Australian academic and professional groups and associations

• Australian Association for Research in Education
• Australian College of Education
• Australian Council for Educational Research
• Curriculum Corporation
• HERDSA - Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia

Vocational Education - Adult Education

• Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association
• Eucation Network Australia
• National Centre for Vocational Education
• Vocational Education and Assessment Centre
  

Educational Technology and Online Learning

• ASCILITE
• Australian Council for Computers in Education
• The Australian Society for Educational Technology
• Open Learning Australia
• Queensland Open Learning Network

Education in the Social Sciences and Humanities

• Australian Academy of the Humanities
• Australian Sociological Association

Education - General

Australian Association for Research in Education

AARE is an association of persons interested in fostering educational research in Australia. AARE facilitates contact between educational researchers and encourages and actively lobbies for development of all aspects of educational research. AARE assists members with educational research by:

1. conducting an Annual Conference ,
2. conducting Research Training Workshops,
3. supporting the formation of Special Interest Groups,
4. and publishing General Publications and Specific Professional Publications..

Ruth Jeffery
Telephone: +61 03 5964 9296
Facsimile: +61 03 5964 9586
Email: aare@aare.edu.au

Australian College of Education

The Australian College of Education is a national professional association of those involved in the education profession. The College was founded in May l959 and aims to foster educational thought and practice through:

• Promoting the ideals of the education profession
• Providing a forum for discussion of ideas, research, policies, and practice in education
• Acting as a meeting ground for all those engaged in the educating process
• Recognising excellence in educating practice
• Providing access to specialist publication

E-mail: ace@austcolled.com.au
Telephone: + 61 2 6281 1677
Facsimile: + 61 2 6285 1262

Australian Council for Educational Research

As a national body, ACER is uniquely placed to monitor emerging priorities and issues and to undertake commissioned research to inform educational policy and practice.Because ACER is a private not-for-profit company, it brings an independent, objective perspective to the research. ACER is fiercely protective of its independent status. ACER takes pride in its long history and reputation. It was founded in 1930, pre-dating most universities and almost all professional educational associations in Australia.

In recent years ACER has undertaken major research in such areas as:

1. curricula and school structures in postcompulsory education
2. the transition for education to work
3. problem solving and critical thinking
4. teacher education and teacher's work assessment and reporting.

Curriculum Corporation

Curriculum Corporation works in the education sector and is owned by all Australian State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers of Education. The company develops products and services to help schools improve student learning. It is the premier national organisation providing curriculum support to schools and school systems.

TeleTelephone: +61 3 9207 9600
Facsimile: +61 3 9639 1616

HERDSA - Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia

HERDSA was formed in 1972 to bring together teachers, research workers, administrators, people working in educational services and anyone interested in promoting reseach and development in tertiary education. Its membership covers a very wide range of interests linked by a common concern for the study and enhancement of the quality of teaching and learning in tertiary education in Australia and New Zealand.

HERDSA produces a series of Green and Gold Guides to provide ideas and pointers on tertiary teaching practice.

E-mail: herdsa.office@effect.net.au
TeleTelephone.: +61 2 6253 4242
Facsimile: +61 2 6253 4246

Vocational Education - Adult Education

Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association

AVETRA is Australia's only national, independent association for research in vocational education and training, brings together research stakeholders and researchers from the TAFE, university, industry and government sectors.

Karen Whittingham
Tel: +61 2 9209 4050
Facsimile: + 2 9209 4054

Education Network Australia

National Centre for Vocational Education Research

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is Australia's national vocational education and training research and development centre. NCVER is also responsible for the collection of national vocational education and training statistics and for managing employer, student and graduate surveys relating to vocational education and training outcomes and performance. NCVER is a registered company, limited by guarantee and owned by Australian ministers responsible for vocational education and training. NCVER is managed by a board of eight members, who represent industry, business, unions, training authorities and governments. NCVER is in the business of providing research, evaluation, statistical and other information to a wide range of stakeholders interested in the development of a world-class vocational education and training system in Australia. In carrying out this role, NCVER is committed to achieving continous improvement and quality standards based on world-class business practice.

E-mail: actncver@act.ncver.edu.au (Canberra)
E-mail: :ncver@ncver.edu.au (Adelaide)

Vocational Education and Assessment Centre

The Vocational Education and Assessment Centre (VEAC) is one of Australia’s foremost research centres in vocational education and training (VET). Operating within Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE, it is a leader in research, resource development and training for teachers and assessors. Its clients and project partners include educational institutions, companies, industry organisations and government agencies. VEAC is also a partner with the University of Melbourne in the Centre for Vocational Assessment Research (CVAR), an ANTA-supported national centre, and is CVAR’s Sydney office.

