Advocacy

MAV works within an evolving context, and at a crucial time in education:

  • Education is changing, and MAV must lead the way in supporting mathematics educators to make the best impact possible.
  • The mathematics curriculum needs to respond to these changes: from VCE and VCAL to the early years of school, and early childhood education.
  • Teachers require professional support and resources to develop in students the mathematics and numeracy capabilities needed in their personal, professional and civic lives.
  • It is critical that students are prepared for life after school, progression to further study and for career pathways in a world that is data and information rich and technologically advanced.
  • MAV must grow, evolve and become a sustainable organisation in a competitive and changing not-for-profit sector.

In order to maximise it's impact MAV undertakes advocacy and represents maths educators through various means including:

  • meeting with stakeholders to raise and discuss various issues
  • running focus groups or surveys to collate imformation
  • developing partnerships
  • providing advice to various panels and committees where possible
  • submitting papers and submission to various inquiries and committees on behalf of maths educators
  • and providing thought leadership.

The MAV Board points the way for MAV decisions and strategy based on their views in representing the members and maths eductors more broadly. An advocacy plan is currently being implemented by MAV staff. Some activities are undetaken with AAMT.

To contact MAV about advocacy related issues email: office@mav.vic.edu.au

MAV is represented on the following panels and groups:

Panel/Group Purpose Representative
National Mathematics Summit for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders Our responsibility is to drive a cultural shift to make a systemic difference in mathematics education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners. 

CEO
President

Tech School Learning Advisory Panel, Victorian Department of Education and Training.

2018 to 2022

Provide advice on the development, design and implementation of the Tech School learning programs. CEO
International Mathematical Modelling Challenge (IM2C)

Supporting the implementation of the IM2C in Australia.
Find out more here: https://www.immchallenge.org.au/

Peter Karakoussis
Past Panels and groups:    

Economics + Maths = Financial Capability Research

2021 to 2022

Supporting research by Deakin University into financial education in schools, and the role of mathematics educators. Final report released November 2022.

https://redi.deakin.edu.au/projects/economics-maths-financial-capability/

CEO, Jen Bowden

GAT Redevelopment Project (GRP) Reference Group

2019 - 2020

To support VCAA's work in regards to the Numeracy GAT under development, providing assurances to the steering committee including advice on specific issues, endorsing changes, assessing progress to help facilitate the achievement of the project outcomes.  CEO, Helen Haralambous

Review panels for Senior secondary schooling pathway reforms:

  • Foundation Mathematics
  • Victorian Pathways Certificate (Formerly VCAL)
  • VCE Vocational Major 

Feb 2020 - 2022

Review drafts, provide curriulum development advice. CEO

Victorian Maths Challenge, Victorian Department of Education and Training.

2016 to 2019

Providing advice and support in the development of the Victorian Maths Challenge, development and trialling of resources including the facilitation of family maths nights, and advising on the development of the Infinite Voyage app. CEO and MAV consultants and representatives

VCE Mathematics Expert Review Panel, VCAA

2018/2019

Provide advice to VCAA in regards to the review of VCE mathematics.
(MAV also ran a VCE review forum to collect feedback from teachers for the VCAA.)
CEO

Papers and related resources:

Resource Description Link

Valuing Mathematics in Society: a discussion paper.

Updated October 2021

(Originally Released: September 2019)

This thought leadership paper elaborates on the selected areas as a discussion starter, identifying areas where together we can advance mathematics education in Victoria for the decades ahead. Further papers that take a deep dive into specific areas will follow over time. This will allow stakeholders to engage in considered debate and action where required. Click here to download

Other recent work:

Activity Purpose Representative

Article in Teacher Magazine

June 2022

Get crypto-cool for school: Talking about investment risks and rewards in the classroom.

https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/get-crypto-cool-for-school-talking-about-investment-risks-and-rewards-in-the-classroom 

MAV CEO Peter Saffin, with Dr Carly Sawatzki and Dr Jill Brown, from Deakin University's School of Education. 

Article in Australian Teacher Magazine by Education HQ.

Mar 2022

It's time to do away with the false dichotomy in maths instruction:

The proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics have sparked lively public debate comparing explicit instruction and inquiry approaches.

https://educationhq.com/news/its-time-to-do-away-with-the-false-dichotomy-in-maths-instruction-117118/ 

MAV CEO Peter Saffin

Article in Teacher Magazine

Feb 2021

Fintech education – meeting students’ interests and needs

https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/fintech-education-meeting-students-interests-and-needs

MAV CEO Peter Saffin, with Dr Carly Sawatzki and Dr Jill Brown, from Deakin University's School of Education. 

Article in Teacher Magazine

Dec 2021

Strengthenthing your school's approach to finacial education: 

https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/strengthening-your-schools-approach-to-financial-education/ 

MAV CEO Peter Saffin, with Dr Carly Sawatzki and Dr Jill Brown, from Deakin University's School of Education. 

Editorial in The Age: Financial education

Nov 2021

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/time-s-ripe-for-financial-literacy-students-can-bank-on-20210602-p57xdm.html

MAV CEO Peter Saffin, with Dr Carly Sawatzki and Dr Jill Brown, from Deakin University's School of Education.

Editorial in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald: Response to the review of NAPLAN.

November 2020

 

A Positive Way Forward for NAPLAN

The Age: https://www.theage.com.au/education/the-positive-way-forward-for-naplan-20201006-p562dj.html

SMH: https://www.smh.com.au/education/the-positive-way-forward-for-naplan-20201006-p562dj.html

MAV Board

Editorial in The Age, supporting parents with maths at home

May 2020

Helping your kids learn maths at home doesn't have to be daunting

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/helping-your-kids-learn-maths-at-home-doesn-t-have-to-be-daunting-20200515-p54tbn.html

MAV CEO

Launch of Parent Support web pages and resources

May 2020

MAV lauched new partent support, an area not previously focused on, see the pages here: https://www.mav.vic.edu.au/Resources/parents

MAV staff

Consultation meetings for Mathematics Online Interview (MOI) and the Fractions and Decimal Online Interview (FDOI) Review

May 2020 

Monash University was commissioned by the Department of Education and Teaching to review the Mathematics Online Interview (MOI) and the Fractions and Decimal Online Interview (FDOI) Review. The review will investigate (i) how the MOI and FDOI align with the Victorian Curriculum F-10: Mathematics in order to identify any gaps; and (ii) the effectiveness and usability of the current online platforms for implementing the MOI and FDOI reliably, and for analysing the outcomes to inform effective mathematics teaching and school improvement cycles. Jen Bowden joined these focus group consultations to provide expert opinion and feedback. Jen Bowden (Primary Education Consultant)

Consultation meeting with the NAPLAN review panel

March 2020

The CEO attended a consultation meeting with the NAPLAN review panel, including Emeritus Professor Barry McGaw (Chair), Emeritus Professor Bill Louden (Panel Member) and Professor Claire Wyatt Smith (Panel Member) to further discuss MAV's views on NAPLAN and future directions. MAV CEO

Written response to NAPLAN review.

March 2020

The MAV Board submitted a written response to the NAPLAN review. MAV Board

Article in the The Age and radio interview.

Nov/Dec 2019

The Age arcticle: Success in year 12 maths adds up to better science results at uni. including quotes from MAV CEO, Peter Saffin

Radio interview with ABC in regards to PISA.

MAV CEO

Meeting with the Parliamentary Secretary for Schools, Tim Richardson MP.

Monday 9 Dec 2019

Discuss how subject associations are working to support government initiatives, DET, VCAA and others. Outline key issues of concern for subject associations in regards to discipline based professional learning. MAV CEO (With CEO of HTAV and DLTV)

Presentation by The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) to MAV Board.

September 2019

A representative from the VIT provided an overview to governance and regulatory approach, current issues, and future strategic directions. There will be opportunity for MAV to provide advice to VIT as they work through changes around their teacher registration and its links to professional learning.

MAV Board

Consultation with Grattan Institute.

September 2019

Discussion and provision of feedback on aspects of their their upcoming report on a school and regional staffing structures that could support discipline-based teacher professional learning and networking. MAV CEO (With CEO of HTAV)

Margaret Mackenzie re VCAA PLFramework.

August 2019

The VCAA has commissioned a report on the current provision of professional learning for VCE teachers. Representatives from the teachers’ associations for Health and PE, Design and Technology, Geography, Maths and History met with Margaret Mackenzie, the consultant who has been appointed to write the report. We were able to describe some of the many ways in which teachers’ associations are supporting Victoria’s VCE teachers, and what we have learned about the needs of VCE teachers in the process. MAV CEO with representatives of CPTAV (Council of Professional Teachers Associations)

Victorian Governor's event for Maths and Science Teachers

July 2019

MAV supported the organisation of an event to celebrate Maths and Science Teachers in Victoria, recognising them as an important part of the STEM ecosystem. MAV would like to thank The Honourable Linda Dessau AC Governor of Victoria (centre in image below) for taking a lead in making this important event happen.

The Honourable Linda Dessau AC Governor of Victoria with MAV staff and Directors

MAV CEO, plus attendance by invited Board and staff

 

University of Melbourne FATE
workshop.

July 2019

Consultation workshop led by the University of Melbourne team that have been commissioned by Commonwealth Dept of Education to develop a ‘Framework for Evaluating Teacher Effectiveness’. MAV CEO

Meeting withThe Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).

June 2019

Discussed discipline-specific professional learning, out-of-field
teaching, barriers to teacher access to professional learning, teacher autonomy in the idetificaton and choice of school-funded professional learning.
Resulted in the addition of Teacher Associaton references and links on the professional learning pages of the VIT website, and an invitaton to engage in regular discussions in future.
MAV CEO (With CEO of HTAV)

VCAA Meeting on Capabilites.

June 2019

MAV representatives were part of a workshop to explore the points of intersection between the Victorian Curriculum and the Capabilities, assist the VCAA to consider their way forward with the implementation of the Capabilities. MAV representatives