
provide more one-on-one literacy tutoring.
An innovative idea to engage literacy
clients
“They freely give their time to work with community
members who want to improve their reading,
writing and numeracy skills” Ms Buggy said.
The tutors come from a variety of backgrounds
and the Hub matches them with students who will
work well together.
The West Coast Hub is looking for more literacy
tutor volunteers to help share the gift of learning.
LINC Tasmania hosted a small photographic
display showing contributions made by nine
families to a 26TEN research project and
literacy and museums.
The families were recruited from Mission
Australia Language and Literacy classes and
the Hobart Women’s shelter.
Some arrived in Australia as refugees or from
the mainland whilst others were born in
Tasmania. Families visited the Tasmanian
Museum and Art Gallery or MONA.
Literacy is more than just reading a book, as
important as that is. Adults and children use
technology, solve problems and communicate
with each other in their day-to-day literacy
practices.
For this project everyone brought their own
literacy skills and experiences into the museum
and art gallery mix
At the Hub in Queenstown are (front from left)
literacy co-ordinator Susan Buggy, TasTAFE
teacher Jane Sheppherd, Janine Fahey, Colin
Laing (back from left) Marily Ridsdale, Barbara
Gruner and Dianne Coon.
Remember to join us on Facebook
today!
Join in and share our Facebook page with your
friends…and show that you like us by posting
your comments and keeping in touch.
1300 00 2610
www.26ten.tas.gov.au
News from Skills Tasmania
For people getting forklift and crane licences
Workforce Development
There has been a significant change in the
regulatory requirements for high risk licences (such
as forklift, crane, scaffolding, rigging and dogging)
including an assessment framework and tools that
are not literacy friendly and present a challenge to
the English comprehension skills of a high
proportion of the students. This program offers just
in time support to help students get their licence.
At the heart of any language, literacy and numeracy
(LLN) program is a strong and appropriately skilled
workforce. Skills Tasmania and LINC Tasmania are
working with the LLN community to develop a 3 - 5
year workforce plan for adult literacy. Escalier
McLean are leading this project and have prepared
a discussion paper. You are invited to make a
written response to the paper (by 2 June). (Read
more)
LLN Support
Lots of training requires specific literacy skills. So
does being the successful applicant for an
apprenticeship or traineeship. Just that bit of extra
support from an experienced LLN teacher can
make all the difference. Skills Tasmania is funding
several programs that offer this support.
For apprentices and trainees
The Additional Tutorial Assistance Program
provides specific LLN support to apprentices and
trainees at all registered training organisations
(RTOs) who are at risk of not finishing their
apprenticeship because of a gap in their literacy
skills. If you are having problems or know of
someone in this situation, let your RTO know and
they’ll make sure you get the assistance you need.
For applicants for an apprenticeship
Getting There provides support to unsuccessful
applicants for an apprenticeship and traineeship
with a Group Training Organisation. The aim is to
equip them to be successful the next time. The
focus is often on resume writing and interview
techniques. This project also provides support to
people in the Commonwealth Access Program (run
through Job Search Agencies).
1300 00 2610
www.26ten.tas.gov.au
Grants for Communities
UPDATE
This grant stream was originally intended to open
on 3 March 2014 and close on 26 March
2014. However, the election required the
suspension of the program release. The revised
opening date of the grant round is Monday June 23.
Applications will close on July 25. To stay up to
date with 26TEN grants program news, including
this round of community grants, please sign up to
the 26TEN email news updates, if you haven’t
already done so.
1300 00 2610
www.26ten.tas.gov.au
Thanks to Tim Tierney for making available his article from the Law letter earlier this year.
It has lots of helpful tips for engaging with clients who may have low levels of literacy.
1300 00 2610
www.26ten.tas.gov.au

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