The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Deb Lewis (Co-ordinator, Statewide Vision Resource Centre).
The following activities are coming up in the next few months:
For the complete list of activities for 2005 go to: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/pd.htm and *** NEW*** you can now download many of the programs for upcoming events from this page too! On your own white paper for your photocopying convenience!!!
All activities are open to subject teachers, integration teachers and aides, careers teachers, therapists, parents VTs, students etc. Please remember to register: tel (03) 9841 0242, fax (03) 9841 0878 or email svrc@svrc.vic.edu.au
The following articles appear in the March edition of JVIB:
Ok out there – who wants to come to Space Camp this year??? Students are beginning to dribble out of the wood work and we have heard that Emil, Kyle, Peter and Natasha are possible starters. This has inspired Lea Nagel and me (Deb Lewis) to consider accompanying up to six students on
AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME!!!
Perhaps you’d like to help us make a short movie about our experiences!!! It’s all possible!!! We are even considering visiting one of the schools for the blind while we are over there, in addition to Disneyland (funding and time permitting)! We can offer some assistance with fund raising – and you can always ask your Visiting Teacher to help out – it is a BIG endeavor but well worth the effort! Call Jeni Blake 0428 134 660 or Deb Lewis 9841 0242 for information!
Ten students attended the 2005 Ballarat Senior camp from April 11-14. The aim of this camp was to provide students with the experience travelling in the small city environment of Ballarat. The students were responsible for planning and organising the activities over the four days, including meal preparation.
The adventure began at Spencer Street Station where the students and instructors boarded the 9.30 am train to Ballarat. Arriving at Ballarat train station the students were then required to find out how we would get to our accommodation by bus, which they did very efficiently considering the array of sleeping bags, pillows and jumbo sized suitcases that had to be carried. Once everyone was set up in their cabins (and had argued over who would sleep in a bunk bed), it was back on the bus to find the visitor information centre, so the students could plan what activities they would like to do over the next few days.
Sovereign Hill was the destination for Tuesday, and here the students had a great time walking around in small groups and experiencing what life was like in the 1880’s. From Sovereign Hill it was onto the supermarket, where the students had to shop for the items they required to cook dinner that night.
On Wednesday the students planned the travel route to get to Ballarat Bowling Alley, where bumper bowling was a blast. Students planned and shopped for dinner that night, and the instructors were again impressed with the quality of the students cooking (and eating) ability. On Thursday morning it was grey and raining, but the campers braved the weather and walked to the bus stop for the ride to the train station. As the train pulled out of Ballarat all seemed to be going to plan, until the train came to a mysterious stop about 20 minutes later….. it seemed the train staff had forgotten to put enough diesel into the train to make it to Melbourne. The train eventually arrived one and half hours late at Spencer Street Station, but better late than never! A big thank-you to all the students who were involved with camp, it was terrific to see you all doing so many activities independently and working as a team.
A discussion at the end of the program revealed that the students developed and extended their Orientation and Mobility skills in a number of ways including:
Students who attend GDV program have the opportunity at the end of the program to discuss openly what they thought about the program – for example their favourite activities, what they would like to do more of and so on. Students and their parents also have the opportunity to provide more formal feedback by completing the written evaluation form. Students and their parents have different questionnaires to complete and a great deal of useful information regarding how the programs can be made more interesting and relevant.
Planning is well underway for this program that is aimed at students who attend secondary school. The program goes for the whole week and participants will enjoy varied and interesting Orientation and Mobility activities among a whole range of things to do. We will be staying in terrific accommodation in Bright and just for something different we will also have one night in Wangaratta. Please contact Rachel Morgan on 9854 4469 if you require further information about the program.
Erin Shale, Careers Councillor at Balwyn High School, recently has compiled this recently checked list of websites (20/3/05) and she highly recommends them as great resources in the investigation of courses and careers for senior students. She also reminds us that the people around you – immediate family, relatives, neighbours, teachers and families of friends – are also invaluable sources of information about various careers. Talk to them, ask them questions and consider the advice they give you.
If you check the official VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) site, you will be able to print off the CUT OFF SCORES for courses this year. Go to: http://www.vtac.edu.au and under the heading ‘Information About’, click on ‘Offers’ then select ‘2005 Selection Data’. This will show you all Victorian universities. By clicking on each, you will be able to see cut off scores. Remember that cut off scores do not indicate the quality of courses.
http://www.myfuture.edu.au
http://www.futurefinder.com.au
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au
http://www.jobguide.dest.gov.au
http://www.careersonline.com.au
http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html
http://www.queendom.com
http://www.careerkey.org/english
(Volunteering is very highly regarded by Courses Selection Officers and employers.
Skills gained are invaluable.)
http://www.govolunteer.com.au –
Fantastic site for volunteering suggestions!
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au
http://www.monster.com.au
http://www.mycareer.com.au
http://www.seek.com.au
http://www.govolunteer.com.au –
Log onto various categories to suit your interests
http://www.centrelink.gov.au
http://www.jobnetwork.gov.au
http://www.jobsearch.gov.au
http://www.careerone.com.au –
Fantastic site! Check job descriptions and case studies.
http://www.worksite.actu.asn.au
http://www.workplace.gov.au
http://www.wagenet.gov.au – Check
information on career/employment prospects.
http://www.newapprenticeships.gov.au
http://www.woolworths.com.au/careers
– Good information on part time work and apprenticeships
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au –
See info on apprenticeships.
http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au –
Great Career Interest Quiz included
http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au
– Click on to ‘How to win that job.’
http://www.macyourcareer.com.au
These are just a few of the great sources of information available. A great
resource for just about every career you can imagine is the JOB GUIDE. It is
available on line at: http//jobguide.dest.gov.au
– Click on to ‘Text Version’ then ‘Alphabetically’
followed by ‘Vic’ to find relevant links.
Careers in Science, Technology, Maths and Engineering: http://www.careersthatgo.com.au
– Excellent outline of courses and career professionals.
Defence Force Careers: http://www.defencejobs.gov.au
IT Careers: http://www.youth.itskillshub.com.au
Careers in Retail: http://www.ara.com.au/careers
– Includes careers in Human Resources, IT, Management, Marketing etc.
Careers in Retail – McDonalds: http://www.macyourcareer.com.au
Careers in Psychology: http://www.psychology.org.au
This is the site of the Australian Psychological Society. Click on ‘Study
and Careers’ then ‘APS accredited university courses’. There
are many interesting links listed.
Electro-technology Careers: http://www.electrotecfutures.com.au
Retail Automotive Careers: http://www.autocareers.com.au
– Includes motor mechanics and other related careers
Manufacturing Careers: http://www.zoom.aigroup.asn.au
– Excellent site for information on a huge range of Engineering and Design
courses and careers. Includes aircraft, boat and car design.
Rural Industry Careers: http://www.ruralskills.com.au/ontrack
Commercial Cooking Careers: http://www.chef.org.au
Police Force Careers: http://www.police.vic.gov.au
– Click on ‘Recruiting’.
Careers in National Parks: http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
Careers in Physiotherapy: http://www.physio.net.com
Careers in Tourism: http://www.tourismtraining.com.au
Careers in Zoos: http://www.zoo.org.au Click
on ‘our people/hr’
Careers in Forensic Science: http://www.nifs.com.au
Click on ‘Forensic Science in Australia’ then ‘Careers’
and ‘Courses’.
Careers in the Food Industry: http://www.foodindustrycareers.net
Careers in Chartered Accounting: http://www.icaa.org.au
Click on ‘CA job search’ Check the great career profiles provided.
ACTU – a wide range of FACT SHEETS on topics such as apprenticeships,
traineeships and starting salaries. http://worksite.actu.asn.au
http://www.newapprenticeships.gov.au
http://www.woolworths.com.au/careers
– Good information on part time work and apprenticeships in a wide variety
of areas. Note the attributes this organization looks for in prospective employees.
http://www.jobjuice.gov.au –
See info on apprenticeships.
