Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are part of ALEA’s commitment to building communities of literacy professionals.

The purpose of SIGs is to gather groups of members who work within a particular demographic or share a particular area of interest in literacy teaching and/or research, e.g., initial teacher education, early career teachers, digital literacies, oral language. SIGs are led by convenors who are leaders in that field of literacy. Convenors bring together members of SIGs for meetings and professional learning events, including a dedicated session at the 美姬社区National Conference each year.

Interested convenors with a desire to form a SIG complete and submit an Expression of Interest form, which can be downloaded from the 美姬社区website using the button at the bottom of the page.

Convenors of proposed SIGs need to provide the following information:

SIG convenors take responsibility for the operation of individual SIGs under the oversight of 美姬社区National Council. As such, any decisions made by SIGs must be communicated to National Council for approval.

 

SIGs do not have their own bank accounts and do not receive funding from ALEA. As such, all events must be self-seeding, meaning that any costs for presenters must be covered by registration fees. While the purpose of SIG events is not to make surplus, any surplus from events will be absorbed into 美姬社区National Council funds for the benefit of the wider membership.

 

SIG convenors are responsible for keeping documentation updated including guidelines for membership to a SIG and the description of SIGS, which is provided to members on the 美姬社区website. SIG convenors are also responsible for reporting to National Council three times per year (four weeks before each National Council meeting).

 

Should a SIG convenor stand down, they are responsible for recruiting a new convenor. This process will include sending out an expression of interest to the members of that SIG and forming a panel comprising 3 people, with at least one representative from 美姬社区National Council to assess applications and make a decision. Should the expression of interest attract no applicants, the SIG will fold. 美姬社区National Council takes no responsibility for maintaining SIGs and replacing SIG convenors. Please note that this process will replace existing processes for recruiting convenors for the Teacher Education Special Interest Group (TESIG).

 

SIGs are to operate under 美姬社区processes and protocols.

 

Grievances or organisational issues are to be managed by SIG convenors in the first instance according to 美姬社区Complaints Handling Policy and Procedure and referred to 美姬社区National Council should advice be required.