The South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (SPEVI) Inc. is the major professional association for educators of students with vision impairments in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific region. SPEVI acts as the professional body in matters pertaining to the education and support of persons who are blind, have low vision, deaf-blindness, or additional disabilities. SPEVI membership is open to educators, professionals and parent groups who support and promote education for persons with vision impairment.
SPEVI - South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment Inc - Reg. No. INC9889733
SPEVI Vision
To promote educational systems in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in which diversity is valued and disability is not viewed as a characteristic by which to judge a person’s worth.
SPEVI Mission
To stimulate professional and public debate and action on vision impairment issues and change which affect, or have the potential to affect the daily lives of persons who are vision impaired, while emphasising concepts of inclusive, responsive educational communities and interdependence between learners and families within those communities where all people are valued.
SPEVI Aims
- To be recognised as the professional body of educators whose speciality is in matters pertaining to the education of persons with vision impairment in Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Countries.
- To advocate on behalf of members, persons with vision impairment and parents/carers for equitable education access and participation, in accordance with international and national disability anti-discrimination legislation.
- To encourage the highest standards in the educators of persons with vision impairment by promoting research and professional training for general and specialist teachers.
- To promote and facilitate the interchange of information and collaboration among educators, professionals, parent groups and the broader community concerning education and equal opportunity for persons with vision impairment.
- To encourage the use of appropriate mainstream and assistive technologies, resources and optical and non-optical aids, in the education of persons with vision impairment, and to promote teacher education programs in the use and care of existing and new techniques and technology.
SPEVI Structure
SPEVI operates at two levels:
- National, by means of the Committee of Management; and
- State/territory, by means of a Branch comprising Councillors and members who reside in the state or territory.
SPEVI Code of Ethics
All members of SPEVI will...
- Work for the good of SPEVI and actively support and promote its Aims as defined in the SPEVI Constitution;
- Act honestly and with respect and integrity at all times;
- Provide leadership for all members of SPEVI to foster high ethical standards;
- Act to enhance public awareness of SPEVI’s objects; and
- Maintain transparency of decision-making within SPEVI.
SPEVI Principles and Practice: Guidelines for quality education of learners with vision impairment
The SPEVI Principles and Practice guidelines represent SPEVI’s position on the essential components of quality education services and programs for learners with vision impairment, including children and adult learners with blindness, low vision, deafblindness, or additional disabilities. Go to SPEVI Principles and Practice
SPEVI Professional Standards Elaborations for Specialist Teachers (Vision Impairment), Career Stages, 2nd Edition, 2016
The SPEVI Elaborations describe the minimum levels of Professional Knowledge, Professional Practice and Professional Engagement for Specialist Teachers (Vision Impairment), across the career stages of “Graduate”, “Proficient”, “Highly Accomplished” and “Lead” teacher. The Standards Elaborations “elaborate” on the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL], 2010). Go to Professional Standards Elaborations