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Values Education Good Practice Schools Project – Stage 2: Final National Briefing Session

VEGPSP2 Final Briefing SessionThe final briefing session for the Values Education Good Practice Schools Project – Stage 2 (VEGPSP - 2) was held in Melbourne on 18–19 February, 2008.

Participants included: two representatives from each of the 25 clusters; University Associates Network (UAN) colleagues from 12 universities across Australia; eight State and Territory Values Education Contact Officers; representatives from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR); and the Curriculum Corporation (CC) Values Education Project Team.

The objectives of the briefing were to:

  • acknowledge, celebrate and provide feedback for the 25 VEGPSP - 2 cluster projects
  • inform participants of the latest international research in values education
  • provide an update on the Australian Government’s Values Education Initiative
  • explore CC perspectives on key messages gleaned from December 2007 cluster reports
  • share UAN perspectives on key learning from the cluster projects
  • share learnings from cluster projects about best practice values education so far
  • advise and support participants in implementing the final phase of their projects and the final development of cluster project reports for the Final Report.

 

Professor Terry LovatGuest speaker, Professor Terry Lovat, Professor of Education and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education and Arts) at Newcastle University, spoke about international developments in values education, especially in China, Africa, Russia, USA and the UK, and how the strength of the findings are pointing to whole new paradigms of learning that may change the role of teachers forever. He discussed how international research in values education is indicating improved academic and social outcomes for students.

Three members of UAN: Professor Judith Chapman, Australian Catholic University Victoria; Emeritus Professor Robert Crotty, University of South Australia; and Dr Alan Pritchard, University of Western Australia, presented Accounts of Good Practice at the briefing session based on their observations of the work of their VEGPSP – 2 clusters.

Values Education Good Practice Project – Stage 2 coordinators Marion MacKenzie, Sea and Vales Cluster, SA; Catherine Devine, Melbourne Interfaith and Intercultural Cluster, Victoria; and Rita Van Haren, Lanyon Cluster of Schools, ACT, presented an overview of their projects and discussed the positive changes that were happening in their school communities as a result of the schools’ involvement. These changes include improvement in student academic outcomes; the development of empathic character; the building of student resilience through a ‘whole child’ approach; and the development of understanding and inclusion across faiths and cultures.

Robyn, Carol and BelindaAfter more than 20 months of intense values education activity, the clusters will present their final reports to Curriculum Corporation in early April 2008. These reports, as well as the UAN Accounts of Good Practice, will form the basis of Curriculum Corporation’s Final Report to DEEWR about what constitutes evidence of good practice in values education.