Article 7912 of misc.rural:
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From: Ken Smith <edkfs@marlin.jcu.edu.au>
Subject: International Conference - rural communities in Townsville, Australia
Message-ID: <1994Mar2.064058.13863@marlin.jcu.edu.au>
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AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

on

ISSUES AFFECTING
RURAL COMMUNITIES


to be held at 

SHERATON BREAKWATER CASINO-HOTEL
TOWNSVILLE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

10 - 15 JULY, 1994



SPONSORED BY:
Lyndhurst Foundation, USA
Program for Rural Services and Research, University of Alabama, USA
Northern Regional Health Authority, Australia
Rural Health Policy Unit, Queensland Department of Health, Australia
Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia
Australian Rural Education Research Association
Ansett Australia
United Airlines



THE CONFERENCE

Underpinning this conference is the proposition that rural education,
health, community and economic development can come together as a new
area of study creating new modes for collaborative work on human issues
in rural communities.

Rural areas in both the developed and developing worlds are receiving
more attention (and funding) than ever before. Academic, professional,
philanthropic, and developmental projects and government programs are in
place in a number of countries. However, sparse collaboration across
disciplines, cultures, and international boundaries fragments and limits
the results of the present extensive rural efforts.

This conference is a necessary step toward collaboration. It will be a
unique international occasion for rural people, scholars, professionals
and government agencies working in rural related areas to come together
to share information, concerns, visions of the future, and to develop
formal and informal networks.

Aims
The conference will provide a thematic framework to begin to coalesce
discipline-based presentations on rural issues. These will be related to
education, health, culture, law and policy, science and technology,
social and environmental justice, communications and information equity,
women's concerns, sustainability and distance learning. Specifically, the
conference will explore the relationship between rural education, health
and community development for its implications for interdisciplinary,
international, and intercultural collaboration.

Outcomes
Anticipated outcomes of the conference include: 
!	development of an international association of rural scholars,
professionals and bureaucrats
!	commitment to future information sharing 
!	a significant publication 
!	joint research projects 
!	stimulation of teaching and research (and funding) in tertiary
institutions
!	closer working relationships between scholars, professionals,
government bureaucracies and agencies 
!	identification of priority research and development issues 
!	establishment of genuine cross-disciplinary understanding and
cooperation.

Setting
Australia, because of its vast size and scattered population, is a very
appropriate place to hold an international conference on issues affecting
rural communities. In 1979 OECD/CERI sponsored a conference in Perth,
Western Australia, entitled "New Directions in Rural Education" which
attracted leading government representatives and academics from around
the world. The impetus given by this conference generated a national
meeting in 1981 which focused on the needs of people living in rural and
isolated areas.

Rural Education in Australia is now of world prominence because of its
research into and understanding of rurality. A number of specialist
tertiary and research units have been cultivated in recent years. In 1989
the Rural Education Research and Development Centre (RERDC) was
established and it facilitated national coordination of research in rural
education, sponsored the formation of the Australian Rural Education
Research Association and is a focus for graduate studies and
multidisciplinary  programs.

RERDC/James Cook University, North Queensland (JCUNQ) runs the Rural
Health Training Unit (RHTU) under a partnership agreement with the
Northern Regional Health Authority. The RHTU provides vocational training
and continuing education programs for health service trainees and
practitioners including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

The Anton Breinl Centre for Tropical Health and Medicine the North
Queensland Clinical School (which has a Chair of Rural Health), the
Department of Nursing Science and the Department of Social Work and
Community Welfare all have a special focus on preparing professional
practitioners for rural areas as well as conducting research relevant to
the rural and tropical environment.

Other centres with a specific focal point on the rural environment are
the Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Participation,
Research and Development and the Remote Area Tertiary Education Centre
that collaboratively design and develop interactive multi media computer
based courses for students in remote areas. 

Daily Format  (except Wednesday)
!	A Keynote session will address a specific theme setting the tone of the
day, eg. health, education and the community 
!	Papers reflecting a more detailed analysis of the broad issues followed
by comments, questions and panel discussions. 
!	Afternoon workshops based on the topics covered in the morning session.
!	Workshop reports.
!	Panel Summation.
!	Poster sessions on specific issues/topics.
!	Guest Speakers at lunchons and dinners.

Morning / afternoon tea and lunch will be provided and included in the
registration fee. 


Conference Venue
Townsville is Australia's largest tropical city whose population, in
excess of 120,000, enjoys a pleasant winter climate with little rain. It
experiences an average July temperature of 20!C/72!F. Castle Hill is the
city's most distinctive landmark and 360! views of the city and surrounds
can be enjoyed from its summit.

The Sheraton Breakwater Casino-Hotel provides five star accommodation and
is capable of hosting up to 1000 conference participants. It offers
excellent dining in tropical surroundings with outstanding views of the
city, the Pacific ocean and Magnetic Island. The city is only a ten
minute scenic walk from the Sheraton. Courtesy coaches will transport
participants to and from the Sheraton for conference sessions and
programmed social events.


