Principal Consultants

 

David Levens and John Stafford are the two Principal Consultants. They have extensive experience in education and training, sport development, community development and research.

 

 

David Levens is a consultant working in the sports education and training and community development areas after 10 years employment with the AFL. During that time he had statewide responsibilities for umpiring recruitment, training and development, and retention of umpires in New South Wales and more recently responsibility for the training and development of the national panel of AFL umpires and assessment of on-field performances.

 

Professional Qualifications
Diploma of Technical Teaching, Hawthorn Institute of Education, 1977

Graduate Diploma of Education Administration, Hawthorn Institute of Education, 1987.

Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training, Daylesford Community House & Learning Centre, 2000
National Facilitator Training Program in Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) philosophies and methodologies. (2006)

 

Publications

David Levens and Michael Haynes (2006), “Introductory Level Officiating” – General Principles Manual. Australian Sports Commission.

David Levens and Michael Haynes (2006), Advanced Level Officiating” – General Principles Manual. Australian Sports Commission.

David Levens (2000), “Officials Coach Training Program” – A Comprehensive Training Program for Coaches of Sporting Officials. Australian Sports Commission.

 

His recent work has involved:

  1. jointly developing an appropriate model for the operation of the Goldfields Post Compulsory Education & Training/Business Alliance in the Central Goldfields Shire
  2. facilitating and presenting Commonwealth Games volunteer training for M2006/OCGC
  3.  jointly undertaking the role of the ‘Research Partner’ for the Country Education P-12 Research Project. 
  4. jointly developing the VIS Strategic Plan 2006 – 2010
  5. jointly developing and conducting the AFL National Professional Development program for Umpire Coaches
  6. jointly establishing and developing a Regional Tourism Association (RTA) in Hepburn region
  7. jointly reviewing the AFL National Umpire Accreditation Scheme (NUAS) and developing a new program for umpires at all levels of Australian Football
  8. jointly undertaking the development of a model for the provision of government education (P-12) in Kyabram
  9. jointly undertaking a feasibility study into a Sports Injury Surveillance System for Sports Medicine Australian - Victorian Branch and Department of Victorian Communities
  10. facilitating the development of a mentoring program with NT Sport & Recreation personnel, for Indigenous communities in Northern Territory
  11. jointly updating Environmental Scan for Central Ranges Local Learning & Employment Network (LLEN)
  12. jointly preparing a playground development strategy for Hepburn Shire Council
  13. jointly preparing and conducting a Sports Injury Prevention Workshops for Sports Medicine Australia - Victorian Branch
  14. facilitating workshops for Departments of Sport and Recreation in NT and Queensland - mentoring, officiating and official’s coaching
  15. jointly undertaking a literacy and further education study for Neighbourhood Learning Centres in Hepburn Shire
  16. jointly researching feasibility of indoor stadium in Creswick, for Hepburn Shire Council
  17. developing an officiating program for Australian Women’s Lacrosse
  18. preparing tenders for The Centre – major ACE provider in North East Victoria
  19. jointly reviewing the provision of school support services to schools in East Gippsland
  20. jointly preparing Strategic Plan for Trafalgar – town in Gippsland
  21. preparing and conducting the Australian Professional Golfers Association national Train the Trainer educational program
  22. reviewing educational programs for the Australian Sports Commission
  23. jointly preparing Administrator Education Program for the Australian Sports Commission’s Year of the Official.
  24. conducting state/territory based workshops (9) for the Australian Sports Commission – Administrator Education Program
  25. Acting Manager - Community Services (Macedon Shire Council)
  26. prepared and conducted official’s training program for Central Highlands Regional Sports Assembly
  27. conducting tutorials for a semester in University of Ballarat Education Faculty – 1st Year Education students
  28. managing the Kyneton Community and Learning Centre
  29. joint Project Officer with the Central Ranges Local Learning & Employment Network (LLEN)
  30. facilitating conference sessions for the Queensland Government Building Active Community Conference Series
  31. facilitating planning conference for 10 Local Government Areas (Loddon Mallee Region consortium) in Aged and Disability Services
  32. reviewing Australian Football in the Western Region of Melbourne for the Victorian Football League and in Albury for the City of Albury
  33. developing training packages for the Confederation of Australian Sport in the areas of officiating across ten sports, and
  34. developing competencies for the Australian Sports Commission’s National Officiating Program.

In the role of Director of the Country Education Project, David was responsible for providing leadership to an innovative education program which provided direction, support and training to teachers, parents and community members.

David spent ten years in the Wool Industry with Elders. Over that time his roles included woolclassing, woolvaluing and auctioneering. It was with this background that David entered the education field, teaching woolclassing at both Warracknabeal and Hopetoun Secondary Colleges and later at the Melbourne College of Textiles.

 

 

 

John Stafford is a consultant working in community development, education and training. His previous work has involved responsibilities in the schools sector, TAFE and community education. As Director of the Country Education Project for over 5 years, John worked with committees of management providing support, strategic leadership and training. He has extensive experience in the development and co-ordination of rural community development and education projects and research.

 

Professional Qualifications
Graduate Diploma of Education Administration, Hawthorn Institute of Education, 1987.

Bachelor of Arts (Social Science), Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education (External Studies)
National Facilitator Training program in Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) philosophies and methodologies. (2006)

Memberships

  1. Member of the National Executive of the Rural Education Research Association, 1992-95.
  2. Member of the Society for the Provision of Rural Education in Australia (SPERA)
  3. Board member of “Kids Under Cover”, 1994 - 95.
  4. Country Education Project (Inc.) Management Committee 1995 – 2005
  5. Elsternwick PS School Council 2001 – 2006.

Publications
Stokes, H., Stafford, J. and Holdsworth, R. (1999) “Rural and Remote School Education” – A Survey for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Youth Research Centre, The University of Melbourne.

Wyn, J., Stokes, H. and Stafford, J. (1998) “Young People Living in Rural Australia in the 1990’s” Youth Research Centre, The University of Melbourne.

Lloyd, D.J., Lloyd, J.C., Prain, V.R., Smith, K.J. and Stafford, J. (1994) “Characteristics Associated with Successful Completions of Post Compulsory Schooling and Higher Education in Rural Victoria” in McSwan, D. and McShane, M. (eds) (1994) Referred Proceedings of an international conference “Issues affecting Rural Communities. RERDC. James Cook University, Townsville.

Stafford, J. and Lloyd, D. (1993) Distance Education In Victoria. In Towards 2000: Schooling Through Distance Education, National Distance Education. Proceedings of the First National Distance Education Conference. Cairns.

 

John has undertaken work for a variety of clients including:

  1. Indigo Way Services
  2. Indigo Shire Council
  3. East Gippsland Institute of TAFE
  4. Country Education Project (Inc.)
  5. Australian Youth Research Centre at the University of Melbourne
  6. Australian Institute of Sport.
  7. Alpine Shire Council
  8. RMIT University.

Recent work completed or currently in train includes:

  1. jointly developing an appropriate model for the operation of the Goldfields Post Compulsory Education & Training/Business Alliance in the Central Goldfields Shire
  2. Jointly undertaking the role of the ‘Research Partner’ for the Country Education P-12 Research Project. 
  3. jointly developing the VIS Strategic Plan 2006 – 2010
  4. jointly developing and conducting the AFL National Professional Development program for Umpire Coaches
  5. jointly establishing and developing a Regional Tourism Association (RTA) in Hepburn region
  6. jointly reviewing the AFL National Umpire Accreditation Scheme (NUAS) and developing a new program for umpires at all levels of Australian Football
  7. jointly undertaking the development of a model for the provision of government education (P-12) in Kyabram
  8. jointly undertaking a feasibility study into a Sports Injury Surveillance System for Sports Medicine Australian - Victorian Branch and Department of Victorian Communities
  9. jointly preparing a playground development strategy for Hepburn Shire Council
  10. jointly preparing and conducting Sports Injury Prevention Workshops for Sports Medicine Australia - Victorian Branch
  11. jointly updating Environmental Scan for Central Ranges Local Learning & Employment Network (LLEN)
  12. jointly undertaking a literacy and further education study for Neighbourhood Learning Centres in Hepburn Shire
  13. jointly researching feasibility of indoor stadium in Creswick, for Hepburn Shire Council
  14. preparing tenders for The Centre – major ACE provider in North East Victoria
  15. jointly reviewing the provision of school support services to schools in East Gippsland
  16. jointly preparing Strategic Plan for Trafalgar – town in Gippsland
  17. jointly preparing Administrator Education Program for the Australian Sports Commission’s Year of the Official.
  18. piloting and evaluation of a professional development program for rural schools under the National Professional Development Program
  19. development and delivery of rural professional development
  20. development of a Disability Action Plan for the Indigo Shire
  21. research in health issues affecting rural young people
  22. co-ordination of the RACV Energy Breakthrough 1991 - 2003
  23. assistance with preparation of Business Plans for Indigo Way
  24. three year longitudinal study into Youth Development programs in South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria
  25. Project Officer with the Central Ranges LLEN
  26. Training program for Senior Managers with Indigo Way Services.