More than 150,000 state schoolstudents in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit the fourth annual NAPLAN (National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy) tests from May 10 to 12. My thanks goes to all the principals, teachers and school staff who have helped prepare students and will administer the tests. A great deal of hard work has been done to improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes of Queensland students and I look forward to learning the results of this year's testing in September.
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve schools and support teachers, the department and the Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) have developed a Joint statement on collegial engagement in classrooms. The aim is to promote a collaborative approach to classroom observation and feedback to assist teachers to develop their professional practice. The statement 
[an error occurred while processing this directive] sets out the agreed objectives and parameters for any scheme of this nature. This is the third in a series of joint statements on professional issues and I encourage all school leaders and teaching staff to be involved in the continued development and implementation of their school's classroom engagement model.
Skills Australia released a report on Tuesday proposing reforms to overhaul Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system, which follows an earlier discussion paper. DET officers participated in the public consultation process and provided a detailed submission, and I am pleased to see this reflected in the version released on Tuesday. The aim is to map out a more flexible and market-oriented VET system capable of addressing projected skills shortages arising from demographic and structural changes in the economy. It calls for additional funding with increased choice for individuals informed by industry advice and linked to increased participation. Skills Queensland is broadly supportive of the report's recommendations and will lead the state's response to the report, in consultation with the department.
Eligible Advanced Diploma holders can upgrade to become early childhood teachers under a new round of Early Childhood Teacher Scholarships, recently announced by the Department. Applicants are encouraged to read the applicant guide prior to completing the application form . Further information, including a range of fact sheets, is available on the Make a difference. Teach website or by emailing earlychildhoodscholarships@deta.qld.gov.au. Applications close Friday 27 May 2011.
At the start of this year, Dalby State High School opened a second campus with residential facilities on the former site of the Australian Agriculture College. It was a rather low-key opening for one of our first state boarding schools, as Dalby was inundated twice as flood waters swept across south-west Queensland. A total of 20 students - from rural and remote parts of Queensland, interstate and overseas - are currently boarding at the school. From next year, the number of residential places will be expanded to up to 116 student boarders. An open day will be held tomorrow to showcase the new campus, residential facilities and the school's broad range of academic, vocational, cultural and sporting programs. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate staff at Dalby State High School for their tremendous efforts in getting the new campus and residential facilities up and running. For further information, please visit the Dalby State High School website.
It was great news to hear about last week's successful launch of the extension of the Gateway Schools to Agribusiness Program. The Queensland Government and AgriFood Skills Australia are each investing $100,000 to deliver the program so students in Central and Far North Queensland will have better access to career opportunities in agribusiness. Eight schools will be involved: Atherton, Mareeba, Malanda, Emerald, Sarina and Clermont State High Schools; Ravenshoe State School and Barcaldine Prep-12 State School. The schools will partner with their local agribusiness industry to provide opportunities for students to gain the necessary skills for a career pathway into agribusiness. For more information on the Gateways Schools Program, please visit the website 
.
Nominations for the DET Above and Beyond Awards are closing on Thursday 12 May. These awards are an excellent opportunity for those staff who worked tirelessly and selflessly during the past summer 's floods and cyclone to be recognised for their efforts. If one of your colleagues went 'above and beyond' during the natural disasters, I encourage you to nominate them. Nomination criteria and the nomination form are available on OnePortal and the Employee Portal (Portal quick links > Above and Beyond Awards). Recipients will be announced during Queensland Week (4 - 13 June).
I encourage all DET staff to consider entering a team in the 2011 Global Corporate Challenge (GCC). The 16-week pedometer-based challenge begins on Thursday 19 May, perfectly timed for burning off all those unwanted Easter calories. The GCC is the world 's largest corporate health and wellbeing event, combining exercise, fun, and 'virtual ' interactive experiences in exotic locations all over the world. It is an excellent opportunity for staff to achieve their long term health goals, as well as to enhance teamwork in the workplace. Teams of seven should register no later than Wednesday 11 May. For more information, including costs, visit the Global Corporate Challenge website , or contact Organisational Health on 3405 3803.
If you have any queries regarding departmental initiatives, please send them to the Inquiries Mailbox.
For more news go to OnePortal (DET employees only) or the Training Employee Portal (DET employees only) under Marketing and Communication, Newsletters.
Regards
Julie Grantham
Director-General
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2011.
