On behalf of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) we are pleased to welcome you to the first edition of the WIPC:E 2008 eNews and thank you for registering your interest in the 2008 conference. Our aim is to provide regular updates on our progress in developing the conference program and events.

To be held on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation, Melbourne, Australia from 7th - 11th December 2008; WIPC:E 2008 will be a celebration of our diverse cultures, traditions and knowledge. It will provide us with the opportunity to showcase our efforts to provide educational experiences suitable to our individual and unique communities and will be a time to rejoice in our strengths and capacity to uphold our traditions and knowledge systems. It will also be a chance to consider how we, as Indigenous people, would like to see education shaped into the future to meet our needs. It is Australia’s Indigenous peoples’ vision that WIPC:E 2008 will be solidly embedded in community knowledge.

WIPC:E 2008 has the potential to impact positively on the educational outcomes and lives of Indigenous people across the planet. Formal education provides us with a broad set of options to shape our own futures and with tools to tell our own stories to the wider community; our challenge is to balance the learnings from formal systems within our own traditions. WIPC:E 2008 hopes to explore some of the questions raised by living within competing knowledge systems and look beyond the horizon where complimentary knowledge can be used to shape our own futures.

VAEAI looks forward to making your time in Melbourne an educative and memorable experience. Thank you again for registering your interest in the World Indigenous Peoples Conference: Education 2008.

 

	Geraldine Atkinson President VAEAI		Dr. Mark Rose Chair – Knowledge Committee WIPC:E 2008

Conference Themes

The WIPC:E 2008 Knowledge Committee, the body responsible for the academic program of the conference, met in early June and established some conference themes to guide the development of the program. The theme for 2008 will be: Indigenous Education in the 21st Century - Respecting Tradition, Shaping the Future.

Sub-themes have also been developed, with each day focusing on a particular theme. Day one will be guided by the theme "Respecting Tradition" and will centre around issues such as ‘growing, connecting, celebrating and maintaining traditions through education’, ‘building history / histories’, ‘pathways to knowledge’ and ‘language and identity’.

“Living with Competing Knowledge systems” will form the focus of Day two, which will look at questions around ‘defining education’, ‘the impact of culture and education’, ‘understanding the present culture of educational institutions’ and ‘exploring knowledge systems’.

Day four will focus on looking “Beyond the Horizon” and aims to build on the themes of WIPC:E 2005, looking at ‘shaping our own futures’, ‘thriving in the education system’, ‘engaging community’ and ‘resilience’.

It is expected that calls for abstracts based on these three themes will open in August, with further information on the process for submission available through our redeveloped website which is due for launch at the same time.

Venues

As part of our vision of centring WIPC:E 2008 in community knowledge the Aborigines Advancement League (AAL) has been selected as the venue of our Welcome to Country and Official Opening of the conference. Formed in 1957, the AAL is the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Australia and is widely regarded by many people as the ‘mother’ of other Aboriginal organisations that are now established throughout country. While not an educational organisation, the AAL is significant in that it was a focal point for the political organisation of Victoria’s Aboriginal people.

Mural at the AAL (St. Georges Rd, Thornbury)

The knowledge program of the conference will be held at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, which is home of the Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis Event. Rod Laver Arena is located just one kilometre from Melbourne’s Central Business District, with its own tram stop and within easy walking distance from a large number of hotels and hostels, it was selected to ensure ease of access by delegates, as well as for its scenic surrounds.

Rod Laver Arena

Set in the Kings Domain Gardens, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl will host the WIPC:E 2008 Closing and Cultural Celebration. The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is set in parklands a short walk from the centre of the city. It is a large grassy amphitheatre with a stage and a soaring 'sound shell' roof to project the sound and shelter the front rows of the audience. A number of significant sites are located nearby, including Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens where one of Victoria’s earliest mission stations and schools was established. The Myer Music bowl is an ideal location to showcase our culture and talent.

Myer Music Bowl

Sunday 7th December
Welcome to Country & Official Opening of WIPC:E 2008 Aborigines Advancement League – Thornbury 11.00 – 5.00 pm: Conference Registration & Exhibition
1.00 pm:	Welcome to Country
1.30 pm:	Official Opening Speech
2.00 pm:	Delegate Responses
5.00 pm:	End
Monday 8th December
Theme: Respecting Tradition
8.00 am:	Registration opens
9.00 am:	Welcome to Day
9.30 am	Keynote Address #1
10.30 am:	Morning Tea
11.15 am:	Concurrent Presentations #A
12.15 pm:	LUNCH
1.15 pm:	Keynote Address #2
2.30 pm:	Concurrent Presentations #B
3.15 pm:	Afternoon Tea
4.00 pm:	Concurrent Presentations #C
4.45 pm:	Conclusion of day
5.15 pm:	Close
7.30 pm:	VIP reception / welcome to Melbourne – Melbourne Town Hall
Tuesday 9th December
Theme: Living with competing Knowledge systems
8.00 am:	Registration opens
8.30 am:	Welcome to Day
9.00 am:	Keynote Address #1
10.00 am:	Morning Tea
10.45 am:	Concurrent Presentations #A
11.45 am:	Concurrent Presentations #B
12.45 pm:	LUNCH
1.45 pm:	Keynote Address #2
2.45 pm:	Afternoon Tea
3.30 pm:	Concurrent Presentations #C
4.15 pm:	Conclusion of day
4.45 pm:	Close
7.00 pm:	Twilight Session - Keynote / Panel
Wednesday 10th December
Site Visit Program – options may include: Koorie education and training institutions / programs Significant sites / organisations Exhibitions / Museums Optional touring program to regional Victoria
Thursday 11th December
Theme: Beyond the Horizon
8.00 am:	Registration opens
8.30 am:	Welcome to Day
9.00 am:	Keynote Address #1
10.00 am:	Morning Tea
10.45 am:	Concurrent Presentations #A
11.45 am:	Concurrent Presentations #B
12.45 pm:	LUNCH
1.45 pm:	Keynote Address #2
2.45 pm:	Conclusion of day
3.15 pm:	Close Afternoon Tea
7.30 pm:	Closing & Cultural Celebration