Australian Catholic University: http://www.acu.edu.au
Deakin University: http://www.deakin.edu.au
La Trobe University: http://www.latrobe.edu.au
Monash University: http://www.monash.edu.au
RMIT University: http://www.rmit.edu.au
Swinburne University: http://www.swin.edu.au
University of Ballarat: http://www.ballarat.edu.au
University of Melbourne: http://www.unimelb.edu.au
Victoria University: http://www.vut.edu.au
Victorian College of the Arts: http://www.vca.unimelb.edu.au
Box Hill TAFE: http://www.bhtafe.edu.au
Holmesglen TAFE: http://www.holmesglen.vic.edu.au
Kangan Batman TAFE: http://www.kangan.edu.au
Northern Metropolitan TAFE (NMIT): http://www.nmit.edu.au
William Angliss TAFE: http://www.angliss.vic.edu.au
Charles Sturt University: http://www.csu.edu.au
New South Wales: http://www.uac.edu.au
Northern Territory: http://www.cdu.edu.au
Queensland: http://www.qtac.edu.au
South Australia: http://www.satac.edu.au
Tasmania: http://www.utas.edu.au
Western Australia: http://www.tisc.edu.au
Universities throughout Australia: http://www.avcc.edu.au
For information on all Australian Universities and TAFE Institutes and links
to other careers sites: http://www.webwombat.com.au
USA Study: http://www.collegeboard.org
Australian College of Travel and Hospitality (ACTH) http://www.acth.com.au
Australian Academy of Design: http://www.designacademy.org
Australian Alpine Institute: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/tafe
Australian College of Sports Therapy: http://www.sportstherapy.edu
Australian Hotel School: http://www.aihs.edu.au
Holmes Colleges: (Business Courses) http://www.holmescolleges.com
Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology: (Courses in commerce, computing,
communication) http://www.mibt.vic.edu.au
Courses provide pathways to degrees at Deakin University.
Institute for Design Entertainment and the Arts: (Courses in E-Business, Graphic
Design, Media, Multimedia, Visual Arts, Broadcast Journalism) http://www.ideaonline.com.au
International College of Hotel Management: http://www.ichm.edu.au
Blue Mountains Hotel School: http://www.hotelschool.com.au
International College of Professional Photography: http://www.icpp.net
International College of Tourism and Hotel Management: http://www.icthm.edu.au
JMC Academy: (Courses in Audio Engineering, Animation, Music, TV) http://www.jmc.edu.au
Melba Conservatorium of Music: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~melba
Australian Guild of Music Education: http://www.guildmusic.edu.au
Melbourne College of Natural Medicine: (Courses in Acupuncture, Aromatherapy,
Herbal Medicine, Naturopathy, Massage) http://www.acnm.edu.au
Southern School of Natural Therapies: (Courses in Massage, Myotherapy, Traditional
Chinese Medicine) http://www.southernschool.com
Victorian College of Healthcare Education: (Courses in Massage, Myotherapy,
Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies/Massage, Sports and Remedial Therapy) http://www.vche.com.au
Oceania Polytechnic Institute of Education: (Architecture, Building, Surveying,
Interior Decoration and Design) http://www.oceaniapolytechnic.citysearch.com.au
Photography Studies College: (Photography – Commercial/Photojournalism/Art)
http://www.psc.edu.au
Source: http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/index.asp and the Macular Degeneration Foundation Newsletter – Autumn 2005
The World Health Organisation has now elevated Macular Degeneration (MD) to the third leading cause of blindness globally and the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Australia presently has 800,000 people with some form of MD. It continues to be the leading cause of blindness (in Australia).
Macular Degeneration (MD) is the name given to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of central vision - the ability to pick out fine detail, to drive, read, recognise faces, and so on.
The retina lines the inside of the eye, and works like the film in a camera. The macula is the name given to the very centre of the retina. Although there is no cure for MD, there are treatments that can slow it down, depending on the stage and type of the disease. The earlier you detect MD, the more vision you are likely to retain.
The website (listed above) contains interesting information including an information guide – ‘Macular Degeneration: A Modern Epidemic’ – detailing many aspects of MD, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment etc. Go to: http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/MD_Guide2004A.pdf
Source: http://blindreaders.info/index.html
This site is a guide to sources of information in alternative formats (braille, recorded cassettes, large print, e-texts, web audio) accessible by people with print disabilities – those with visual and physical impairments as well as dyslexia. It is also a guide to information about blindness, visual impairments and other physical impairments. There are about 2,300 individual links, all evaluated, annotated and organized by subject. Some useful links include:
Excerpt from review by Richard Kakol in the BCA News, March 2005
Janet Shaw is a tandem cyclist who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. Her life and how she eventually became a Paralympic cyclist is a fascinating story. She took up tandem cycling in 2001 at the age of thirty-five. “Beyond the Red Door” is Janet Shaw’s account of her journey so far, one chapter in a remarkable life. In her book she recounts the many battles she fought to retain partial sight in one eye, and how in time she had to come to terms with total blindness. As an infant she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a hereditary cancer of the retinas. As a result she had one eye removed, while she retained some vision in the other eye after receiving radiotherapy. The radiotherapy, however, caused her vision to gradually deteriorate, and she became totally blind in her thirties.
Janet Shaw was born in 1966, and has lived in Perth for most of her life… She deals intelligently with many issues which would be familiar to people with low vision, issues such as difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships, the struggle for independence, the need to prove oneself as a valued member of society…
“Beyond the Red Door” is a deeply moving and inspirational narrative, as it is ultimately a story of triumph, a story of courage and persistence in the face of adversity…
To read the entire review go to: http://www.bca.org.au/news0503.htm#red
In order to support approximately 45 students in independent schools, the Department of Education & Training has committed additional funding to the SVRC. As a result there are four positions currently available. However, because of the new online system, it is difficult to describe the positions as we might like – for example, the position of Braille Transcriber is listed under the Subject/Duty of “School Admin – General” and “Teacher Aide – Disability and Impairment” for Heatherwood School (the administrative school for the SVRC).
The positions are as follows:
All DE&T advertisements must now be listed and positions applied for ONLINE:
Step one: go to the ‘Advertised Vacancies’ website
– http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/hrweb/careers/vacs/advacsSCH.htm
then “Online Vacancies” then “View Job Postings/Apply for
a Job”
Step two: tick “School Support”
Step three: select “Search by School” and type
in “Heatherwood”
Step four: scroll down and click “Search”
Step five: scroll down and click on the “Position Titles”
that interest you for a detailed description
Step six: apply online!
Eastern Metropolitan Region is currently advertising a position for a full time Visiting Teacher – Vision. You can find the advertisement here: https://hrms1.education.vic.gov.au/psp/HR8PRD_EA/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/ROLE_APPLICANT.ER_VIEW_JOBS.GBL then check the Teacher, Region, Eastern Region boxes then Search
Source: iteach – The Victorian Institute of Teaching Newsletter, March 2005
Recent research indicates that teachers may be too ready to beat themselves up! Research commissioned by the Victorian Institute of Teaching towards the end of 2004 reveals that the community greatly values the work of teachers – but that there is quite a difference between these findings and what teachers think the community thinks! For example:
In contrast:
Eye have a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a quay and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew
Carolyn’s grade 6 student James wrote the following about his recent camp with Guide Dogs Victoria:
On the holidays I went to the Guide Dogs 0 and M camp. I met lots of new friends that I have been calling after I got home.
I met James M, Ben, Daniel, James, Darren, Melanie, Annalise, Stephanie and more. Some of the things we did were going to the Vic Market, Rialto Towers, South Bank, Federation square, AFL Hall of fame and sensation, flinders street station, boat cruise on the Yarra, and we also did a night walk from South Bank to the station. I used a long cane and found it really useful.
I also learnt a bit about braille which was really interesting. I also asked my VT Carolyn if she would teach me some more about braille.
Thanks to Lillian Adler (DE&T VTS), Dean Johnson (GDV) and Faye Squires (DE&T VTS) for contributing to this edition of The Bulletin. Thanks also to fabulous proof-reader Dianne Skillern and the department of postage and handling for their continued effort and immense humour.
Deb Lewis (who can be emailed at deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au).