Rosaleen McKenna - Director

Education

Workplace Assessor and Trainer Certificate IV

Bachelor of Arts (History, English and Sociology)
Diploma of Education (TESOL, English and History methods)
La Trobe University

Employment history

Management Experience

Company Director Communication in Education and Training Pty Ltd 1998 - Current

Communication in Education and Training Pty Ltd, a consultancy business specialising in vocational education, community education, post compulsory language, literacy and numeracy programmes, cultural diversity and professional development for Recognised Training Organisations in the Australian Quality Training Framework

Major functions:

  • Management of research and consultancy projects
  • Conduct of qualitative research
  • Analysis of research data and writing of reports
  • Management, design and delivery of professional development
  • Design, writing and production of educational resources and products
  • Management of a small business

 

Manager, Language Australia Victorian Office 1991 - 1997

(Language Australia was formerly known as the National Language and Literacy Institute of Australia or NLLIA)

Major functions:

  • Management of the Victorian Office

The office had an annual turnover of $1.4 m in 1996 and 1997 with revenue being derived from language services and research and development consultancies mostly in the vocational education and training sectors through ANTA, DEETYA , the Office of Training and Further Education Victoria and the Adult Community and Further Education Board .

  • Human resource management

Selection and supervision of up to 15 equivalent full time staff (incuding sub contractors and specialist consultants)

  • Project management

Preparation of research and development proposals and submission for CEO approval
Setting up consultative processes with stake holders in the research
Monitoring progress of research in relation to proposal and making adjustments to methodology or brief as the case dictates.

  • Liaison with funding bodies

Preparation of reports and/or products in appropriate medium (publications of curriculum resources, web pages and electronically based material etc.
Liaison with the accountant on financial commitments such as audits and acquittals

  • Participation in company strategic planning and reporting processes

This included putting forward research proposals, carrying out internally funded research projects with Board approval and representing the Chief Executive where directed.
Development of annual business and operational workplans for the Office for Board approval and preparation of appropriate reports

  • Provision of executive support to Office Reference Committees and project advisory committees

 

Co-ordinator, Adult Literacy Research Network, Language Australia 1991 - 1897

The Adult Literacy Research Network was a national initiative funded for $1m over four years as part of the Australian Language and Literacy Policy.

Major functions:

  • Provision of policy advice to Department of Employment, Education Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) on the outcomes of commissioned research, future research priorities and appropriate methodologies as required
  • Management of national consultation to identify adult literacy and numeracy research in Australia and develop a three year strategic plan
  • Mapping of existing research nationally and identification of research needs for the field in the vocational, community and higher education sectors
  • Identification of key researchers and institutions to facilitate participation in the Network
  • Liaise with key professional associations; state, territory and commonwealth agencies; and major providers
  • Develop research briefs
  • Monitor and report to the Board on the Adult Literacy Research Network Workplan, its outcomes and achievements
  • Provide policy advice to the Chief Executive on all adult literacy and basic education issues
  • Production and dissemination of newsletters and research monographs
  • Management of the content of web based data base on adult language, literacy and numeracy research
  • Convenor of annual research conference/forum 1992 – 1997

 

Adult Literacy and Basic Education Policy Officer 1989 – 1991

Division of Further Education, Ministry of Education, Victoria

Major Functions:

  • Plan, manage and report on the distribution of Commonwealth grants for adult literacy and adult education in Victoria ($3.4m per annum)
  • Provision of advice on the development of adult literacy and basic education in Victoria, in other state and at the national level
  • Liaison with regional adult literacy and basic education officers and monitor and evaluate the impact of state wide projects
  • Monitoring the regional ALBE plans and performance to ensure they implement state and national policies
  • Co-ordination of the development of policies and curriculum at state level
  • Deputise for the Senior Consultant on state and national committees when required (ILY Consultative Committee, Victorian ILY Committee and selection panels)
  • Liaison with the Commonwealth on basic education implementation issues in regard to meeting the goals of the ALLP.

This included writing the funding guidelines for the Early Intervention Program, later the Special Intervention Program and other labour market funding in relation to state recurrent funds

 

Regional Adult Literacy and Basic Education Officer (RALBEO) 1987 – 1989

Western Metropolitan Further Education Council, Division of Further Education, Ministry of Education and Training, Victoria

Major Functions:

  • Provision of educational leadership and advice in developing implementing and evaluating adult literacy and basic education services in the region
  • Identification of adult literacy and basic education needs and the coordination of provision in the region
  • Development of policy, strategic planning and allocation of resources for the Council in the context of Commonwealth and State policies
  • Evaluation and reporting

 

Regional Adult Literacy Coordinator (RALC) 1983 – 1987

Footscray College of TAFE

Major Functions:

  • Provision of educational leadership and advice in developing implementing and evaluating adult literacy and basic education services in the region
  • Identification of adult literacy and basic education needs and the coordination of provision in the region
  • Development of policy, strategic planning and allocation of resources for the Council in the context of Commonwealth and State policies
  • Evaluation and reporting
  • Established adult literacy programs throughout Western Region located in Community Based Providers

 

Teaching and Training Experience

1998 – 2000 Sessional Lecturer, TESOL Post Graduate Program, Victoria University of Technology.

