AVETRA's 26th Annual Conference
"Impetus and Impact: Research that challenges and Shapes VET policy and practice"
will be held at the University of Technology Sydney
3 and 4 October 2024
Join us as we bring together leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to explore cutting-edge studies and dynamic solutions that redefine the future of VET. Engage with thought-provoking sessions, network with industry pioneers, and be part of the conversation that sets new standards in VET excellence.
PROGRAM THEME
Vocational Education & Training (VET)
Impetus and Impact: Research that Challenges and Shapes VET Policy and Practice
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Kangan Report, our conference theme calls for a reflective and forward-looking dialogue on the role of vocational education and training (VET) in shaping our economic and social landscapes, especially in the context of a more integrated tertiary sector. This theme is a call to action for educators, policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to share insights, challenges, and innovations. It celebrates research as a catalyst for significant educational and workforce development outcomes, offering a bridge from historical milestones to future aspirations. In celebrating the legacy of the Kangan Report, which championed rigorous research and academic distinction, we delve into the symbiotic relationship between empirical evidence and its practical implementation. This examination is particularly crucial to foster a more nuanced, evidence-driven understanding of vocational learning's potential to shape futures that acknowledges the unique characteristics and demands of VET.
KEynote speakers
Professor Barney Glover AO
Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia
Professor Barney Glover, AO, began his five-year term as Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia on 15 April 2024.
Professor Glover is a distinguished academic leader, an accomplished mathematician and mathematics educator with significant experience in developing strong relationships with the vocational education sector. He is well respected for his engagement with First Nations Australians and disadvantaged communities.
He was Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University for ten years, from 2014-24, and in 2019 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to tertiary education, professional associations and cultural organisations. In 2015, Professor Glover was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor for his outstanding leadership whilst Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University from 2009 to 2013.
Professor Glover previously held the roles of:
- Chair of Universities Australia (2015-2017)
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at the University of Newcastle
- Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Development at Curtin University
Professor Glover is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE), a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW (FRSN), and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).
He has served on the boards of a diverse range of corporate organisations and several state and national centres covering areas such as health and medical research, energy, mineral exploration, and telecommunications.
Adjunct Professor Bob Boughton
University of New England
Bob Boughton is an Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of New England in Armidale NSW. From 2009 until 2020, he was the academic lead on a longitudinal study of the conduct and impact of mass literacy campaigns in First Nations communities. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Foundation Skills Advisory Group to the Commonwealth Minister for Skills and Training.
Kira Clarke
Brotherhood of St Laurence
Kira Clarke is a Principal Research Fellow in Education, Skills & Training in the Social Policy and Research Centre (SPaRC) at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL), where she leads the organisation’s education and training policy, research and strategy work.
Prior to joining BSL in February 2020, Kira was a Lecturer in Education Policy within the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne. As a national expert in vocational education and training policy, particularly as it relates to youth transitions and young people, Kira led the widely cited Entry to Vocations study of VET in Schools (2012–14) for NCVER, and co-led two research studies (2014–15, 2015–17) funded through the competitive National Vocational Education and Training Research (NVETR) program and in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, examining the role of the vocational education for early school leavers. Kira’s current program of work includes leading the education and training research and policy work of the National Youth Employment Body (NYEB), a national alliance of people and organisations working to advance youth skills and employment in Australia, for which BSL is the enabling organisation. Kira is the current President of the Australasian Vocational Education and Research Association (AVETRA) and Victorian co-convener of WAVE (Women in Adult & Vocational Education).
BECOME AN AVETRA SPONSOR
Reach the leading researchers, VET practitioners and leaders, education policy makers and representatives from industry, unions and employers in Australia and New Zealand. Position your company as an advocate and thought leader in the sector.
Contact our Chair Linda Simon via AVETRA for more information.
AVETRA
AVETRA
24 is organised by the Australasian Vocational Education and Training Research
Association (AVETRA), with the support of FineHaus
Telephone
AVETRA Secretariat
+61 3 3 8658 6641