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 2005 - 2007
Executive - Australia
President
Sandie Mackevicius
Vision Australia
Phone: (03) 9569 7255
Fax: (03) 9569 7565
Email: sandie.mackevicius@visionaustralia.org
Vice President
Leanne Smith
Address: C/- Aspley East State School, 31 Helena Street, Aspley, QLD 4034
Phone: (07) 3263 2912
Fax: (07) 3263 7527
Email (work): lsmith65@eq.edu.au
Secretary
Tricia d'Apice
Address: RIDBC Teleschool, 361 North Rocks Road, North Rocks
Phone: (02) 9872 0332
Fax (02) 9872 0889
Mobile: 0408 864 554
Email: triciad@gmail.com
Treasurer and Membership Secretary
Dianne Skillern
Address: State Wide Vision Resource Centre, PO Box 201, Nunawading. Vic 3131
Phone: (03) 9841 0242
Fax: (03) 9841 0878
Email: diannesk@svrc.vic.edu.au
Newsletter Editor
Tim Crowe-Mai
Address: Royal Blind Society
Phone: (08) 8232 4777
Fax: (08) 8232 4807
Email: tcrowemai@rsb.org.au
Branch Councillors
Australian Capital Territory
Beth Smith
Phone: (02) 6255 4091
Email beth.smith@cggs.act.edu.au
New South Wales Councillors
Ruth Silverton
Phone: (02) 9244 5587
Email: ruth.silverton@det.nsw.edu.au
Tricia d'Apice
Phone : (02) 9872 0332
Email: patricia.d'apice@RIDBC.org.au
Mike Steer
Phone: (02) 9872 0814
Fax (02) 9873 1614
Email: mike.steer@ridbc.org.au
New Zealand Councillors
Sue Spooner
Phone: (09) 623 8899 ext. 8720
Email s.spooner@ace.ac.nz
Karen Stobbs
Phone: (03) 375 4306
Fax: (03) 355 9151
Email vea.kstobbs@mzfb.org.nz
Sue Murray
Phone: (09) 266 7109
Email: sue.murray@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 KoimaPhone: + 675 5421 129
Email: bobkairu@online.net.pg Makareta Musukasau
Phone: +679 3300 616
Email: ubp@conect.fj
Queensland Councillors
Nicole Anthonysz
Email: nanth2@eq.edu.au
Nicole Donaldson
Email: ndona@eq.edu.au
Phillipa Enright
Email: penri1@eq.edu.au
South Australian Councillors
Claire Fettke
Phone: (08) 8277 5255
Email: claire.fettke@sasvi.sa.edu.au
Hellen Riley
Phone: (08) 8298 0942
Email: hellen.riley@cando4kids.com.au
Tim Crowe-Mai
Phone: (08) 8232 4777
Email: tcrowemai@rsb.org.au
Tasmanian Councillor
Vacant
Western Australian Councillors
Faye Robottam
Email: Faye.Robottam@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) 89808 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
Lil Deverell
Phone: (03) 9854 4542
Fax: (03 ) 03 9854 4466
Email: lil.d@guidedogsvictoria.com.au