About SPEVI
History
The Association began as a meeting of blind professionals or those teachers involved in education at a residential conference at Cheltenham, Victoria 1955. The Association came as a response to a visit overseas by Mercy Dickinson, a blind teacher at the Brisbane School for the Blind. Mercy completed an educational study tour overseas with the support of the Guild of Business and Professional Blind, to Condover Hall school in England, as well as other schools. On her return about 40 people gathered for five days to hear her report on her trip. Some notable 'oldtimers' who attended were John Adams, Neill West, Dorothy Hamilton, George Findlay, Hugh Jeffrey, Don Forbes, Paul Mercy and Leah Francis thus representing all Australian States.
The conference was held the following year in Sydney and it then formally emerged as the Australian Association of Teachers of the Blind with Paul Percy as inaugural President. In 1957 Paul attended an international conference and visited New Zealand spreading the idea for a regional grouping of teachers of the blind. In 1958 a conference in Melbourne was attended by Wal Christiansen of N.Z. and the 1960 conference in Brisbane marked the merging of Australian and New Zealand teachers.
The mid 1960's saw the establishment of the Board of Examiners providing course and examinations in a Certificate of Braille Competency and a Diploma in the Education of the Blind/Partially Sighted. With the adoption of specialised courses in many states of Australia and New Zealand the need for extra qualifications decreased and the Board was disbanded in 1982. The Association has continued with some name changes, the most recent being to it's current name, SPEVI. It has also broadened its membership beyond educators to anyone directly involved with the education of persons with vision impairment. It has remained flexible and responsive to its membership.
Aims
- To act as the professional body in matters pertaining to the education of people with a vision impairment within the South Pacific region
- To stimulate research and encourage the raising of educational standards
- To promote and encourage the training of educators in vision impairment
- To evaluate and encourage the use of appropriate, up to date materials, including technical equipment, in the education of persons with vision impairment, and to facilitate in depth in teacher education programs in the use of new techniques and technology
- To promote and encourage the interchange of information from both within our organisation and with ones of a similar interest
- To promote and encourage the utilization of services and materials and the sharing of professional literature, opinion, and experiences
- To use all available resources to further the objectives of the Association.
SPEVI councillors for 2009 - 2011
Executive - Australia
President
Paul Pagliano, James Cook University
Phone: (07) 4781 5424
Fax: (07) 4781 5699
Email: Paul.Pagliano@jcu.edu.au
Vice President
Sandie Mackevicius, Vision Australia
Phone: (03) 8791 0202
Fax: (03) 9569 7565
Email (work): sandie.mackevicius@visionaustralia.org
Secretary
Tim Crowe-Mai
Address: Royal Society for the Blind, 230 Pirie Street Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8232 4777
Fax: (08) 8232 4807
Email: tcrowemai@rsb.org.au
Treasurer
Sheila Klinger
Address: South Australian School for Vision Impaired, 1b Duncan Ave Park Holme SA 5043
Phone: (08) 8277 5255
Fax: (08)8277 5051
Email: sheila.klinger@sasvi.sa.edu.au
Membership Secretary
Hellen Riley
Address: CanDo4Kids Townsend House PO Box 43, Brighton SA 5048
Phone: (08) 8298 0900
Fax: (08) 8298 0960
Email: hellen.riley@cando4kids.com.au
Newsletter Editors
Mike Steer and Frances Gentle
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
Address: 361-365 North Rocks Rd, North Rocks NSW 2151
Phone: (02)9871 1233
Fax: (02) 9871 2196
Email: mike.steer@ridbc.org.au or frances.gentle@ridbc.org.au
Branch Councillors
Australian Capital Territory
Vacant
New South Wales Councillors
Alison Stephen
Phone: (02) 9874 5202
Fax: (02) 9874 5202
Email: alison.stephen@det.nsw.edu.au
Tricia d'Apice
Phone: (02) 9872 0332
Email: tricia.d'apice@ridbc.org.au
Celia Vild
Phone: (02) 9871 1233
Fax (02) 9871 2196
Email: celia.vild@ridbc.org.au
New Zealand Councillors
Sue Spooner
Phone: (09) 623 8899 ext. 8720
Email: s.spooner@auckland.ac.nz
Sharon Duncan
Phone: (09)266 7109 ext 866
Fax: (09) 268 3211
Email: sharon.duncan@blennz.school.nz
Jude Shelley
Phone: (09) 266 7109 ext 817
Fax: (09)267 4496
Email: jude.shelley@blennz.school.nz
Judy Allison
Phone: (09) 266 7109 ext 725
Fax:(09) 268 3211
Email: judy.allison@blennz.school.nz
Northern Territory Councillor
Christine Dinning
Phone: (08) 8999 8704
Fax: (08) 8999 8713
Email: christine.dinning@nt.gov.au
Pacific Region Councillors
Arnold Koima
Phone: + 675 5421 129
Email: bobkairu@online.net.pg
Makareta Musukasau
Phone: +679 3300 616
Email: ubp@conect.fj
Queensland Councillors
Jennie Bos
Phone: 0408 878 305
Fax: (07) 3343 0700
Email: jbos7@eq.edu.au
Jane Brown
Phone: 0423 208 559
Email: janeemily_brown@hotmail.com
Andy Nielson
Phone: 0417 140 371
Fax: (07) 3491 1243
Email: aniel38@eq.edu.au
South Australian Councillors
Claire Fettke
Phone: (08) 8277 5255
Fax: (08) 8277 5051
Email: claire.fettke@sasvi.sa.edu.au
Hellen Riley
Phone: (08) 8298 0942
Fax: (08) 8298 0960
Email: hellen.riley@cando4kids.com.au
Tim Crowe-Mai
Phone: (08) 8232 4777
Fax: (08) 8232 4807
Email: tcrowemai@rsb.org.au
Tasmanian Councillor
Vacant
Western Australian Councillors
Amanda Lambert
Email: Amanda.Lambert@det.wa.edu.au
Tania Dick
Email: Tania.Dick@det.wa.edu.au
Phone/fax numbers for all WA councillors
Phone: (08) 9426 7122
Fax: (08) 9426 7166
Victorian Councillors
Garry Stinchcombe
Phone: (03) 9808 6422
Fax: (03) 9808 2194
Email: garry.stinchcombe@visionaustralia.org
Marion Blaze
Phone: (03) 9841 0242
Fax: (03) 9841 087
Email: marionblaze@svrc.vic.gov.au
Dean Johnson
Phone: (03) 9854 4506
Fax: (03 ) 03 9854 4466
Email: dean.j@guidedogsvictoria.com.au