The keynote speakers for Adelaide 2008 have been named.  They include:

Peter Kearns: ".........Peter has had a lifetime of experience working in education and training in a range of contexts, in Australia and overseas, as a teacher, public servant, and consultant. He has worked as a consultant since 1990.

In the Australia Public Service, he held Senior Executive Service positions in the Departments of Education and Territories, and in the ACT Administration in the field of education.He was involved in this capacity in the establishment of the ACT Vocational Training Authority and the development of modern training arrangements for the Territory......."

Angus McFarland: "......I am originally from the University of Sydney. At Sydney Uni I was the President of the Students’ Representative Council in 2007, and a Board Director of the University of Sydney Union in 2006......."

Klynton Wanganeen: ".........As the first Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement, Mr Klynton Wanganeen serves as a voice for the  Aboriginal community in South Australian Government. The Commissioner provides independent advice to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation on Aboriginal matters.........."

Sunday 26 to Tuesday 28 October 2008 to ­be held at the Hyatt Reg­ency Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia

Connecting Faces, Places and Spaces is the theme for the 2008 conference and will aim to create increased awareness, interest and engagement in the growth and development of sustainable learning communities across Australiasia.

This year’s conference is expected to attract a range of participants including members of Learning communities; community and economic development workers; business and government representatives; town planners; educators; environmentalists; researchers; academics; administrators; policy makers; and community volunteers.

For more information go to the official website.

These are a set of directions from the Adelaide Airport to the Hyatt Regency and thanks to our friends at Google a new Street View of the hotel as well.

­The ALCN Newsletter, Ripples November 2007 is now­ available on the Learning Community Catalyst website..

Some of the articles included in the newsletter are:

• Chisholm Students launch Websites ­
• Talking about Overseas Connections……
• “Connecting Faces, Places and Spaces”
• An Extract from the South Australian Community Learning Strategy­

­The ALCN Newsletter, Ripples August 2007 is now­ available on the Learning Community Catalyst website..

Some of the articles included in the newsletter are:

• Hunter - Central Coast Lifelong Learning Network.
• Lifework’s Australia
• Project: the impact of e-learning in rural communities
• Adult Learniing Australia­

We have now added two more documents to the vast resource library held online by the Learning Community Catalyst.

The first is the Partnerships Advancing Community report by Bill Unkles.  This report ".....provides a review of the four projects selected by Rotary to trial the PACE program. The review is based on interviews with a range of respondents associated with each of the projects. The first stage of the review was undertaken by Lois Bedson of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and involved a review of the progress in establishing the projects, a brief literature review and the  development of working arrangements with each of the project groups.  The final report is largely based upon consultations with a range of individuals associated with each project....."

 The second report is the Welfare to Work report by the Australian Institute for Social Research.  This report "....points to the importance of prevocational courses that address basic and remedial education needs, as well as offer personal support services. These courses provide entry into mainstream VET and, it is to be hoped, into jobs. The researchers concluded that, given its experience in promoting access and equity, the VET sector, particularly the technical and further education (TAFE) component, would be in a position to offer a pathway into work for the Welfare to Work target groups....."