Tours

Program 
ISSUES AFFECTING RURAL COMMUNITIES   

Day 1  -  Monday 11 July 1994  
Registration 

Opening Ceremony, Welcome Address
!	Australia Minister. To be confirmed.
!	Professor Ray Golding, Vice-Chancellor, James Cook University of North
Queensland, Australia.
!	Dr David McSwan, Director, Rural Education Research and Development
Centre, James Cook University of North Queensland, Australia.
Conference Address
!	Dr Jonathan Sher, Founding Director of North Carolina Real Enterprises,
USA.

Rural Health: Policy, Practice and Pedagogy.
Keynote Address
This will give a broad definition of  health (as opposed to medicine), 
rural practice  advantages and disadvantages, the rural context and
international issues.  
!	Professor Kaufman, University of New Mexico USA.
!	Mr Charlie Alfero, Director, Department of Health, New Mexico, USA 

Morning Tea

Group One
Education and Training for Rural Health Care Practice.
!	Prof Kamien, University of Western Australia. 
Group Two
Schooling, Curriculum and  Health:
!	Dr Jack Shelton, University of Alabama, USA.
Group Three
Policy 
!	Dr John Humphries, University of New England, NSW, Australia.
	Group Four
Delivery of Specialised Services to Rural and Remote Areas.
!	Speaker to be nominated.
Group Five
Indigenous  Health 
!	Speaker to be nominated
	
Lunch

Afternoon Workshops to based on the above group sessions.

Afternoon Tea

Groups One to Five Report
Panel Summation

Mayoral Reception  Special Welcome
Hosted by Ald. Tony Mooney, Mayor of Townsville.

Day 2  -  Tuesday 12 July 1994  
Rural Education: Policy, Practice and Pedagogy.
Registration 

Keynote Address
This will give an overview of rural schools as an asset rather than a
liability and includes the psychology of location, fluid boundaries and
clustering. 
!	Mr Paul M. Nachtigal, Director of the Rural Institute at the
Mid-continent Regional Education Laboratory, Colorado, USA

Morning Tea

Group One
The Community  and Contextualised  Schooling: Processes and Principles
!	Ms Robin Lambert, University of Alabama, USA. 
Group Two
Access to Resources and Resource Sharing.
!	Dr. Jacqueline Spears, University of Kansas, USA 
!	Dr Bob Newhouse, University of Kansas, USA.
Group Three
Education and Training for Rural  Teachers and Professionals
!	Mrs Helen Bandy, University of Victoria, B.C., Canada.
!	Dr Colin Boylan, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia..	Group Four
Instructional Technology and Distance Education
!	Prof Alex Hills, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA. (To be confirmed)
Group Five
Indigenous  and Special  Interest Groups and Education
!	Speaker to be nominated
	

Lunch

Afternoon Workshops to based on the above group sessions.

Afternoon Tea

Groups One to Five Report
Panel Summation

Conference Dinner 	Special Evening Address 	
Speaker to be confirmed

Day 3  -  Wednesday 13 July 1994
Tours and excursions. (See registration form)

Day 4  -  Thursday 14 July 1994
The Community: Policy, Practice and Pedagogy.
Registration 

Keynote Address
Sustaining rural communities and the importance of development taking
place (not just economic); Some issues that go beyond economics including
self-determination.
!	 Prof. Emilia Martinez-Brawley, Dean of the School of Social Work,
Arizona State University, USA.

Morning Tea

Group One
Sustainable  Economic  Development.
!	Prof Ron Shaffer, University of Wisconsin, USA.
Group Two
Social and Community Development
!	OECD Speaker. (To be confirmed)
Group Three
Social Planning and Welfare Service Provision,
!	Dr Brian Cheers, James Cook University, Australia. 
	Group Four
Rural, Restructuring.
!	Prof. Geoff Lawrence, University of Central Queensland, Australia.
!	Ms Lyn Hungerford, University of Central Queensland, Australia.
Group Five
Sustaining Rural Communities
!	Dr John Bryden, Arkleton Trust, Scotland, UK.
Group Six
Consumer Credit in Remote Areas (North Queensland) 
!	Prof Wolfgang Fischer, University of Bremen, Germany.
!	Mr Andrew Massey, James Cook University, Australia.	


Lunch

Afternoon Workshops to based on the above group sessions.

Afternoon Tea

Groups One to Five Reports 
Panel Summation

Day 5 -  Friday 15 July 1994 

Workshops specific to each country's rural situation, USA, UK, Norway,
Aust., etc

Final Summation
Resolutions from the Floor
Recommendations



Registration Forms, enquiries, and information packages can be obtained
by e-mail contact to David.McSwan@jcu.edu.au


