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Report from the President of Business Educators Australasia Inc. (BEA)
BEA AGM and Annual Council Meeting - May 2005
I have now been President of BEA for the past four years and President of BEAT and BEAT Councillor to BEA for the past six years. I now work in a senior position at the Southern Branch of the Tasmanian Education Department as a Branch Teacher Leader. My main role is in providing professional learning for teachers in implementing the Essential Learnings Framework. This work takes place through central programs and within schools.
The BEA Biennial National Conference was held prior to last year's AGM and Council meeting in July in Auckland . NZCETA hosted the conference which was attended by a number of delegates from Australia . It was a very successful conference and I wish to thank the Executive of NZCETA for their organisation and support. The sessions and conference dinner were highly enjoyable. BEA supported 2 young teachers to attend the 2004 conference who both gained much from the experience. BEA hopes to continue this Grants scheme for the conference in Adelaide next year to encourage new teachers in the business area to further their professional development.
Following the Conference the BEA AGM and Annual Council Meeting were held. Councillors from all states and territories represented their respective associations. Each Councillor has the responsibility of reporting information from the Annual Council meeting to their association. Councillors provided a report to BEA from their affiliate association. It is encouraging to hear about the professional development provided by associations, in many cases on a voluntary basis, as well as the support that associations can provide to teachers in their state and territories.
At the AGM the following executive members were elected: Julie Fisher; President, John Glasson; Vice-President, Anthony Gray; Vice-President, Doug Cave ; Secretary, and Garry Taylor; Treasurer.
Since the AGM, the BEA Executive have met through teleconferences and followed up related business by email. I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Glasson, Anthony Gray, Garry Taylor, Doug Cave and Christine Reid for their work for BEA this year. Christine has maintained close links with affiliate associations through regular mailouts of information relevant to and of interest to business educators. One of the main areas of development in terms of business education is around financial literacy and BEA has had the opportunity to be involved in a number of projects in this area. Many schools successfully applied for financial literacy grants through the Commonwealth Bank at the end of last year and there are other current projects in this area where BEA is involved.
The Plan Your Own Enterprise (PYOE) competition continues to be well supported by schools around Australia . The national awards were presented in Brisbane in October as part of a CPA conference. CPA Australia are our sponsors of the competition. They have also produced a terrific video for schools on business planning, which is a great resource for students and teachers planing to participate in PYOE. Students from around Australia and from New Zealand met in Brisbane for the judging, at which they were required to make a 15 minute presentation about their Business Plan. Promotional material has now been distributed to all schools for the 2005 competition. Presentation and judging will be held in Sydney in October.
The BEA website http://www.pa.ash.org.au/afssse/BEA/index.htm has information about all the state and territory affiliates of BEA with links to their websites. Any relevant information can be published on the site regarding member associations. Email Christine if you wish to update your Association's information.
Christine and I represent BEA on the Australian Federation of Societies for Studies of Society and Environment, AFSSSE, or more simply the national body representing all SOSE subject associations . The Board meets in Canberra in late May with the AGM in August. There is little to report from AFSSSE at this stage as we have not been involved in any projects since my last report. BEA through AFSSSE will be invited to attend a Teacher Standards conference in late August . Christine also represents BEA at National Education Forum (NEF) and Christine sends out the minutes from these meetings to Councillors.
BEA, on a tight budget, continues to represent the interests of business educators at a national level through its affiliation with AFSSSE and the importance of this representation when it comes to liasing and negotiating with the commonwealth government through DEST cannot be overlooked. Thanks must go to Christine Reid for the key role she undertakes in the work of AFSSSE as Chairperson, and for representing the views and interests of BEA at various Forums and meetings.
This is my last report as President of BEA, although I hope to continue as BEA Secretary and will continue to be the BEAT Councillor. Whilst President I have been a classroom teacher for most of the time as well as being in a senior position in a school. This has allowed me to connect with the grassroots membership and share in their concerns regarding business education.
During my time as President I have been fortunate in being able to work with some very knowledgeable and talented people and I have learnt much from them. I would particularly like to mention Mike Rowlands who I first met as a beginning teacher over 20 years ago. He has been an inspiration to me and I valued his expertise. Christine Reid is the 'right hand' of the President and her efficiency has made my job easier, so thank you Christine. I would like to thank all the Councillors I have worked with for your support of BEA and for your work in promoting issues of a national significance through your associations. I wish Heather Thomas and her committee all the best in organising our conference for 2006. There are many others who have made my time as President a rewarding and enjoyable one. I know that Doug will capably represent you in his role as President.
Julie Fisher
President BEA
julie.fisher@education.tas.gov.au