en1996-2004 by Commonwealth of Australia. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document in whole or in part, provided it is done for educational and non-commercial purposes only and that this entire copyright notice remains attached.askedna@edna.edu.auhttp://api.edna.edu.au/headline.rssCross-sectoral education news aggregated by Education Network Australia (edna)http://www.edna.edu.auhttp://www.edna.edu.au/images/edna_online_logo.gifhttp://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Pages/EarlyChildhoodReforms.aspxThe Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed major early childhood reforms at its meeting on 2 July 2009, releasing the first national Early Childhood Development Strategy - Investing in the Early Years, and an Early Years Learning Framework. COAG also agreed to seek further public comment on a series of options to improve the quality of early childhood education and care in Australia. DEEWR, 3 July 2009.http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewRelease&id=5778&d=5Agreement was reached at the COAG meeting of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and State and Territory leaders in Darwin, in new areas including education, food security and Internet access for remote Indigenous communities, and importantly on having more comprehensive data collection to monitor and measure progress. NT Government, 2 July 2009.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Ellis/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_090630_151422.aspxIn partnership with the Salvation Army, the Australian Government is reaching out to young Australians, including many facing disadvantage and other significant challenges. The 'youTHINK: Your Say' event, held in more than 40 locations across Australia, encouraged young people to speak out on important issues and engage in conversations about practical solutions. DEEWR Media release, 30 June 2009.http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/home/news/cache/bypass?sector=latest&id=4048The VET E-portfolio Roadmap, a national strategic plan designed to support the diverse requirements for e-portfolios in vocational education and training (VET), has been released by the national training system's e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework). Developed from extensive research and national stakeholder consultations, the Roadmap aims to assist in the development of a national standards-based framework to support the use of e-portfolios across VET. Australian Flexible Learning Framework, 18 June 2009.http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25687602-15306,00.htmlLeading technology academics have warned that the rollout of communication infrastructure in the education revolution will be wasted if teachers do not know how to use it. "The technology is being provided, but what's potentially missing is the professional development for teachers to enable them to make the most of it," said Murdoch University's Cal Durrant, who researches how information technology is applied to teaching. The Australian IT, 25 June 2009.http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25686838-23289,00.htmlEach indigenous child should be given their own education fund to help keep them in school and avoid the path to prison. Education, along with greater diversion of indigenous offenders with drug and alcohol problems from the justice system into the health system, are the keys to stemming the rising tide of Aboriginal incarceration in Australia, says the Australian National Council on Drugs report "Bridges and Barriers" launched recently.http://www.jisc.ac.uk/Home/news/stories/2009/06/oer.aspxOpen Educational Resources (OER), funded by HEFCE and run by the Academy and JISC, aims to make a wide range of learning resources created by academics freely available, easily discovered and routinely re-used by both educators and learners. On June 24, 2009 the Higher Education Academy and JISC officially launched its Open Educational Resources programme, helping to drive open innovation across the UK. The announcement by David Lammy (UK Minister for Higher Education and IPR) to create an online innovation fund and the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP’s celebration of the Open University show the importance of accessing and opening up digital education resources.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/BIGSkills09/LatestNews/Pages/BIGSkillsConferenceproceedings.aspxThe BIG Skills Conference was held from 2-5 March, at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over 1000 delegates, from all over Australia and the world, participated. The key themes and messages from the conference included the role of skills and training in tough economic times, climate change and sustainability, and the changing tertiary education and training landscape in Australia. The conference proceedings CD including conference notes, presentations and key messages is available now, on email request.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_090617_121807.aspxUniversity of Melbourne has been selected to work with Teach for Australia to develop and run a national teacher education course for top graduates entering the teaching workforce. Through the initiative, high-calibre graduates from Australian universities will sign up for a unique and intensive two-year teaching placement in Australian schools. DEEWR Media release, 17 June 2009.http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/056A competitive selection process for digital education, health and emergency services in regional, rural and remote Australia will commence in the second half of 2009. The $60 million Digital Regions Initiative will ensure Australians living outside our major metropolitan centres enjoy the benefits of digital education, health and emergency services. Comments are invited from key stakeholders on the draft program guidelines for the Digital Regions Initiative. DBCDE, 15 June 2009.