E-mail: veac@det.nsw.edu.au
Telephone (02) 9448 4558
Facsimile (02) 9448 4560

Educational Technology and Online Learning

ASCILITE - Australian Society for Computers In Learning In Tertiary Education

  ASCILITE is a society for professionals in post-secondary computer-based education and training. The purposes for which the Society is established are:

1. to assist and advance educational uses of computers and allied technology in Australian universities, institutes of technical and further education and post-secondary educational groups in the public service, industry and commerce;
2. to create a professional association of those engaged in such educational use of technology and foster their professional interests and facilitate their professional development;
3. to provide a forum for those interested in educational use of computer technology to stimulate discussion of relevant issues;
4. to facilitate improvement of professional practice in the use of computer technology in tertiary education;
5. to promote and encourage research and evaluation related to the educational use of computer technology in tertiary education; and

to promote co-operation and liaison with other groups and organisations which have complementary purposes and activities

E-mail: Info@ASCILITE.org.au
Telephone: +61 2 4221 4895
Facsimile: +61 2 4225 8312

Australian Council for Computers in Education

ACCE is an Australian body whose members are the State Computer Education Groups and the Australian Computer Society (ACS). ACCE is affiliated with the International Society for Technology Educators (ISTE), International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and the Technology Education Federation of Australia (TEFA). This web site connects Australian teachers to their state professional associations and describes the activities and resources of the national body. Be an active member of your state association.

E-mail: veac@det.nsw.edu.au
Telephone: +61 2 9448 4558
Facsimile: +61 2 9448 4560

The Australian Society for Educational Technology -

ASET is the national organisation for people with professional interests in educational technology. These pages will inform you about our society and its activities.

Educational Technology is defined by ASET as the design, development, implementation and evaluation of systems, methods and materials to achieve effective outcomes and improve the process of human learning.

The objects of the Society are:

1. To foster thought, theory, research and standards of practice in the field of educational technology.
2. To provide leadership in promoting the principles and practices of educational technology, its application and outcomes in various educational and training environments.
3. To provide for a fellowship of persons with interests in educational technology and a forum to exchange, question and promote ideas or practices within the field of educational technology.
4. To act as a clearing house for the collection and dissemination of information, ideas and research into educational technology.
5. To support the publication of materials.
6. To co-operate with international, interstate and local bodies with similar objects to those of the Society.

E-mail : asetnat@cleo.murdoch.edu.au
Telephone : +61 2 9739 2142
Facsimile : +61 2 9739 2281

Open Learning Australia

Open Learning Australia (OLA) is an innovative education venture offering all Australians, regardless of age, location or educational qualifications, the opportunity to study university and TAFE units leading to diplomas, degrees and other qualifications.

Open Learning Australia involves the collaboration of 29 Australian universities and TAFE colleges, many of which offer students pathways to some of their certificates, diplomas and degrees. OLA is also assisted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation which broadcasts, and in some instances produces, a range of television and radio programs which complement many OLA units.

Open Learning Australia has no entry requirements and no limit on places. It offers students the flexibility of studying in any or all of four study periods each year and also allows them to pick and choose units without any requirement that they complete a whole course or qualification.

E-mail the most appropriate member of the staff
TeleTelephone: +61 3 9903 8900
Facsimile: +61 3 9903 8966

Learning Network Queensland

The Queensland Open Learning Network (QOLN) is an initiative of the Queensland Government to meet the education and training needs of tertiary institutions, industry, business and government. QOLN has considerable resources available to members and clients including a team of core specialists in open learning, a network of over 40 Open Learning Centres in Queensland as well as access to leading academic and specialists in open learning. Infrastructure at the Queensland Open Learning Network is capable of facilitating delivery of education and training programs through a wide range of communication modes including various combinations of on-line and off-line information and communication technologies, print based materials and face to face presentations. For example, audiographics conferencing has proved to be a very cost effective interactive communication tool which meets clients educational and training needs.

Telephone: +61 7 3225 8888
Facsimile: +61 7 3224 4608

Social Sciences and Humanities

Australian Academy of the Humanities

The Australian Academy of the Humanities was established under Royal Charter in 1969. It succeeded the Australian Humanities Research Council, founded in 1956. It constitutes one of the nation's four learned Academies, the others being the Australian Academy of Science (1959), the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (1971), and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1976). The four Academies are recognised by the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs as advisory bodies on educational and research matters. The Academy aims to advance knowledge of, and the pursuit of excellence in, the Humanities. The general dis