Date: Monday 1 July 2024
Time: 9:00am – 10:30am
Venue: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

About the Network

Engagement in Co-curricular activities empowers students to develop core capabilities and skills such as leadership, emotional intelligence, creativity and integrity that enable them to seamlessly navigate a changing employability landscape. With a reflective learning process on skill development at its core, co-curricular recognition provides the opportunity for students to identify how they have grown both personally and professionally and be confident articulating this outside of the University context.

The Co-curricular Recognition Network champions student engagement and formal recognition in activities that complement and extend students curriculum such as community engagement, volunteering, leadership development and professional development activities. The network meets quarterly to share knowledge and best practice and is open to any practitioners with a wealth of experience at all levels.

About the Session

The Australian Universities Accord calls for a more flexible and responsive skills system to help students accelerate the acquisition and recognition of their skills while also recognising the reality and importance of student part-time work.

In this session we will hear from Natasha Yemm from Jobs and Skills Australia on the National Skills Taxonomy which is being developed to provide a common language of skills to increase understanding and recognition of skills across occupations, sectors, and contexts. Natasha will also update attendees on work being undertaken to review and develop the National Skills Taxonomy as identified as a priority in the Accord Report.

Participants will then engage in small group discussions to examine the advancement of current co-curricular recognition initiatives in educational institutions. We will explore progressive strategies to ensure students are assisted in cultivating and effectively conveying fundamental competencies and skills that are clearly articulated and accessible, ultimately amplifying their employability prospects.

Presenters

Natasha Yemm
Assistant Secretary of the Domestic Skills System Branch
Jobs and Skills Australia

Natasha Yemm is acting Assistant Secretary of the Domestic Skills Systems branch. Natasha has worked at Jobs and Skills Australia since it was established in 2022 and with the former National Skills Commission prior to that. She has held a range of Australian Government roles across labour market analysis, data science, community engagement, social impact investment and economic development. In 2020, she was the Australian representative for the Canada Australia Public Policy Initiative and worked with the Canadian Government to examine how the skills required for different jobs evolve over time.

Convenors

Belinda Brear
Student Partnerships Coordinator
University of the Sunshine Coast

Belinda Brear is the Student Partnerships Coordinator at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). With over 10 years’ experience in Higher Education student engagement, she is passionate about enhancing students’ employability and promoting authentic partnerships. Belinda leads the Students as Partners Team at UniSC including the co-curricular recognition program, student volunteers and the Student Governance Framework.

Naia Robinson
Student Engagement Officer, Set4ANU
Australian National University

Naia Robinson is currently a professional staff member working within the portfolio of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the Australian National University. Within the Student Life Team, Naia is a program officer for a transition-focused peer mentoring program called ‘Set4ANU.’ Naia has been working in higher education for the past two years, and during this time has been responsible for the implementation and evaluation of student-facing programs. Her interest lies in student development, strengths-based approaches, and peer mentoring.