General information
Venue
Wesley Conference Centre
Conveniently located in the heart of Sydney's CBD, only 15 minutes drive from Sydney Airport, Wesley Conference Centre is easily accessible by bus, train and monorail.
Phone: (02)9263 5500
Fax: (02)9264 4694
220 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
wesconference@wesleymission.org.au
Timetables and deadlines
Registration Early: |
Before 26 May 2005 |
What is the purpose of the Conference?
The NSW Priority Schools Funding Program Conference 2005, partners 4 learning , will focus on supporting regions and PSFP schools in the task of reducing, with a view to eliminating, the achievement gap for students from low socio-economic status communities in NSW.
The Conference will:
. showcase innovative practice in public schools serving low SES communities across NSW
. present current national and international research and ideas to improve educational practice
. provide opportunities for professional learning for whole school communities
and is a strategy to:
. enhance teachers' professional learning
. strengthen home, school and community partnerships
. hear student, teacher and parent voices
What is happening at the Conference?
Teachers, parents and students working together to improve the learning outcomes for students in Priority Schools Funding Program (PSFP) schools is the key message of the partners 4 learning Conference.
Paper presentations and workshops will reflect dynamic work in progress across NSW, nationally and internationally.
Themes of the Conference are aligned with the PSFP Operational Guidelines with a focus on:
. Literacy
. Numeracy
. Participation
. Expectations
. Quality teaching and learning
. Home, school and community partnerships
. Classroom and school organisation and school culture
. Whole school planning
There are two key conference themes over two days:
1. Setting the context
2. Reducing the achievement gap for students from low socio-economic status communities
Sessions will offer keynote speakers and a choice of up to 9 concurrent presentations, workshops and symposia catering for all partners 4 learning participants.
Who is invited to attend?
The target audience for the partners 4 learning Conference is public school teachers, parents and community members, students and non-school-based Department of Education and Training officers from across NSW, university students and staff and educational, community and interagency organisations who work with PSFP schools and their communities.
All PSFP schools are encouraged to attend by sending a teacher, a community member and a student as delegates. An alternative student program will be developed for the Conference, however, schools are responsible for the active supervision of student participants.
What does it cost to attend?
There are three categories for Conference delegates. These are PSFP, non-PSFP and other.
| Registration fee (per delegate) | Early Registration Before 26 May 2005 | Late registration After 26 May 2005 |
|---|---|---|
PSFP and |
$200 |
$250 |
Non-PSFP |
$350 |
$400 |
Other |
$500 |
$550 |
PSFP and presenters
PSFP means those participants - principals, teachers, parents, community members and students involved directly in PSFP schools or at a regional and state level. Presenters include delegates who have had a workshop or paper accepted by the Conference sub-committee. The Conference registration for these participants is subsidised by the PSFP.
In addition, PSFP schools will receive a rebate of up to $200 for:
. actual travel and accommodation costs for each parent or community member who attends the Conference (maximum 2 per school)
. actual air travel for one staff member to attend the Conference.
A rebate of $100 will also be provided to schools for parent or community members attending as part of a school team (maximum 2 per school).
Rebates are payable after the Conference upon presentation of actual receipts and following the usual DET claim procedure.
The Student Equity Advisory Team (SEAT) has 20 free registrations for students from PSFP schools to attend the Conference. See the PSFP website for more information.
Non-PSFP
Non-PSFP participants are those who are not involved directly with the PSFP, including:
. non-PSFP public schools
. staff of the Department of Education and Training (DET) who are not employed in the PSFP or Priority Action Schools (PAS) Program
Other
Other participants include:
. members of educational, community and interagency organisations
. employees of universities
. other government departments within and outside NSW
The preferred method of registration is electronic. Please visit the Conference website at www.partners4learning.com. Those who wish to submit an abstract as well as those wishing to attend the Conference should complete the Registration Form online. Each delegate must fill in a separate form. For fax or mail registration a clean photocopy of the form will be accepted, or additional forms can be obtained from the Conference Managers.
Delegate entitlements
The registration fee entitles delegates to the following:
. attendance at all sessions for two days
. conference function or student function on 11 August
. conference bag
. conference program booklet
. CD-ROM of Conference presentations (to be distributed after Conference)
. Lunch 11-12 August
. Morning and afternoon teas 11-12 August
Am I guaranteed a place at the Conference if I register?
There are 700 places available at the partners 4 learning Conference. PSFP school communities are encouraged to register early as registration will be processed in order of receipt.
Payment of fees
NOTE: Registrations will not be processed or confirmed until payment in full is received.
Payment may be made by personal cheque or credit card. Bankcard, MasterCard and Visa are the only credit cards accepted at the Conference. Please note all transactions by credit card will appear on your statement as payment to Conference by THPL. Cheques should be made payable to the partners 4 learning Conference.
Acknowledgement of registration
Your registration and payment will be acknowledged in writing with confirmation of your requirements according to your registration form. Your registration will not be processed or confirmed if payment does not accompany your form.
You will not receive any further publications before the Conference. Your letter of acknowledgment will include any further advice necessary prior to your arrival at the conference. The final Conference program will be provided upon registration and will also be available on this website.
Cancellation and refund policy
Registration fees
Before 6 May 2005 will incur a A$100.00 cancellation fee.
Before 30 June 2005 will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
After 30 June there will be no refund.
Accommodation
Deposit is non-refundable at 7 July 2005
Insurance
Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. It is strongly recommended that at the time you register for the conference and book your travel you take out an insurance policy of your choice. The policy should include loss of fees/deposit through cancellation of your participation in the conference, or through cancellation of the conference, loss of international/domestic air fares through cancellation for any reason, loss of tour monies through cancellation for any reason including airline or related services strikes within Australia, failure to utilise tours or pre booked arrangements due to airline delay, Force Majeure or any other reason, medical expenses (including sickness and accident cover), loss or damage to personal property, additional expenses and repatriation should travel arrangements have to be altered. The Conference Managers cannot take any responsibility for any participant failing to arrange their own insurance. This insurance is to be purchased in your country of origin.
Conference Managers
Tour Hosts Conference & Exhibition Organisers
ABN 28 000 386 676
Address for Communications
GPO Box 128
Sydney NSW 2001 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 02 9265 0700
Fax: 02 9267 5443
Email: partners4learning2005@tourhosts.com.au