On this page
The Ministerial Advisory Committee – Multicultural Education and Languages (MELC) provides advice to the South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills on 3 interrelated areas of education:
- languages education
- multicultural education
- the internationalisation of education.
Find out more about the committee and how you can join us.
What the committee does
MELC works across the 3 schooling sectors and encompasses the Community Languages Schools Program.
The committee draws upon contemporary research, policy and practices available locally, nationally and internationally, and the knowledge, expertise and experience of committee members.
Though the work of MELC encompasses these 3 named areas, it needs to be recognised that the focus on linguistic and cultural diversity, which is the overarching theme of MELC’s work, permeates all areas and dimensions of education. As such it pertains to all learners, to all areas of learning and to all schools and early childhood settings.
MELC works collaboratively with educational and community organisations toward ensuring that education for all students is enriched by engaging with linguistic and cultural diversity and that children and young people learn to operate with sophistication and ease with people across diverse languages and cultures. That is, to develop and operate with intercultural capability. The experience of doing so is an integral part of the learning experience of young people in a global world.
More information about what the committee does is available in our terms of reference (PDF 86KB).
Vision
MELC provides educational leadership and high-level expert advice and shares its expertise in contemporary research, policy and practices relating to languages education, multicultural education and the internationalisation of education.
MELC is committed to working in collaboration with educational organisations, agencies and communities.
MELC members
- Mr Noel Mifsud – chairperson (independent)
- Ms Deonne Smith – Department for Education
- Ms Teresa Cimmino – Catholic Education South Australia (CESA)
- Mrs Deb Dalwood – The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA)
- Associate Professor Kayoko Enomoto – The South Australian Vice Chancellor’s Committee (SAVCC)
- Ms Shaza Ravaji – The South Australian Multicultural Commission
- Associate Professor Harry Savelsberg – Multicultural Youth SA
- Ms Sally Letcher – SACE Board of South Australia
- Mr Brett Shuttleworth – Community Language Schools of South Australia (CLSSA)
- Ms Bronwen McClelland – educational leader (principal or director)
- Ms Meredith Beck – leading educator
- Ms Samoda Silva – student nominee
- Ms Maria Iovino – early childhood or preschool director
- Ms Truphena Mahindu– parent nominee
- Ms Anna Strzelecki– Aboriginal nominee
- Ms Irene Evangelista Rowe – community nominee.
Membership
Members of MELC are appointed by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills. Members are chosen for their knowledge and experience of the 3 interrelated areas of education: languages education, multicultural education and the internationalisation of education.
Annual reports
For a summary of our activities download our annual report:
