Reviews: VIT Code of Conduct & Melbourne Declaration 2019

Code of Conduct Review

The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) is currently undertaking a review of the Victorian Teaching Profession’s Code of Conduct (the Code).

 The Code promotes adherence to the values teachers see as underpinning their profession; provides a set of principles to guide teachers in their everyday conduct and assist them to solve ethical dilemmas; affirms public accountability of the teaching profession; and promotes public confidence in the teaching profession.

It is now ten years since the Code was developed in consultation with the teaching profession and implemented by the VIT. There have been a number of shifts in the educational landscape within the past 10 years that impact the application and contemporaneousness of the Code, including the welcome inclusion of early childhood teachers as a part of the registered teaching profession, the growth of social media and, the Betrayal of Trust inquiry and Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

 The intention of the review is not to rewrite the Code but, rather, to revise the Code in light of the changing educational landscape.

VIT understands the important role that rural and remote teachers play in our education system and understands the complexities of negotiating professional boundaries in the regional context. VIT is seeking the feedback of rural and remote teachers, principals and key stakeholders to help form the revised Code.

VIT will host a range of workshops in regional Victoria to engage with education stakeholders. This is a formal invitation to all teachers, principals, parents, students (over the age of 16) and any other community members who would like to attend the workshops.

 The dates, venues and booking details for each workshop are as follows:

 Review of the Melbourne Declaration

Rural education communities are formally invited to attend a consultation event for the Review of the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians.

 The COAG Education Council is seeking feedback to help inform the next national declaration on education.

The COAG wants to hear from young people, parents, teachers, principals, education stakeholders and other interested organisations and community groups.

Background

The Melbourne Declaration identifies aspirational goals for educating young Australians defining a shared vision for school education in Australia.

It sets goals for improving Australian education outcomes and is relevant to all levels of school education, early learning, vocational education and training and higher education.

 On 14 December, 2018, Education Council Ministers agreed to undertake a review of the Melbourne Declaration and to develop a contemporary national declaration on educational goals for all Australians, to guide national collaborative efforts over the coming years.

Following a National Forum in February 2019, it was agreed that much of the content of the existing declaration remains relevant.

On this basis, the intent of a contemporary declaration will remain the same.

Essential details

 In Victoria, events are to be held in:

Bendigo on 12 August, 2019, from 4pm to 6pm (afternoon tea provided).

Melbourne on 13 August, 2019, from 4pm to 6pm (afternoon tea provided).

Click the location links above to register for an event — Numbers are limited. Early registrations are essential.

Registrations close: 10 August, 2019.

 If you are unable to attend an event, a national webinar will also be held on 22 August, 2019. Click here to register for the webinar.

Supporting information

An agenda and supporting information will be provided to you after registration.

To see details of other events and consultation activity for the review of the Melbourne Declaration, visit  www.reviewmelbournedeclaration.edu.au.

This website includes the current Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians and the recent discussion paper released for public consultation.

 The Social Deck is conducting these consultations on behalf of the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments.

If you have any questions about these events, please contact us at team@thesocialdeck.com or phone 0491 617 118.