 
The AEF' Leading 21st Century Schools National Forum brought together 243 school and system leaders from around Australia, motivating them to lead the changes necessary to build a critical mass of Asia literate students and achieve the goals of the National Statement for Engaging Young Australians with Asia in Australian Schools.
At the forum the nation's peak education stakeholders devised:
- A Call to Action: Asia literacy for every young Australian (PDF 90 KB) outlining urgent actions needed to achieve Asia literacy and formed Australia's Asia Literacy Alliance. The Alliance comprises 24 national organizations representing education, business and community sectors.
- School based action plans led by leading principals participating in the Leading 21st Century Schools: Engage with Asia project. Principals discussed at local level individual community needs for engaging with Asia, what an Asia engaged school looks like and how to build an Asia focus in their schools. National Forum Activities (pdf file: 900 KB).
Note: You will need Quicktime Video Player to view videoclips. Download Quicktime here. 
Entire program outline
National Forum Report (PDF 870 KB).
Forum Features
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'It is impossible to conceive of a future Australian education system that does not take the study of Asia seriously.'
The Hon Julia Gillard MP Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education
The Minister's Speech
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'For the first time in one room, we have all of the key players that are operating where it matters most: in schools.'
Tony Mackay Forum Leader
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'Education was key to fostering friendship, trade and cultural links with Asia.'
Mr Hieu Van Le Lieutenant Governor of South Australia
Welcome to South Australia
PDF 44 KB)
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'Our challenge is to build a critical mass of Asia-literate young Australians.'
Kathe Kirby, Asia Education Foundation
Engaging Young Australians with Asia - Where are we at?
(PowerPoint as PDF 1.0 MB)
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'We can bring trade barriers down but if we don’t have cultural engagement in the neighbourhood we are not going take advantage of those benefits.'
Tim Harcourt, Austrade
The Power of Proximity
(PowerPoint 8.2 MB)
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'We enrich ourselves ... and our students to realise there are truly different ways to being.'
Professor Geremie Barme, Australian National University
Worrying China
(PDF 0.2 MB)
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'We are a global society now and that has to be capitalised on.'
Global Citizens speak out
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Preparing 5 year-olds for 2040. Will new skills and knowledge be required?
Panel interview hosted by Richard Aedy, ABC Radio National's Life Matters
Preparing for the Asian Century
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2020 Schools: Engage with Asia DVD
provides a powerful and succinct rationale for why 21st century education needs to equip young Australians to engage with Asia. To obtain a copy email
aef@asialink.unimelb.edu.au |
Peak Principals Associations voice their support
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 Andrew Blair,
President,
Australian Secondary Principals Association
Andrew Blair
(.mp3 file: 3.2 MB)
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 Leonie Trimper,
President,
Australian Primary Principals Association Leonie Trimper
(.mp3 file: 1.8 MB) |
Mary Ciccarelli,
Exectutive Officer,
Catholic Secondary Principals Australia
Mary Ciccarelli
(.mp3 file: 1 MB)
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Malcolm Pritchard,
NT Representative,
Association of Heads of Independent Schools Malcolm Pritchard
(.mp3 file: 2.4 MB) |
 Susan Boucher,
Chief Exectutive Officer,
Principals Australia Susan Boucher
(.mp3 file: 2.2 MB) |
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Forum Workshop links for five presenters at the National Forum are:
Engaging with a Rising China – Our New Knowledge Needs
Report by Dr Jane Orton, Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne
Australian Professional And Business Area Knowledge For Working In China (PDF) Mapping Social Cohesion and the Way Forward
Survey report by Andrew Markus, Pratt Foundation Research Professor, Monash University
Mapping Social Cohesion The Arts of Asia – a Treasure-trove on Our Doorstep
Information about cultural and artistic exchanges between Australia and Asia managed by Alison Carroll, Arts Director, Asialink
http://www.asialink.unimelb.edu.au/our_work/arts Good Neighbours, Global Citizens
Macquarie University and Australian Volunteers International's volunteer program described at the forum by Dimity Fifer, Chief Executive Officer, AVI The Business Case for Developing Intercultural Skills, Knowledge and Understanding
Cross-cultural and training company of Tamerlaine Beasley, Managing Director, Beasley Intercultural
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Acknowledgement
The National Forum was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations as a quality teacher initiative under the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme, through the Asia Education Foundation, under the Grants and Awards Programme and the Quality Outcomes Programme.
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