Ongoing Professional development delivery - Adult Literacy Teaching, NSDC Adult Literacy Modules

NRS – application to LLNP and WELL

Unpacking underpinning skills in Training Packages 1978 Technical School Community House (now Duke St)

1981 Footscray College of TAFE, Adult literacy and basic education courses

Tutor Training courses

Humanities Teacher, Technical School Division, Victorian Education Department

  • Richmond Technical School
  • Corio Technical School
  • Tottenham Technical School

 

Research/Consultancy Experience

Recent relevant projects include:

  • Development of professional development materials for RTO delivering training from the Health and Community Services Training Package, Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) Programme, 2003
  • Analysis of international policy and research in adult literacy, National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 2003
  • Facilitator, Reframing the Future projects, Professional Development Program, CMC Training at Work and VICSEG, 2003
  • Coordinator of Public Safety ITAB WELL Projects .6, 2002
  • Evaluator of the Community Network project linking community providers to volunteer public safety organizations in Queensland and Victoria
  • Consultation and development of supplementary resources for the Australian Quality Training Framework (language and literacy information for the RTO/auditors Standards Evidence Guide), 2002
  • Enterprise Career Education Foundation (ECEF): development of principal’s professional development kit (CD Rom) on the New Framework for Vocational Education in Schools, 2002
  • Public Safety Industry Training Advisory Board strategy for workplace communication and cultural diversity, 2000 –2001
  • WELL National Resource Project, Negotiating Workplace Training National WELL 2000 project, Lead agent. www.dest.gov.au/nwt 1999 - 2001
  • DETYA: National Moderation Workshops for Literacy and Numeracy Programme. 2001
  • WELL Communicated a strategic plan for workplace literacy and cultural diversity developed for TDT Australia, 2000.
  • ASTF: development of principal’s professional development kit (CD Rom) on Structured Workplace Learning. 2000 – 2001
  • A Question of Evidence, consultant to Summer Hill Media to develop video on assessment in adult language literacy and numeracy. 2000
  • NRS Snapshots, www.nrs.detya.au an ANTA Adult Literacy National Project, 1999
  • Specificity of Communication in Training Packages, an ANTA Workplace Communication Project, 1999 in conjunction with a consortium
  • Growing On: A Workplace Communications Strategic Plan for the Forest and Forest Products Industry. FAFPESC,1999
  • The Assessment and Placement Resource for the Literacy and Numeracy Programme, Commet, 1999
  • Professional Development and Information Kit, Workplace Communication Project, ANTA, 1998 (Consortium with Kangan Batman Institute)
  • Assessment Materials Development for Literacy and Numeracy Identification and Outcomes Reporting in Vocational Education and Training, DETYA, 1998
  • More than a Reporting System, DETYA, 1997

 

Publications and professional journal and newsletters

Editorial Committee/ Advisory Panel/ Referee

  • Literacy and Numeracy Studies: an International Journal in the Education and Training of Adults.
  • Open Letter
  • Literacy Now
  • Co-editer 6 editions Network Notes

Contributed to professional journals and newsletters such as:

  • Fine Print, Journal of the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council
  • Australian Language Matters, newsletter for Language Australia
  • ARIS Bulletin
  • Literacy Now DEETYA funded, good practice, publication.
  • Common Ground, Newsletter of the Australian Literacy Federation
  • ACOSS newsletter
  • AEU newsletter
  • Adult Learners Australia journal

 

Policy Advice

  • Provided informed advice to Department of Employment, Education and Training as part of National Language and Literacy Policy and represented the field on a number of national project advisory committees National Research Strategy for English Language, Literacy and Numeracy Research, DETYA
  • Provided policy advice on the assessment of language skills for Centrelink.
  • TELSTRA community advisory committee on Director Assistance services
  • Provided advice on accountability standards for the Mutual Obligation Task Force,
  • Recommendation on the usage of the NRS to report on WELL programs
  • Advice on the literacy and numeracy factors in the Jobseeker Classification Screening Instrument (JCSI) to DEETYA and Centrelink
  • DEETYA Special Intervention guidelines
  • Completed Australian report on Education for All, UNESCO, and Australian representative at NGO Mid Decade Report Conference for NGOs in Tokyo, Japan, 1995

 

Conferences

International Conferences

  • 2001 International Literacy Conference, Scotland Key Note Speaker
  • 1997 ILI UNESCO Regional Literacy Forum, Manila, Philippines. Four presentations including presentations on Australian Language Policies
  • 1996 International Literacy Institute/ UNESCO International Literacy Conference, Philadelphia, USA
    World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, Sydney, Australia
  • 1995 Represented Australia NGOs, UNESCO NGO Conference on Mid Decade Review of Education For All, Japan
  • 1993 ARA International Conference, Melbourne. Convened National Research Forum

National Conferences

  • 2000 Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) Perth conference
  • 1999 ACAL Convenor Conference Committee, Melbourne,
    National Communication educators
    Panel presentation: The Packaged Deal, Melbourne,
  • 1998 Competency Conference Barton Institute of TAFE.
  • 1997 Language Policy and Planning, July, Melbourne
  • 1997 ACAL national conference:
    Convened vocational education research/policy stream of program
  • 1996 Gold Coast, policy strategy panel
  • 1995 Melbourne, Conference organising committee
  • 1993 - 5 AARE, co presented Research Network as case study in networking in education
  • 1994 ACAL Perth
  • 1994 NLLIA EXPO, Co organised Research Fair
  • 1993 -1995 LERN Conference, co- convened session on development of Research Strategy, ALLP project
  • 1992 Co organised Research Fair on literacy
  • 1991, ACAL Conferences, Melbourne, Conference convenor, Convened policy stream

 

Professional Associations

Associate Faculty of Education, Monash University

Life Member The Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council
President 1994 and 1999
Vice president, 1990;
General Committee 1989 - 1998

Life Member The Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL)
Secretary 1997-99
President 1991State delegate 1990
ACAL delegate to the Australian Literacy Federation (ALF) 1995 -1998
Past member Victorian Association of TESOL and Multicultural Teachers (VATME)
Australian Association of Education Research
Australian Language Educators Association (ALEA) formerly ARA

Home :: Services :: Publications :: Projects ::Staff :: Contact