All negative so the meeting was closed at approximately 9:00 p.m.

State reports presented via email:
NSW
1. state membership numbers (approx)
............about 200

2. Main challenges:
- Chemical courses in Schools/ deliverance of these to senior students
- Chemical qualifications by PI & AG teachers to deliver chemical safety to junior & senior Ag students
- Tractor training: implications for Ag teachers/non Ag trained staff/ in the deliverance of training & safety instruction to both junior & senior Ag students
- & farm assistants; adequate training under OH&S guidelines for employees
- Falling numbers in senior Ag courses in general: since 1996 to 2003: a decline of 25% candidature since 2001-2003: a decline of 15%(new syllabus)
- Membership to the Ag Association
- Lack of inservice days for professional development for range of issues organised by the employer. In particular for new Ag teachers entering profession
- Farm Assitant hours: investigation of formula (formula in place for more than 25 years) & increase hours to a suitable time frame to allow for retention of 'valuable' people in the position by making it worthwhile hours that can support people financially
- worthwhile hours to complete 'all' jobs to alleviate pressure on Ag teachers
- meeting extra requirements placed on AG teachers; eg chemical use / animal/machinery use records/maintenance/oreers & so on
- extra demands by new curriculium has been placed in schools such as
- Primary Industries
- Environmental issues all Ag curriculium/
- Showing of produce from school farms in local & royal shows
3. what is happening in terms of senior students in your state (trend ) ie up, down or level
- Figure stable 2004
- But based on previous years: Falling numbers in senior Ag courses in general:
since 1996 to 2003: a decline of 25% candidature (1722 to 1288)
since 2001-2003: a decline of 15%(new syllabus) (1513 to 1288)

4. any other issues
- still finding them after a few months in this position. No doubt they will surface!

Cheers Tony Butler

Queensland
QATA is going along reasonably well. Membership is still fairly low -approx 50 out of the 100 or so ag teachers around the state. We havebeen trying over the past couple of years to help our colleagues to seethe value in membership - an improved website (www.naae.asn.au/qata) and state conference (after a break of 6 years) have been the mainstrategies.

The main challenges that we face are - a. communication within an association that sees members spread thinly across a large geographic area. Most of our members are the only ag teacher in their school, and their nearest colleague may be hundreds of km's away
b. We are all increasingly busy (work intensification) and so have less time to do the things that would be of benefit to our professional colleagues (eg contribute to the website; organise conference)
c. recruitment of new teachers to the profession. New ag teachers need to have a dual degree. The main training provider (UQ) offers a
B.App.Sc/B.Ed over 4 1/2 years or B.Agr.Sc/B.Ed over 5 1/2 years. I beleive we have only three students graduating in the next year.
The main curriculum dramas have been resolved, for now. The place of ag in the 8-10 curriculum is secure, despite implementation of KLA's.
Schools are free to offer junior Agriculture Education, which may deliver outcomes from Science, SOSE and Technology, as well as some uniquely agricultural outcomes.
We have a senior subject, Agricultural Science, which contributes to tertiary entrance (O.P.) score. Student enrolments are steady.
Schools are also able to offer VET, under the auspices of the Qld Studies Authority, up to Certificate II level.

Nigel Grant

South Australia
Membership is around 40????
Main challenges are a lack of funding for specific ag programs eg Chencert training for teachers and support staff, we have also had an automatic allocation of 5 hrs support time changed to having to apply for it each year. Overall a devaluing of ag education byt the state system at least.
Numbers are raesonably stable but I will have more accurate info by Meeting Adelaide Uni looking at adding an ag education training stream to its Education program i.e double degree B.Ag. Sc and B.Ed.
Mal Jurgs SA

VIC: Victorian Association of Agricultural and Horticultural Educators.

Report 2004

State Membership: Approx 70

Main Challenges:

We also have falling numbers in our V.C.E Agricultural and Horticultural Studies for the last 6 years. Partly due I feel to the increase in VET ag programs. Also due to students not seeing the value of Agriculture as a potential career. Careers teachers at fault? Is it the negative image of Ag in the broader society.

Due to the decline in the numbers there was a real push to remove the subject from the curriculum in mid 2003. After lobbying and getting political it was decided to review the course and change it. The new course is written and will be implemented in 2006.
Main difference is the increase in the allocation of marks to the practical component of the enterprise the students have to do. Also have tried to reduce the written work load.

We have also noted that a number of Ag teachers are leaving and are not being replaced.
The availability of Ag teachers is also a real concern. We have attempted to contact the various education training institutions but have had little feed back. The less teachers in Ag Hort the less students doing it.

The announcement by Melbourne Uni to close the country campuses really caused a storm. Reason was lack of numbers. This decision has been put on hold. Pressure by Government and country people.
Seems if you encourage the secondary students you may get more students doing it at tertiary.
The care for and well being of animals at school became an issue mid year. It appears to have blown over. I am sure it will resurface. At our conference on the 8th ,9th and 10th December we will have a speaker talking on the issue.

Reading through the state reports there is a common thread of

1. reduced numbers of Ag students
2. a lack of supplyof Ag teachers and
3. an image problem re Agriculture and Horticulture.

We need to come up with some practical ways of addressing these issues.
I am well aware of the huge demands placed on us as full time teachers of Ag. We need to think smarter not work harder.

WA (no response from secretary)
Probably best if you contact our secretary Garry Lane as our President, Peter Lundy, has just undergone major surgery and could be out of action for a long time.

Regards - Lindsay McNeill

NAAE Treasurer:

Invoices were sent to each of the Sate Treasurers on Nov 5. So far i have heard from only Tassie where the situation is very sad with the association having basically gone into hibernation. Perhaps during the teleconference you could mention state subscriptions and the need to finalise before the end of the year. I posted them to the Treasurers as they were last year so if details have changed could each state please contact me thanks

Mandie Miller
Treasurer NAAE