The Supreme Court of India ruled on Friday that if the fundamental right to education under “Article 21A of the Constitution has to become a reality,” then the needs of underprivileged children “to receive adequate access to online education cannot be denied.”

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Fiverr (NYSE: FVRR), the company that is changing how the world works together, today announced its acquisition of Seattle-based online learning company CreativeLive, a renowned creative and entrepreneurial education platform where people can learn about design, business, photography, video, marketing and more. Instructors include a diverse group of Pulitzer-, Grammy-, and Oscar-winners, New York Times best-selling authors, thought leaders and legendary entrepreneurs.

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As any university student, lecturer or tutor can attest, the pandemic has turned learning and teaching upside down. So it’s important we understand what happens for students when their learning shifts online with little to no warning.

Since 2020, there’s been a growing body of important research into the impact of online learning for educators. But the student voice, which is essential to informing good design and facilitation of online learning, has been largely unexamined.

Our Student Online Learning Experiences (SOLE) research project aims to rectify this and give voice to those who are, arguably, at the heart of the COVID-19 education crisis.

The study uses data from nearly 1000 survey responses from students across all eight New Zealand universities. Through a combination of online questionnaires, individual and focus group interviews, we explored their experiences of online learning during the pandemic in 2020.

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World Teachers’ Day, celebrated annually on 5 October, provides an important opportunity to call on Governments and the international community to spotlight teachers and their challenges, and share effective and promising policy responses.

“They are the principal actors of the global education recovery efforts and are key in accelerating progress towards inclusive and equitable quality education for every learner, in every circumstance”, the statement continued.

From using technology creatively to providing socio-emotional support to their students, and reaching those most at risk of falling behind, teachers have been at the heart of the educational response to the COVID-19 crisis.

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NSW will take its first steps towards reopening as the State passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target.

With the first vaccination milestone being reached, the NSW Government is also easing a number of restrictions as part of the Reopening NSW roadmap, which will allow fully vaccinated adults to enjoy more freedoms from next Monday, October 11.

The changes to the 70 per cent roadmap will allow up to 10 visitors (not counting children 12 and under) to a home (previously five), lift the cap on outdoor gatherings to 30 people (previously 20), and increase the cap for weddings and funerals to 100 people (previously 50).

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Higher education is still suffering the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. In some parts of the world, the crisis is as acute as ever. In Europe, we hope we are through the worst of it, but we have seen time and again over the past months that coping with the health crisis requires more time and effort than we had originally believed.

At the same time, the COVID pandemic should serve to remind us that we need to prepare for the next crisis. We do not know when it will come or what kind of emergency it will be. We do know, however, that we will need to ensure students’ right to quality education also in times of crisis.

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New allergy guidelines have recommended removing blanket bans on foods from schools and childcare centres in favour of greater education and awareness around allergies and anaphylaxis. Released on Thursday, the National Allergy Strategy — developed with experts — aims to clarify managing and preventing anaphylaxis in schools, with research suggesting up to 1 in 20 school-aged children in Australia have food allergies.

The strategy has been in development for two years and is underpinned by “best practice guidelines for the prevention and management of anaphylaxis in schools and children’s education and care”.

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Homeschooling is understood to be the fastest-growing education sector and alternative school advocates say it shows mainstream schooling needs a shake-up.

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Australia’s Registered Training Organisations had a lot to say in this year’s Voice of VET Report. Here’s three things RTOs say have changed (and three things that haven’t).

ReadyTech’s Voice of VET RTO Industry Report 2021 contains a lot of interesting insights into the RTO market. Based on a survey of 328 RTOs with a combined footprint across all Australian states and territories, it collates these responses to reveal a range of views, opportunities and challenges.

One of the key themes of this year’s report was the resilience shown by RTOs as they planned for 2021. Embracing new market opportunities as well as digital transformation, there was a clear desire to move forward from the trials of Covid-19 in 2020 into a new era of change and growth this year.

For more information, please visit here.

Fee relief is available to eligible registered training organisations (RTOs) and non-school senior secondary providers (NSSSPs) to help ease the ongoing economic impact caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Minister for Education and the Minister for Training and Skills have provided fee relief to RTOs and NSSSPs by:

extending the VRQA’s financial powers to issue refunds to eligible providers which paid VRQA annual and re-registration fees between 17 February and 29 September 2021

waiving VRQA annual and re-registration fees that were due to be invoiced between 29 September and 31 December 2021 under Ministerial Order No. 1337.

Fees where invoices had been raised, between 17 February and 29 September 2021, but not yet paid will also be waived.

Schools and public sector bodies are not eligible for fee relief.

We are providing fee relief to eligible organisations, regardless of circumstance. We will notify you by email if you are eligible.

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ASQA’s risk-based regulatory program in 2021-22 has been informed by the outcomes of our annual environmental scan, which brings together feedback from stakeholder groups and regulatory data – and includes a focus on both provider and systemic risks.

As a best-practice regulator, ASQA implements a risk-based approach to regulation, focusing regulatory attention on areas of greatest risk exposure to manage our resources effectively and minimise regulatory burden on providers. In doing so, we make the best use of a range of regulatory approaches using a variety of regulatory treatments – education, registration and approvals, course accreditation, monitoring and performance assessment (audit), compliance management and internal review of decisions – to apply proportionate and fit-for-purpose responses.

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Recent amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) have replaced existing legislation around monitoring, investigation, and enforcement. This brings the ESOS Act and the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVR Act) into closer alignment.

ASQA’s regulation of training providers will remain the same, with a commitment to best practice regulation to ensure quality outcomes and integrity in VET and ELICOS training.

The regulatory implications for training providers are minor, however some changes include:

• the ways a penalty amount is calculated for an infringement notice
• allowances for person(s) to assist an Authorised Officer, and therefore exercise powers and use reasonable force in relation to things as required
• broadening of the definition of evidential material, aligning it more closely to the definition contained in the NVR Act.

The amendments to the ESOS Act replace the existing monitoring, investigation, and enforcement powers with largely equivalent powers under the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014 (RPSP Act). The RPSP Act contains a standard set of regulatory provisions that exist to provide consistent regulatory powers and promote best practice regulation across Commonwealth regulators.

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Australia’s privileged position as one of the most highly prized destinations for international students has tumbled as Canada, the United States and Britain race to grab greater market share, a new survey has shown.

Australia’s share of demand from international students has declined from 16.8 per cent to 11.6 per cent over the past two years, according to data from IDP Connect. And with migration opportunities and face-to-face learning the most important factors driving decisions about where to study, Australia needs to quickly and clearly communicate to students that it will be open for business in 2022.

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A quarter of a million Australian families will be more than $2200 a year better off when additional childcare subsidies are introduced early next year.

The additional subsidies for families with two or more children in care were due to start in July 2022, but the federal government has brought the start date forward to March.

Education and Youth Minister Alan Tudge said the $1.7bn boost to the subsidy scheme would ease pressure on working families and encourage more parents into work.

“These changes are good for families and great for the economy, and it’s significant that we are able to deliver them sooner,” Mr Tudge said.

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Australia will allow 2000 overseas nurses and doctors to enter the country for work under a plan being finalised by the Commonwealth and states to ease a healthcare staffing crisis.

With Melbourne and Sydney’s hospital beds jammed with COVID-19 patients and the health systems of other states also under strain, the reinforcements will be flown in over the next six months and predominantly dispatched to outer suburban and regional hospitals and GP clinics.

For more information, please visit here.

IDP has recently launched its new student-centred app, IDP Live. IDP Live brings together a suite of tools, including a ground-breaking new service that fast-tracks students through to receiving an offer, prior to submitting their application – ensuring that students can find the right courses and institutions faster and more easily.

For more information, please visit here.

Going out of the comfort zone is not easy. It is difficult, challenging and it can be scary. But what if you knew that there was no way to grow without leaving the comfort zone?

The journey from comfort zone to the growth zone can be a tough one. There are many uncertainties and insecurities associated with it. But, if you want to grow as a person, it is important to step out of your comfort zone.

There are various ways in which we can take baby steps and make the transition from our comfort zone to the growth zone easier.

Generally speaking, humans are creatures of what we do as routine practices. They are creatures of habits. However, while we may sit about and talk about doing exciting things and wanting to live life on the edge, what we truly desire is security, safety, protection and stability. There has been no change in wanting and keeping these attributes. The change frightens us and we prefer to remain in our familiar surroundings.

The comfort zone

Our comfort zone is the place where we feel most in command of our lives. We are familiar with how things function and have established routines. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Your good habits may include brushing your teeth after every meal, not leaving clothes on the floor, and returning milk to the refrigerator once you’ve finished with it. But there’s more to being a successful person than just having good habits.

The first step to move out of your comfort zone is being accountable for your actions. You have to be ready to accept the truth about yourself, not what you want it to be. This will help you know what needs improvement and where you need development.

The second step is taking action, even if it is small. But with small steps, we can reach the growth zone and make a change in our lives for the better.

Having a sense of security in our familiar surroundings

The comfort zone is a place where we can find stability and a sense of security. It serves as our compass in life. To be honest, who wants to live in a world where everything changes on a daily basis and we never know what will happen next? Even if some things will always be beyond our control, our comfort zone provides a sense of assurance and protection.

Our comfort zone entails a modest level of danger. That’s one of the reasons we like it. However, it comes with a poor monetary payoff. Continually remaining in our comfort zones does not allow us to grow or learn anything new about ourselves. In order to accomplish this, we must try something different. We must make a shift in our thinking.

Change is necessary for us to progress. Change, on the other hand, might be difficult. Our comfort zone is challenged, and this is uncomfortable for all parties involved. Any change, regardless of how significant, such as contemplating a new job or career direction, should be welcomed. Alternatively, it could be something minor, such as opting to try a different restaurant for lunch. When you try something new, there is a risk involved.

The fear zone

Fear of the unknown is what makes people uneasy with change. If you don’t like the new eatery, what do you do? Or is it that you’re not very competent at your new job? Naturally, the hazards in these two circumstances are not the same; but, the feelings or concerns about not doing either are the same in both cases. Speaking in front of a group of people is one of the most prevalent phobias that most individuals face. It is this dread, whether it is fear of the unknown or fear of failure, that causes so much discomfort for many of us.

Consider the experience of returning to school. You’re in the middle of a lesson when a thought occurs to you. It’s an excellent question. You’re waiting for the right moment to ask it. As time passes, however, you begin to question whether this is such a good question after all. You give it a shot in your thoughts and see how it goes. After that, you arrive to the conclusion that the question is dumb. And you certainly don’t want to appear foolish, so you’re not going to ask that question right now, are you?

The same is true for any type of change. For the simple reason that it is unpleasant, we want to avoid it. Then we come up with a list of reasons why it may not be such a good idea after all. Perhaps the new restaurant’s menu will not be to your liking. The illumination is excessively low in this room. It’s possible that it’ll be too pricey. After a few moments of contemplation, you’re back at your favourite eating establishment.

We’ve mastered the art of talking ourselves out of making changes.

When it comes to stepping outside of our comfort zone, we’re experts at convincing ourselves that it’s not a good idea.

This can also happen when we are attempting to make adjustments in our way of life. In any situation, whether it’s beginning a new diet, going to bed early, or quitting smoking, we hunt for reasons not to do something. It’s not going to taste good. You’re only going to watch one more episode of your favourite show on Netflix. Every one of your friends is a smoker. The list could go on and on. And while many of these justifications are reasonable, they aren’t at the heart of the problem of why people are resistant to change.

Consider the following scenario: you wish to get up a half hour earlier each day to workout. The alarm goes off on the first morning of the week. You’re exhausted, and it’s pitch black outside. You convince yourself that you only need a few more minutes in bed before getting out of bed. In no time at all, you’ve used the snooze button twice more, and you’re forced to report to work. You assure yourself that you’ll start the next day.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

All of this is very normal. There are moments when we’ve all been there a number of times. However, we must recognise that stepping outside of our comfort zone is beneficial to our health. It adds to the excitement of everyday living. It’s beneficial. Doing the same thing over and over again can become tedious and stale, both in terms of our physical and mental health. The ability to accept and embrace change allows people to continue to grow and retain their youthful vigour.

This does not imply that you must make significant adjustments in every element of your life. That would also be ineffective because we require our comfort zone to act as an anchor for our efforts.

Learning zone

In order to grow, one needs to be in the learning zone. One can’t just stay in their comfort zone all the time. There is no growth there. In the learning zone, you face challenges, risks, barriers and difficulties that require you to learn new skills and acquire new abilities.

The first step of entering the learning zone is to set some personal goals. These goals should be realistic and achievable. The next step would be to start your learning process by doing some research on how to go about achieving those goals and finding out what you need for this process. Finally, find someone who would like to support you in this process and make sure that they know what you are trying to achieve.

Growth zone

Growth is one of the most important aspects of life. It is important for your personal growth, your professional growth, and your spiritual growth. This is the space where you grow and become a better version of yourself. Where you get to be your best self. Where you allow yourself to dream and then take steps to make them a reality. The growth zone has new challenges but it also has new opportunities. There are uncertainties and insecurities of the unknown territory but there is more room for creativity and experimentation. The more challenges you face, the more you grow!

Conclusion

The first step to take to make the journey from the comfort zone to the growth zone, is to identify what you want. It may seem like a cliché but it’s important to know what you want – do not settle for less. Once you are clear about what you want, then figure out how to get there. This will help build your confidence.

Do not be afraid of rejections or failures, they are natural parts of life and they will happen more often than not. So don’t let them stop you from trying again and again because failure is only a temporary state of being – so keep trying until success comes knocking on your door!

In partnership with Edu Learning and CAQA Skills, CAQA provides a variety of professional and personal development opportunities. We may also tailor the training to meet your specific requirements and skill level as well. For additional details, please contact us at info@caqa.com.au.