Governmentality and 'fearless speech': framing the education of asylum seeker and refugee children in Australia

This paper considers the educational provision for, and general treatment of, refugee and asylum seeker children in Australia, using a framework of governmentality. The paper describes the regimes of practices which govern refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, including mandatory detention and a complex set of visa categorisations, and considers their consequences for the educational provision for children. It addresses three questions: How is it possible that the rights of children have been rendered invisible in and by a democratic state? How are repressive and even violent practices normalised in a liberal state, so that ordinary citizens show so little concern about them? And what should our response be as educators and intellectuals? In conclusion, it explores Foucault's notions of ethics and fearless speech (parrhesia) as a basis for an ethics of engagement in education.

Looking back at 100 years of physiotherapy education in Australia

The authors provide a brief overview of the major landmarks in physiotherapy education and celebrate some of the visionary physiotherapy leaders who have made a significant contribution to physiotherapy education in Australia. (non-author abstract)

Vehicle routing and crew scheduling for metropolitan mail distribution at Australia Post

This paper presents a new multi-depot combined vehicle and crew scheduling algorithm, and uses it, in conjunction with a heuristic vehicle routing algorithm, to solve the intra-city mail distribution problem faced by Australia Post. First we describe the Australia Post mail distribution problem and outline the heuristic vehicle routing algorithm used to find vehicle routes. We present a new multi-depot combined vehicle and crew scheduling algorithm based on set covering with column generation. The paper concludes with a computational investigation examining the affect of different types of vehicle routing solutions on the vehicle and crew scheduling solution, comparing the different levels of integration possible with the new vehicle and crew scheduling algorithm and comparing the results of sequential versus simultaneous vehicle and crew scheduling, using real life data for Australia Post distribution networks.

Post-acute burns education via videoconference for occupational therapists in Queensland

For over five years, post-acute burns care for children in regional areas of Queensland has been provided by videoconference. Some 300 specialist burns consultations are conducted by videoconference annually. To support regional health professionals, particularly occupational therapists who play an integral role in the local management of these children, we have instigated a series of monthly education sessions via videoconference. The sessions have addressed a broad range of topics related to the long-term management of children following a burn injury. During the first six months, up to 22 regional sites participated in multipoint videoconferences. The average number of participants per videoconference was 39 and the average duration of each session was 67 min. Participant satisfaction was measured with a routine survey completed by each site at the conclusion of the videoconference. The survey response rate was 88% (n = 95) and overall feedback was extremely positive. 96% of respondents agreed that the programme provided them with new information and that the content was relevant (95%) and of appropriate depth (84%). The educational programme has provided valuable support to a group of professionals who are taking on greater responsibility for the clinical management of children requiring post-acute burns care.

Post-Fordism, the welfare state and the personal social services: A comparison of Australia and Britain

The Post-Fordist welfare state thesis locates contemporary social welfare change within a wider analysis of the transformation of capitalist accumulation regimes. Whilst this analysis is useful in directing attention to macro socio-economic change, it has for the most part contained three shortcomings. First, the Post-Fordist thesis has overemphasized the role of historical 'breaks' in the development of social welfare as it purportedly passes from Fordism to Post-Fordism. Second, the thesis has assumed a degree of convergence between welfare states as a result of global economic forces. In doing so, it has underemphasized the mediating impact of existing institutional arrangements within nations. Third, the thesis has assumed, rather than demonstrated, the specific changes which are alleged to be taking place in various fields of social welfare. As a consequence, aspects of continuity in social welfare have been neglected. These three lacunae are addressed through a comparative analysis of developments in the personal social services in Australia and Britain. Services to older people are employed as the specific context of comparison in relation to three dimensions of measuring transformation along a Post-Fordist trajectory: a shift from a unitary economy to a mixed economy of service provision; changes in the model of service delivery and consumption; and strengthening the governance function of the central state. This comparative analysis suggests the need for refinement of the Post-Fordist welfare state thesis concerning the restructuring of social welfare and its impact on the personal social services.

Middle Schooling Teacher Education: Where are we at in Australia?

Commonwealth and State bodies have made substantial investments into curriculum initiatives, research, and reform with a focus on middle schooling. To a considerable degree, the success of middle schooling is dependent upon teachers' preparedness to enact and embrace initiatives and research. Research has shown that the success of school improvement and reform initiatives hinges, in large part, on the qualifications and effectiveness of teachers (Killion, 1999; Garet, Porter, Desimone, Birman, & Yoon, 2001). While some research and professional development in Australia has targeted the school site, pre-service teacher education is clearly a vital yet under-researched area due to its relatively recent introduction. Recent research that includes middle years teacher education (MYTE) (Killion, 1999; Mertens & Flowers, 2004; NCES 2001; NMSA, 2003) and reports from a system that has been working with middle schooling for some time indicates that teachers need specific teacher preparation before they enter the middle level classroom and continuous professional development as they pursue their careers. In Turning Points 2000, one of the seven recommendations is to staff middle grades schools with teachers who are expert at teaching young people in their middle years, and engage teachers in ongoing, targeted professional development opportunities (Jackson & Davis, 2000). Given there are now two dedicated programs towards MYTE (Edith Cowan University and The University of Queensland), other institutions containing elements of MYTE, and others considering MYTE this symposium will summarise current initiatives and research in MYTE, critique the state and place of MYTE in Australia and begin discussions towards teacher education programs that improve the efficacy of middle schooling.