Report on the 2008 JETAA Oceania Conference, Rydges Hotel, North Melbourne

Brendan Bergin (President) and Deanne Ellis (Secretary) were sponsored by JETAA Auckland to attend this year’s conference. We are grateful for the opportunity to represent JETAA Auckland at the Oceania level. It was an invaluable networking opportunity. Our presentation regarding national initiatives to promote the JET programme in NZ High Schools focused on the DVD competition and the NCEA workshop. This was extremely well received with several chapters announcing that they would introduce one of these initiatives in their region. CLAIR also commended JETAA Auckland for these initiatives at the conference.

The following workshops were presented over the two days:

• Effective Pre-Departure Orientations (JETAA Sydney)
• Welcome Back Packs (JETAA Queensland)
• Promoting Co-operation and involvement with JETAA (JETAA Vic/Tas/SA)
• Happi Coats (JETAA Wellington)
• Promoting Japanese Learning at Home (JETAA South Island)
• How to Fundraise for your Chapter (JETAA Canberra)
• Social Networking: Bringing the Net to Life (JETAA WA)
• Promoting the JET Programme in High Schools (JETAA Auckland)

Of particular interest to our chapter was the Effective Pre-Departure Orientations presentation from Sydney with an excellent handbook they prepare for participants and a great activity. Other initiatives of interest were the Welcome Back Packs by Queensland and the Careers Expo run by JETAA WA for returning JETs.

One of the concerns raised at the conference is a reduction in funding available from CLAIR for individual chapters and a need for individual chapters to raise funds for their activities. In this context, presentations on fundraising and cost-effective ways to communicate with members and promote events (eg. Facebook) were particularly helpful.

Nicole Quinton was present at the conference in her capacity as JETAA NZ Country Rep (Elect) and intends to work closely with her Australian counterpart to improve communication and networking between Australia and NZ chapters. A Logo competition to express the Australia-NZ JETAA Oceania network was announced and entries need to be submitted by 1st March 2009. Nicole also presented JETAA Auckland’s proposal to host next year’s JETAA Oceania conference. The proposal was positively received and delegates were to take this back to their chapters to vote either to support the proposal or to put forward their own proposal. We will be notified of the outcome shortly.

Brendan Bergin
President, Auckland JETAA
12th December, 2008