ITALIAN LANGUAGE TEACHERS CONFERENCE

In reply to Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (10 November 2010).

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Education, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Science and Information Economy): A National Immersion Program for Teachers of Italian was convened by Flinders University in Adelaide on 12-16 July 2010 and was developed in partnership with the University of Salento, Lecce.

Flinders University has also established a recognised profile in European Languages, having established the first Discipline of Italian in South Australia in 1971. As a member of the Innovative Universities European Union Centre, Flinders actively pursues research and higher education collaboration opportunities with European university partners.

Participants in the National Immersion Program were selected on a competitive basis from both South Australia and other states and all three school sectors were represented: State, Catholic and Independent.

Following a request for funding from Flinders University, the South Australian Government contributed $20,000 to be expended in accordance with the budget set out in the Grant Deed, that is: