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While the English literacy outcomes of Aboriginal children are constantly measured and debated, attention falls away once they leave school, leading to limited data on English literacy rates among Australia’s Aboriginal adults. This paper reports on an investigation into the prevalence of low literacy in adults in eight Aboriginal communities in NSW, Australia, drawing on both self-report data from household surveys and objective professional assessments using the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The research was conducted in partnership with a national Aboriginal organisation as part of a longitudinal study of the impact of improved adult literacy on the social determinants of health and social wellbeing. Of the participants who were measured to have low or very low English-language literacy level using ACSF, 51% had completed Year 10 or higher. This casts serious doubt on the value of school completion data which is used, for example, in Close the Gap reporting, as an accurate predictor of adult literacy rates. Results further show that while self-reported low literacy was prevalent in the population studied, there was also a significant overestimation, with adults who have completed years 10–11 nearly 30 times more likely to overestimate compared to people who only complete primary school. Given the well-known associations between adult literacy and a range of other outcomes including income, employment and health, national adult literacy surveys such as the Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies should aim to produce more comprehensive national, regional and local data on Aboriginal adult English literacy.

Why are thermoduric bacteria an issue and what can producers do to prevent and tackle thermoduric problems if, or when, they arise? We spoke to a vet to fi nd out more.

At the recent Johne’s disease conference, the challenge was set for the industry to progress to the second phase of the national control plan. But what progress has been made so far and where do vets and producers need to focus their attention?

Service-learning is gaining greater recognition in Australian universities as an effective and powerful means by which students can learn about Aboriginal people and culture. Working in and with community provides opportunities for students to form personal relationships with Aboriginal people that will have long- term benefits for all participants. One of the first steps in establishing a service-learning project will inevitably be to decide on a location. Is a service-learning program located in a remote Aboriginal community of more benefit to students than one that is located in an urban community? This chapter describes a service-learning program that was established for media students and run in collaboration with the city of Perth Aboriginal community in Western Australia. It discusses the reasons why an urban community was the answer to our question of 'where', and how an urban service-learning project can build strong and lasting community relationships and provide a transformative learning experience for students.

Teachers help students learn, develop and realise their potential. Educational psychology is the scientific study of how people learn and how teachers can foster learning. An understanding of these principles and how they can be applied to classroom situations is as crucial as it ever has been for the contemporary Australian school teacher, from early childhood through to secondary school. Building on the success of the first edition, Educational Psychology, Second Australian edition, draws together the pre-eminent academic voices in Australia’s educational psychology landscape. The culmination of the authors’ knowledge, hands-on experience and insight will help pre-service teachers develop a framework to implement teaching strategies that promote students’ learning, development and potential. Australian school students and learning environments are ever-changing. Many issues have an impact on the dynamics of the contemporary learning and teaching environment, including increasing student diversity, the pervasive impact of technology and the evolution of the Australian curriculum. The study of educational psychology can help teachers better understand their students and better understand the process of teaching. That is the primary purpose of this resource. Educational Psychology, Second Australian edition, also encourages pre-service teachers to become reflective practitioners who can frame classroom-based questions and use a ‘scientist–practitioner’ approach to answer those questions.It provides: a clear description of the theoretical principles in psychology that have relevance for education, along with an analysis of their current research support practical guidance about how to link theory and practice in the context of classrooms learning tools to help pre-service teachers develop skills they can build on throughout their teaching careers. Educational Psychology, Second Australian edition, prepares pre-service teachers for their profession by encouraging refle